Dilwara Jain Temples

The Dilwara Jain Temples are a group of five shrines on the wooded slopes of Mount Abu, the only hill station in Rajasthan, in Sirohi district. Each one is dedicated to a different Jain Tirthankara. They are counted among the finest examples of temple building in India, and the quality of their marble work is often compared with that of the Taj Mahal.

The temples were built in stages between the 11th and 16th centuries. Their plain outer walls give little hint of what lies inside, where white marble has been shaped by hand into carved pillars, lotus-pattern ceilings, lace-like filigree and panels that illustrate Jain teaching, all made without modern tools. With forested hills all around, the complex remains a quiet working place of worship as well as a major sight for visitors.