Shankheshwar Jain Temple

The Shankheshwar Jain Tirth, in the centre of Shankheshwar town in Patan district, is dedicated to Parshvanatha and ranks next only to the temples of Shatrunjaya at Palitana among Shvetambara Jain pilgrimage sites. Ancient texts call the place Shankhapur. The temple has a long history of rebuilding: Sajjan Shah renovated it in 1098, Vastupala and Tejpal in 1229, and after its destruction by Alauddin Khalji it was raised again more than once; the present temple dates from 1811.

The main image is a white Parshvanatha, nearly 182 cm high, seated in padmasana, one of 108 celebrated images of this tirthankara, with Bhidbhanjan Parshvanath and Ajitnatha in small shrines on either side and figures of Dharanendra, Padmavati and Chakreshwari. Thousands come to fast here at Diwali and on set days in Posh and Magasar. The town also has other Jain temples, including the Agam Mandir and the large 108 Parshvanath Bhaktivihar complex, and the main temple is currently being renovated.