Dilwara Jain Temple

Dilwara Jain Temple

Dilwara Jain Temple

I had heard a lot about the Dilwara Jain Temples in Mount Abu

which are famous for their sheer architectural brilliance. In fact, many experts even consider them superior to Taj Mahal when it comes to architectural beauty. And this increased my curiosity to see these temples manifold. The first sight of the temples left me with an expression ‘wow’.

The glorious history of Dilwara Jain Temples dates back to the period between 11th to 13th century. Reflecting the era of Jain supremacy, these temples are the most beautiful Jain temples in India. They are ideally perched on a hill in the midst of a mango grove. The most striking feature of the temples is the exquisite and arresting carvings in marble. I was left speechless at the sight of the carvings and ornamental work inside the temples. I think ‘EXTREMELY’ is the prefix which must be added to every adjective you use for the Dilwara Jain Temples and that too in capital letters.

Carvings of the temples:
Deserving a great deal of mention and appreciation, the carvings of the temples leave one thinking about the height of human creativity. Every nook and corner of the temples are adorned with breathtaking carvings. Looking at them I wondered how flawlessly and beautifully the artists transformed plain stones into images which look so mesmerizing. From pillars to ceilings, walls and floors, all the structure of the temples hold their unique charm and beauty. The carvings reflect the images of Jain saints, gods, goddesses, monks, devotees, flowers, royal courts, marriage processions, dance figures and several religious motifs. And the most fascinating aspect is that no design is repeated. Hats off to those artists who made this architectural wonder.

We visited all the five shrines within the complex of Dilwara Jain temples. Built in different centuries, the five shrines are Vimal Vasahi, Luna Vasahi, Pithalhar, Khatter Vasahi (Parshwanath) and Mahaveer swami. The first two are the most talked about temples which are completely made of white marbles with magnificent carvings.

Candidly speaking words are not enough to describe the beauty of Dilwara Jain Temples. One must visit them to experience what architectural beauty is all about.