Dilwara Temples of Mt. Abu

Dilwara Temples of Mt. Abu

Tradition

Jain / Svetambara / Rajasthani

The Place

• Location: Mount Abu, Sirohi, Rajasthan (24.5926°N, 72.7156°E)

Sacred Narrative

Dilwara Temples (11th–13th c. CE) — 5 marble Jain temples atop Mt. Abu, famed for their intricate marble lacework-carving. Principal shrines: Vimala Vasahi (1021 CE, Ādinātha), Luna Vasahi (1230 CE, Neminātha), Pithalhar, Khartar Vasahi, Mahavir Swāmi. The Vimala Vasahi is considered the most intricate marble carving in India. No photography inside. The temples took 14 years and ~1,500 craftsmen to build the first one.

Why This Entry Matters

India's sacred landscape embraces Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Zoroastrian, tribal, regional-folk traditions — each with its own cosmology and priestly lineage. This entry honours Jain on its own terms.