Adinath Temple – Sacred Jain Pilgrimage Site on Mount Abu

Hello guys, welcome back to my blog. Today I am going to tell you about the Adinath Temple, a beautiful Jain temple dedicated to Lord Adinath, the first Tirthankara of Jainism. In this post I will cover its history, its architecture, the amazing carvings, some interesting facts, and also how you can visit it. So let’s start.

What is the Adinath Temple, Mount Abu?

The Adinath Temple at Mount Abu is popularly known as Vimal Vasahi. It is the oldest of the five famous Dilwara Jain Temples, which stand in a small village called Dilwara, around 2.5 km from Mount Abu, Rajasthan’s only hill station, as per Wikipedia. The temple is named after its builder, Vimal Shah, and it is famous all over the world for its white marble carvings.

Who is Lord Adinath?

Lord Adinath, also called Rishabhanatha or Rishabhdev, is the first of the 24 Tirthankaras of Jainism. As per Jain belief, he attained moksha at Ashtapada (Mount Kailash). Small fact guys, the Dilwara complex actually has two temples for Adinath, this Vimal Vasahi and the Pittalhar Temple with its big metal idol.

The Dilwara Temples are also part of the Shwetambar “Pancha Tirth” (five main pilgrimages) along with Ashtapad, Girnar, Shatrunjaya and Shikharji. If you ask me, this temple is the best proof that marble can be carved almost like lace.

Quick Facts About the Adinath Temple

Here is a quick table with the main facts, so you get the idea in one look.

Fact	Details
Other names	Vimal Vasahi, Adinath Jain Temple
Location	Dilwara, around 2.5 km from Mount Abu, Rajasthan
Dedicated to	Lord Adinath (Rishabhanatha), the 1st Tirthankara
Built by	Vimal Shah, minister of Chaulukya king Bhima I
Built in	Around 1031–1032 CE
Material	White marble from the Arasuri hills near Ambaji
Style	Maru-Gurjara
Workers	1,500 artisans and 1,200 labourers for 14 years
Timings for tourists	12 PM to around 5–6 PM
Entry fee	Free

History of the Adinath Temple

Why Vimal Shah Built It

Vimal Shah was a minister and army commander of Bhima I, the Chaulukya (Solanki) king of Gujarat. As per the book Delwara Jain Temples, published by Seth Kalyanji Parmanandji Pedhi, he won many battles for his king, but later he felt very sorry for the violence of war. A Jain acharya inspired him to build a temple to wash away these sins, and with the blessings of his family goddess Ambika, he started the work.

The Legend of the Land and Gold Coins

There is a lovely legend about how he got the land. As per HereNow4U, the land belonged to local Brahmins, and goddess Ambika showed Vimal Shah in a dream where an old idol of Adinath was buried, to prove that Jains also worshipped here from old times. Even then, the owners asked him to cover the land with gold coins. As per Jain Treasures, Vimal Shah even made special square gold coins, so that not even a small gap of land would remain uncovered.

Another story says goddess Ambika asked him to choose between having a son and building the temple, and he chose the temple. I really love this story, because it shows how dedicated he was.

Construction

As per the Delwara Jain Temples book, it took 14 years, 1,500 artisans and 1,200 labourers to build the temple, under the famous architect Kirtidhar. The marble was brought from the Arasuri hills near Ambaji on the backs of elephants. The total cost is said to be ₹18.53 crore of that time. Work started around 1031 CE, and as per the well-known art historian M.A. Dhaky, the main idol was consecrated in 1032 CE.

Later Additions by Prithvipal

Here is something many people don’t know. As per M.A. Dhaky, the temple Vimal Shah built was quite modest, and its first halls were made of dark stone. Around 1144–1150, Prithvipal, a minister of king Kumarapala and a descendant of Vimal Shah’s family, replaced those halls with the beautiful marble halls and added the ring of small shrines around the temple. Prithvipal also built the Hastishala (elephant hall) in front of the temple in 1147–49. So most of the marble magic we see today came about 100 years after Vimal Shah.

Damage and Restoration

As per Jain records, the temple was badly damaged in 1311 during the time of Alauddin Khilji’s armies, and many idols were broken. In 1321, two brothers named Bijad and Lalag from Mandore (near Jodhpur) did a big repair work, as per the Delwara Jain Temples book. Much later, between 1950 and 1965, some cells were renovated again by the Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi under architect Amritlal Mool Shankar Trivedi.

Architecture of the Adinath Temple

The temple is built in the Maru-Gurjara style with white marble, and the whole shrine covers an area of about 140 ft by 90 ft, as per the Delwara Jain Temples book. One interesting thing guys, from outside the temple looks quite plain, but inside it is full of carvings. As per HereNow4U, the white marble and the open courtyard make the inside very bright, because Jain temples focus on light and the clarity of the soul. Let me take you through it step by step.

Hastishala (Elephant Hall)

Before entering, you see the Hastishala built by Prithvipal. At its entrance there is a statue of Vimal Shah sitting on a horse. Inside, there were ten beautiful marble elephants in three rows, with members of the family riding them, but they were badly damaged in 1311.

Rang Mandap

The Rang Mandap is the grand main hall. Its big round dome stands on twelve decorated pillars and arches, and a carved lotus-like pendant hangs from its centre. On the pillars there are figures of women playing music, and above them are the 16 Vidyadevis, the goddesses of knowledge.

Navchowki

Next comes the Navchowki, a hall with nine ceilings, and each ceiling has a different design. It also has two big niches with idols of Lord Adinath on both sides.

Gudh Mandap and Sanctum

Then comes the Gudh Mandap, a simple hall meant for prayer and aarti. Inside the sanctum sits the main idol of Lord Adinath, and on both sides there are standing white marble idols of Lord Parshvanath in meditation.

The Corridor of Small Shrines

Around the main temple there is a corridor lined with small shrines (devakulikas), and each one has an idol of a Tirthankara. The Delwara Jain Temples book counts 57 cells, though some other sources say 52. In front of every cell there is a double carved ceiling with a double row of pillars, and the cell numbers and idol names are written there. I think the best way to enjoy it is to walk slowly around this corridor and keep looking up at the ceilings.

Famous Carvings and Special Features

The Central Dome: As per the book Jain Pilgrimage, eleven round garlands of carved elephants, horses, ducks and dancers hang from the big dome that stands on twelve pillars. Many people say this dome alone is worth the trip.
16 Vidyadevis: Vimal Shah’s family deity was Ambika, and this probably explains why the 16 goddesses of knowledge get so much importance on the pillars of the dome, as per eSamskriti.
Stories on the Ceilings: Outside the 10th cell you can see the marriage procession of Lord Neminath and Lord Krishna playing in water. Other ceilings show Saraswati riding a peacock and Lakshmi riding an elephant. As per M.A. Dhaky, one cell ceiling even shows Narasimha, a form of Lord Vishnu.
The Ancient Green Idol: Between the 22nd and 23rd cells there is a cave-like shrine with a big dusky-green idol of Lord Adinath. As per the Jain Pilgrimage book, this is the idol Vimal Shah found buried in the earth with the grace of goddess Ambika, before building the temple.
Ambika Shrine: One shrine in the temple has the idol of goddess Ambika, as per Wikipedia.
Samavasarana: Inside the Hastishala there is a round samavasarana, which shows the divine assembly hall where a Tirthankara gives his sermon.

Honestly guys, no photo can show this properly, and anyway photography is not allowed inside. So you have to see it with your own eyes.

Some Interesting Facts

It is said that the artisans were paid in gold according to the weight of marble dust they scraped off, so they kept carving finer and finer, as per Wikipedia and Lonely Planet.
James Tod, the British author of “Annals of Rajasthan”, called it the most superb of all temples of India, and said only the Taj Mahal could come close to it, as per eSamskriti.
Different sources give different years for its building, like 1021, 1026, 1031 or 1032 CE, but all of them agree it is from the early 11th century.
On 14 October 2009, India Post released a special stamp on the Dilwara Jain Temple, along with one on the Ranakpur temple, as per iStampGallery.

The Five Dilwara Temples

When you visit, you will see all five temples inside one walled compound, so here is a quick table.

Temple	Dedicated to	Built
Vimal Vasahi	Lord Adinath (1st)	Around 1031 CE by Vimal Shah
Luna Vasahi	Lord Neminath (22nd)	1230 CE by Vastupal and Tejpal
Pittalhar	Lord Adinath (1st)	By Bhima Shah, minister of Sultan Begada
Parshvanath (Khartar Vasahi)	Lord Parshvanath (23rd)	1458–59, the tallest, with three storeys
Mahavir Swami	Lord Mahavira (24th)	1582, with wall paintings from 1764

If you ask me, Vimal Vasahi and Luna Vasahi are the two you should give the most time to.

Rules and Dress Code for Visitors

As per Incredible India, tourists can enter from 12 PM, and the morning time is kept for Jain devotees who come to worship. Here are the main rules you should know:

Photography is strictly not allowed inside. Phones and cameras have to be deposited in lockers outside, and visitors on Wanderlog say there is a small fee of around ₹50 for this.
Wear decent, full-length clothes. As per visitor reviews, shorts and half pants are not allowed for anyone above 5 years of age.
Leather items like belts and wallets are not allowed, and like in other Jain temples, women are asked not to enter during their periods, as per Rajasthan Driver.
Food and drinks are not allowed inside the temple.
Remove your shoes before entering, and keep your voice low.

I think these rules help to keep the place calm and peaceful, so please follow them happily.

How to Reach, Timings and Best Time to Visit

By Air: The nearest airport is Maharana Pratap Airport in Udaipur, around 176 km from Mount Abu, as per Incredible India. Ahmedabad airport is around 193 km away and has more flights, as per Housing.com.
By Train: The nearest railway station is Abu Road, around 28 km away, and it lies on the busy Delhi–Mumbai rail line.
By Road: Mount Abu is well connected by road to Udaipur, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Delhi. From Mount Abu town you can take a taxi or auto to Dilwara.

Timings and Entry Fee

Tourists can visit from 12 PM to around 5–6 PM, and the entry is free, as per Incredible India. The morning hours are only for Jain worshippers, so plan to reach around noon to get the maximum time inside.

Best Time to Visit

October to March is the best time, because the weather in Mount Abu is pleasant then, as per Bajaj Finserv.

Places to Visit Nearby

After the temple, you can also visit Nakki Lake, Guru Shikhar (the highest peak of the Aravalli Range) and the Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary, as per Outlook Traveller. Achalgarh Fort is also a good option.

FAQs

Who built the Adinath Temple at Mount Abu?

It was built by Vimal Shah, a minister and army commander of the Chaulukya king Bhima I of Gujarat, around 1031 CE. His descendant Prithvipal later added the marble halls and the Hastishala.

Is the Adinath Temple the same as Vimal Vasahi?

Yes, the Adinath Temple of Mount Abu is popularly called Vimal Vasahi, and it is the oldest of the five Dilwara Jain Temples.

What are the timings of the Adinath Temple?

Tourists can visit from 12 PM to around 5–6 PM. The morning hours are for Jain devotees.

Is photography allowed inside the Dilwara temples?

No, photography is strictly not allowed, and phones and cameras have to be kept in lockers outside.

Is there any entry fee?

No, entry to the Dilwara Jain Temples is free.

Final Words

So guys, this was all about the Adinath Temple of Mount Abu, the famous Vimal Vasahi of Dilwara. I have tried to cover its history, legends, architecture and rules for visitors in simple words. For me, this temple teaches that real beauty can be inside, because from outside it looks simple, but inside it is a whole world of marble art. Keep visiting The Indian Architecture for more such blogs.

Sources

Facts checked on Oct 18, 2026.