Nareli Jain Temple

The Nareli Jain Temple, also called Sri Gyanodaya Tirth Kshetra, stands on a gentle slope a few kilometres from central Ajmer. Ashok Patni built it under the guidance of the Jain monk Muni Sudha Sagar, and work began in the mid-1990s, so it is a modern rather than an ancient shrine.

The white marble complex holds 24 temples, each for one Tirthankara, and its sharp-edged outline is visible across the surrounding hills. Large idols of Arahnath, Kunthunath and Shantinath, each about 24 tonnes, are among the highlights, and the walls carry detailed stone carving. Gardens and lawns around the temples are used for quiet prayer and meditation. The busiest times are Mahavir Jayanti, in March or April, and Paryushana, in August or September.