Dilwara Jain Temple- Location, History, Timings, Architecture, & More

About Dilwara Jain Temple

India is the land where four of the world’s major seven religions are said to have originated. One of the most ancient Indian religions is Jainism. Today about 5 million people in India follow Jainism. The major influence of Jainism can be seen mostly in the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka. There are more than 10000 prominent Jain temples in India. In this context, we shall discuss one of the most popular Jain religious places in India- Dilwara Temple or Delvada Temple of Mount Abu. In this blog, let’s know more about the Dilwara temple, its location, history, architectural significance, and much more.

The inner sanctum of the Dilwara temple is decorated with intricate sculptures like the lotus pendant and the concentric ring ceiling. The carvings raise questions regarding the level of skill possessed by the craftspeople of the time. The fact that this ruler was so paternalistic and encouraged and inspired the artists to carve out as much as possible shows how lucky they were. To do this, the king pays them based on the amount of dust that has been gathered from the stone carvings. Therefore, larger carvings result in more dust, which in turn affects the price. This explains why the work is so meticulous.

Location of the Dilwara Jain Temple

The Dilwara Temples are a group of Jain temples belonging mostly to the Svetembara sect of Jainism that consists of five main temples located at 1200 meters height on top of Mount Abu, about 2 kilometers away from the town of Mount Abu in the Sirohi district of the state of Rajasthan. This is one of Rajasthan’s most popular tourist destinations, where thousands of people pay a visit every year. It is located 495 kilometers away from Jaipur city and about 227 kilometers away from Ahmedabad. From Delhi, the temple is at a distance of about 762 kilometers. The nearest airport is 163 kilometers away from Mount Abu- Udaipur Airport.

Read More About: Ranakpur Jain Temple

Historical significance of the Dilwara Jain Temple

The temple of Dilwara was built by two Jain men named Vimal Shah and Vastupala Tejpal in the year 1031 AD during the rule of the Chalukya dynasty and was finally completed in the year 1582 AD. It comprises five main temples dedicated to different Jain Tirthankaras. The five temples include Vimal Vasahi, Luna Vasahi, Mahavir Swami, Parshavnath, and Pithalhar. This place is known as the second most sacred Jain pilgrimage site that is dedicated to Rishava Adinatha. There are many other Jain temples that have been built in different parts of Rajasthan, but still, The Dilwara temple stands out to be the most significant and magnificent creation of all.

Architectural significance of the Dilwara Jain Temple

The temple is built in the Maru Gujarat Architecture style, which was popular in western India in the 11^th to 15^th centuries.  All the structures in the temple are made of white marble, which defines the beauty of the temple. There is a bathing area for the pilgrims to take a bath before they offer their puja to the deities.  There is an open hall in the outer temple, called the open rangamandapa, for drama or dances, which has more than 360 idols of different God and Tirthankaras of the Jain religion.

The marbles used are often considered to be superior in quality to the ones used in the Taj Mahal due to their fine quality and beautiful look. There is very fine detailing done, like ornaments on the walls, ceilings, doorways, and pillars of the temple. The temple is presently managed by Seth Shri Kalyanji Anandji Pedhi Sirohi, who is also in charge of maintaining many other Jain heritages in the country. It is the architecture of the temple that attracts tourists from all over the world to this place.

Also read about: Tijara Ji Jain Mandir

Dilwara Jain Temple Photos

The Dilwara Jain Temple Timings

The temple opens for tourists every day at 12 PM and closes at 05 PM. However, there are no time restrictions for the Jains to enter the temple. Photography is strictly prohibited inside the temple. Contact number of the temple- +91 02974 237324.

How to reach the Dilwara Jain Temple?

The nearest airport to Mount Abu is Udaipur Airport of Rajasthan, which is about 163 kilometers away from Mount Abu. The nearest railway station is the Mount Abu railway station which is about 3 kilometers away from the temple. From the Udaipur Airport, one can arrange for a bus or train to Mount Abu to reach the temple.

Also read about: Palitana Jain Temple

Places to stay near the Dilwara Jain Temple

There is a large number of Hotels and Guest houses near the Dilwara temple of Mount Abu for tourists to stay and visit the beautiful temple surrounded by lush green hills and highlands. Some of the most popular hotels near the temples are – Padmavati Hotel, Arbudanchal view homestay, Hotel Raj Darbar, Green Hill Homestay Hotel, etc. The rates of hotels per day vary from rupees 1140 to 2943 on average.

Jainism had its influence over India from a very distant past. Several architectural remains of history showcase how beautiful and unique Jain buildings are. The Dilwara temple is no exception to that as it is often considered the most beautiful and splendid Jain temple in India due to the wonderful design and use of the best quality marble to decorate its interiors.

The environment surrounding the Temple also serves as a major tourist attraction unit. There are several other heritage sites near the Dilwara temple that display the rich Jain culture in India. Thus, we can say that the Dilwara Jain Temple of Mount Abu is one of the most beautiful and significant cultural heritage of the Jain community in India.

FAQs about Dilwara Jain Temple

1.       Where is the Dilwara Temple located?

Dilwara temple is located in Mount Abu in the Sirohi district of Rajasthan.

2.       How many temples are there in Dilwara?

There are five major temples dedicated to the Tirthankaras of Jainism.

3.       What are the Temple timings for tourists to visit ?

The temple opens at 12 PM and closes at 5 PM for the tourists.

4.       Is there any entry fees to enter inside the Dilwara Temple?

There are no entry fees to enter the temple, and entry is absolutely free.

5.       Why is Dilwara Temple of Mount Abu so famous?

The Dilwara temple of Mount Abu is considered the most beautiful Jain temple in India due to the use of marbles and uniquely beautiful designs of pillars, halls, and entrances inside the temple. It is also the second most popular pilgrimage place of the Jain religious community. Therefore, the temple of Dilwara is so famous in India, and it attracts so many tourists every year.

6.       Who built the Dilwara temple?

Dilwara Temple was built by Vimal Shah and Vastupala Tejpal during the reign of the Chalukya dynasty.

7.       When was the Dilwara temple built?

The oldest temple of Dilwara of Mount Abu was built in 1031 AD.

Read more about Jain Temples at wbdstbt.in.