Rajasthan's Jain Temples in 4 Days: Dilwara, Ranakpur, Nakoda and Lodurva TRIP BLOG Photo: Ingo Mehling · CC BY-SA 3.0
India · Rajasthan · Mount Abu

Rajasthan's Jain Temples in 4 Days: Dilwara, Ranakpur, Nakoda and Lodurva

4 DAYS 4 places by WaTrips

The marble Dilwara temples on Mount Abu, Ranakpur's forest of pillars, Nakoda in the Barmer hills and Lodurva near Jaisalmer.

Rajasthan's Jain temples are some of the finest stone carving anywhere. Day one is Mount Abu's Dilwara temples, where the marble is cut so fine it looks like lace; they open to visitors around noon and photos are not allowed inside. Day two is Ranakpur's Chaumukha temple in a forested valley, with 1,444 carved pillars, no two alike. Day three visits Nakoda, a busy pilgrimage temple in the hills near Balotra. Day four ends at Lodurva, the old capital near Jaisalmer, whose golden-stone temple has a beautiful carved gateway. Leather items are not allowed in the temples; October to March is best.

01
STOP 1 OF 4

Dilwara Temples

The Dilwara temples near Mount Abu are a group of Jain temples built between the 11th and 16th centuries, renowned for some of the finest marble carving in the world. The Vimal Vasahi, built in 1031, and the Luna Vasahi, built in 1230, have ceilings, pillars and doorways carved in astonishingly intricate detail. Photography is not allowed inside. The temples open to non-Jain visitors from midday.

Best weather: Nov – Mar
02
STOP 2 OF 4

Ranakpur Jain Temple

The Chaumukha temple at Ranakpur, dedicated to Adinatha, is one of the largest and most important Jain temples in India. It was built in the 15th century by the merchant Dharna Shah under the patronage of Rana Kumbha of Mewar. The white marble temple has 1,444 carved pillars, said to be no two alike, supporting domes and halls arranged around a four-faced shrine. Non-Jains may enter from midday.

Best weather: Nov – Mar
03
STOP 3 OF 4

Nakoda Jain Temple

Nakoda is a major Jain pilgrimage site in the hills near Balotra. The main temple is dedicated to Parshvanatha, whose black stone image is said to have been installed here in the medieval period, and pilgrims also worship the guardian deity Nakoda Bhairav. The marble complex has finely carved halls and several subsidiary shrines. It is busiest at the fair on Paush Krishna Dashami.

Best weather: Nov – Mar
04
STOP 4 OF 4 · LAST STOP

Lodurva Jain Temple

Lodurva was the capital of the Bhati Rajputs before Jaisalmer was founded, and was sacked more than once in the 11th and 12th centuries. Its Jain temple, dedicated to Parshvanatha, was rebuilt in the 17th century in golden sandstone. It is known for an elaborately carved torana gateway, fine jali screens and a metal Kalpavriksha, the wish-fulfilling tree. It lies a short drive from Jaisalmer.

Best weather: Nov – Mar

Seasons from 20 years of NASA POWER climate data.

Was this trip blog helpful?

0
0

Ready to follow this route?

Copy all 4 stops into your trip plans in the app.

Open in WaTrips
More trip blogs