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Hindu Jain Temple
Photo by: Mckay Savage , Creative Commons

India boasts of many temples of the Jain faith. These temples are not only places of worship for those who practice the Jain faith, but they have also become tourist attractions because of their exotic architecture. Many temples are actually located in a pilgrimage site and people regard the whole area as a sacred place. The more prominent temples are located in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Gujarat.

The town of Hastinapur is considered to be one of the Jain religion’s most elaborate pilgrimage sites. In the town itself, there are at least twelve Jain temples. What sets them apart from most Jain temples is the simplicity of their architecture, a testament to the Jain qualities of prudence and integrity. Many believe that the temples here are the closest when it comes to perfection in architecture. The most popular Jain temples in Hastinapur include the Bada Mandir, where you can find an elaborate image of Bhagwan underneath the temple’s central dome. A more recent addition is the Lotus Temple, which was only completed in 1989. This small house of worship is located in a beautiful courtyard of yet another temple, the Jambudweep. There are facilities in the area for worshipers preparing for puja (prayer offering ritual).

The temples in the state of Jharkkhans are located in the picturesque and hilly pilgrimage site of Shikharji or Parasnath Hills. Most common to the temples here would be their chaumukh, or four-faced structure. Lastly, temples in Gujarat are situated in the religious town of Palitana. At least 1,300 temples are in this town, majority of them made out of marble. The collection of these small yet ornate temples is simply a site to behold.

There are only very few guides in these temples so you may just want to explore the sites by yourself. Make sure to be very respectful though and avoid going into areas without permission.