With only four million followers, Jainism is a very minority religion in India. Yet its temples are among the most beautiful monuments in the country. Discover these marble marvels…

863 temples have been built on the hill of Palitana!

The most impressive Jain temples are located in the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat, where more than half of this religious community lives. These buildings were all constructed in honor of one of the 24 spiritual guides venerated by Jains, the Tirthankaras.

Visiting these architectural marvels also means learning about Jainism. The five rules of this religion are as follows: spare all animal and human life, remain chaste, speak the truth, possess nothing, and do not eat at night to avoid accidentally swallowing an insect! The observance of these strict rules forged the reputation of Jains, considered respectable and trustworthy by other Indians. This may explain the wealth of this community. When they commissioned the construction of these temples with such fine architecture and delicate details, they paid their workers the equivalent in gold of the marble dust they produced…

In Rajasthan, you must visit the sites of Ranakpur and Mount Abu. The first, located three hours' drive from Udaipur, houses the magnificent temple of Adinath, arguably the most grandiose Jain temple in India. Built in the 15th century in honor of the first Tirthankara Shri Adinath, it took more than fifty years to complete. It spans 1,500 square meters and has a total of 1,444 marble pillars, all sculpted with incredible finesse.

Mount Abu is located one hour from the Gujarat border and 180 kilometers from Udaipur. Here you will find the Dilwara temples. Hundreds of pilgrims walk along the roadside that leads there. They refuse to take the bus because it could kill insects on the road! After six hours of walking, they arrive at this splendid complex of five Jain temples built between the 11th and 13th centuries. Each temple is dedicated to a different Tirthankara, and the two main ones are entirely built of marble. Between the carved arches and columns, the ceilings and domes carved from single blocks, you won't know where to look first.

Other splendid complexes of Jain temples are scattered throughout Gujarat. The most important remains that of Palitana. South of Ahmedabad, on the road to Diu, this sacred hill is a pilgrimage site that Jains must visit at least once in their lifetime. 3,500 steps lead to the summit, where no fewer than 863 Jain temples dominate the surrounding landscape. The earliest date back to the 2nd century, and you can observe, carved in marble, classic figures of lotus flowers, dancers, and flute players. Many ceremonies take place throughout the day in the various temples. You will encounter tourists and Jains dressed entirely in white, masks over their mouths, sweeping the ground before them to harm no one with their steps.