Grand Tour

of five Sacred Jaina Sites

This chapter is both a logical sequence of the previous one as well as an itinerary for travellers with limited time at their disposal, be they overseas Jainas on business or simply tourists. Those who follow the suggested tour will be amazed at what there is to be seen in so short a time and without having to sit in a vehicle for longer than a few hours at a time.

Starting from Abu Road, a town which can comfortably be reached from Delhi by fast night trains (but also by luxury buses from cities like Jaipur, Udaipur and Ahmedabad), the round tour devised here can be done very cheaply using public buses.

For people pressed for time or travelling in a group, it is advisable to charter a jeep for the total tour. This can be done at Abu Road bus-station or up at Mount Abu town. Having a car at one’s disposal means no waiting for buses and no hiring of short-distance transport at Dilwara, Ambaji and Idar.

1- Vimala Vasahi (Adinatha), 1031-32.

2- Luna Vasahi (Neminatha), 1230-31.

3- Pittalahara Adinatha Temple, 15th century.

4-Kharatara Vasahi (Parshvanatha), c. 1458-59.

227. Plan of the Dilwara Jaina Temples on Mount Abu.

5-Digambara Mahavira Temple.