Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir

Overview

The most well-known and oldest Jain temple in Delhi is Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir, one of the top places to visit in Delhi. The beautiful building, made entirely of red sandstone, stands in the Chandni Chowk area, close to the Red Fort. Builders first constructed the temple in 1658. Since then, they have changed and improved it many times.

The temple is dedicated to Parshvanath, the 23rd Jain Tirthankara. It is popular as Lal Mandir or the "Red Temple." The temple has a big statue of Parshvanath and statues of Rishabhdev, Lord Mahavir, and other gods. The main place for worship is on the first floor, though.

Who built Sri Digambar Jain Lal Temple?

The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built the old city of Delhi. History tells us he built a walled town and lived in the Red Fort. He also let some Jain traders come to the town to trade and gave them land in the Dariba Gali neighbourhood, south of the Red Fort. The merchants built a temporary Jain temple in the area with his blessing, which still stands today. 

The group that built the temple got three important statues of Jain gods, with Parshvanath being the most important. Later, between 1800 and 1807, Raja Harsukh Rai made some changes to the temple. He added a royal shikhara to make the shrine look even more beautiful. Back then, the temple was famous as "Naya Mandir," which means "new temple."

Architecture 

Right now, people have placed a pillar of honour called the Manastambh in front of the main temple building. The best place to meditate is on the first floor. You will be able to get there by climbing the stairs. Aside from the main shrines for Parshvanath, Mahavir, and Rishabhdev, the temple also has several smaller shrines for other Jain gods. The complex also has a memorial to the famous Digambara Jain monk Acharya Shanti Sagar. Along with the well-known bird hospital, the building has a small bookstore that sells Jain literature and related items.

The best time to visit

If you want to see the temple at its busiest, consider visiting during the holidays of Paryushan, Samvatsari, Jnana Panchami, and Deepawali. The inclusion of this experience into your DELHI TOUR PACKAGE will give you an exclusive view of vibrant celebrations full of cultural richness.