Jain Temples of Jaisalmer

Jain Temples situated in the Jaisalmer Fort are a must visit site in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. You will find these temples to be very old and high pilgrimage as well as archeological value attached to them. These are a group of Jain temples dating back 12th and 15th centuries and are dedicated to various Jain Tirthankars (Hermits). On the walls of the temples, you can find animal & human figures, carved in famous Dilwara style.

These temples are built in the Dilwara style that is famous all over the world for its architecture. The style got its name from the famous 'Dilwara Temples' situated on Mount Abu, a famous Hill station and pilgrimage destination in Rajasthan. The Jain temples in the Jaisalmer Fort are dedicated to Rikhabdevji and Shambhavdev Ji, the famous Jain hermits known as 'Tirthankars'. Like all other structures in Jaisalmer, these temples are craved of yellow sandstones. The beautifully carves decorations on the wall will give you divine peace. The Astapadhi Temples that are situated in the same complex are a must visit too.

The temple complex is open through out the morning till 12noon, for the visitors. So try to get up a bit early or you might miss this splendor. The campus also contain Gyan Bhandar library. Well if you are a student of comparative archeology or otherwise, the library will prove to be a good place to prowl as it contains some of the rare manuscripts available in India.

Behind Chandraprabhu temple is Parsvanath temple and is dedicated to Jain tirthankar Sri Parsvanath. A door to the south leads to small Shitalnath, dedicated to the 10th tirthankar, whose image is composed of eight precious metals. A door in the northern wall leads to the enchanting, dim chamber of Sambhavanth. Kunthanath Temple is the most famous of seven temples in the fort complex. The Kunthanath temple is almost a replica of the temple in Hastinapur, which is the birthplace of Lord Kunthanath. The architecture and intricate carvings of the temple is the main draw here.

The 16th century Shantinath temple is one of seven Jain temples within the Golden Fort. It was built in 1536 AD and is dedicated to Sri Shantinath. The beautiful idol of the saint has been majestically carved. The temple is known for its architecture and religious significance. This complex also has a Gyan Bhandar Library which is the best place to get rare manuscripts in India. Travellers can take a rickshaw or shared auto rickshaw inside the fort for visiting these temples.