Jain Temple Bhandasar

Dedicated to the fifth Tirthankara of Jain religion, Sumatinath, Bhandasar Jain Temple is one of the most enchanting tourist spots in Bikaner, Rajasthan. Made of red stone and decorated with paintings, frescos, mirror work, this beautiful Jain temple reflects the grandeur of Rajputana architecture. Known as the oldest Jain temple in Rajasthan, Bhandasar is thronged by many tourists and pilgrims around the globe throughout the year.

Visitor information:

Famous for: History, architecture religious purpose, tourism

Entrance fee: No

Timings: 5 AM - 1 PM & 5.30 PM - 11.30 PM

Visiting duration: almost 1 hour

Traveler tips:

• As tourists are not allowed to carry leather items in the temple premises, you have to keep leather belongings outside the temple in designated places free of cost.

• It is prohibited to carry food especially non-veg items in the temple.

• Since the temple is not very huge, you can plan a day visiting other nearby popular attractions.

• Try not to planning a trip to Bhandasar temple between May and June, because during the summer months the temperature gets very high in this region.

History:

Bhandasar Jain temple was built by a renowned Jain merchant Bhandasa Oswal in 1468AD and was completed in 1514 after his demise. As per legends, the temple was made with 40,000 kilograms of ghee instead of mortar. This two-storeyed temple has a garbhagriha, antarala, mahamandapa, and ardhamandapa.

Architecture: Adorned with gold leaf paintings, beautiful frescoes and stunning mirror work, this temple is no less than an architectural masterpiece. Made of red sandstone, this temple is mainly famous for wall paintings and gold leaf work. The walls of the temple are painted with illustrations depicting the lives of the 24 Tirthankaras. Decorated with beautifully sculpted pillars, intricate mirror work, and paintings, the interiors are the major attraction of Bhandasar Jain temple. The ground floor of the temple has a white marble statue of Lord Sumatinath which is placed atop a 2 feet high pavilion.

Things to do

• Witness the grandeur of Rajputana architecture by exploring the stunning artwork, mirror woks done on the walls and pillar of the temple.

• The marketplace is near to the temple. Visit the market to shop for some typical Rajasthan items and eat traditional foods.

• If you are a history buff who is interested in knowing the area, you can spend some time with the locals as they are a great source of information.

Best time to visit

As the weather can be extremely hot during summer months in this desert oriented area, it is recommended to plan a trip to Bhandasar temple in winter. The most pleasant time to plan a tour to Bikaner is from November to Mach.

How to reach?

• By train: Located at a distance of 3km, Bikaner Junction is the nearest station from Bhandasar temple. Bikaner is well connected with all major cities of India by many railway lines.

• By bus/car: Bikaner is well connected with all major cities of North India like Chandigarh, Delhi, Jaipur, etc. via National and State Highways. A large number of owned and private buses, deluxe luxury coaches are available from all major cities of the country to Bikaner.

• By flight: The Bhandasar Temple is up to 248 km far from Jodhpur airport. Tourists can reach the Bhandasar Jain temple by hiring private cabs or by public transport from the airport.

Nearby attractions

If planning a day trip to Bhandasar temple in Bikaner, you should include the following places to your itinerary.

• Junagarh Fort

• Karni Mata temple

• Sadul museum

• Laxmi Nath temple

• Lallgarh palace

• National research center on a camel

Plan a trip to the Jain temple Bhandasar, Bikaner to soak in the serenity and to explore the stunning architecture of the Rajputana period.