The exquisitely carved marble temples of Dilwara in Mount Abu are the finest examples of Jain temples in India. The hallmark of these temples is the crisp translucent shell-like treatment of marble which surpasses anything seen elsewhere. No matter how much one hears or reads about these temples, nothing can prepare one for the sheer elegance and beauty of marble as displayed here. Mount Abu, where the Dilwara temples are located, is referred to as Arbudgiri in ancient Hindu and Jain scriptures and is the only hill-station in Rajasthan as well as a very important Jain pilgrimage center.  

The period from AD 800 to 1200 was one of great social awakening and religious fervor among the people of this region and this is reflected in the architecture of these temples. Jainism (an ancient Indian religion that originated in 600 BC) found its firm foundation in Rajasthan. With matrimonial alliances between Mughal and Rajput rulers and a liberal policy towards Hindus adopted by the great Mughal Akbar, this was a period of tranquility in most parts of Rajasthan. Jain faith belonged to the prosperous merchant class; and they expressed their devotion by donating large sums of money for the construction of intricately carved temples made of marble. These temples were dedicated to their saints known as the tirthankars and also served as storehouses of illustrated manuscripts and treatises.

There are altogether four important temples in Dilwara: the Vimal Vashi temple, the Luna Vashi temple, the Adinath temple and the Parshvanath temple. Among all these the Vimal Vashi and the Luna Vashi are the most notable.  

The nearest airport to Mount Abu is Udaipur (185 km) from where one can hire a taxi or take a bus. The nearest railway station is Abu Road 29 km away. Abu Road is connected to both Ahmedabad and Jodhpur.

The Dilwara temples have been described as a dream in marble.

Visiting Hours: 10 AM to 5 PM. Closed on Monday and gazetted holidays.