18N / 19D Jain temples and wildlife tour of Rajasthan
Blend spiritual exploration with cultural and natural experiences.
Day 1: Be met upon arrival at Delhi airport and transferred to the hotel. Overnight.
Day 2: After breakfast, drive to Jaipur (distance 306.6 km / time 4 hrs 34 mins). Check in at the hotel upon arrival. In the evening, visit the Chulgiri Digamber Jain Temple, perched on a hill and offering panoramic views with serene surroundings. One may drive right up to the temple. A 20 feet tall statue of Mahavir swamy is installed here. Have Jain food on the site (with direct payment). No entry fee. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.
Day 3: After breakfast, drive through the winding streets of Sanganer village for a real feel of old Jaipur to visit the Sanganer Digambar Jain temple. Devoted to Lord Adinath, this is an ancient temple renowned for its intricate carvings and red sandstone architecture. Have lunch on site at the bhojan shala (with direct payment). Attend prayers and take a spiritual walk. Please remove your shoes and socks before entering the premises. Also, do not carry leather belts or bags. After the visit, avail the opportunity to explore Jaipur’s other landmarks like the City Palace or the Jantar Mantar. Dinner at the hotel and overnight.
Day 4: After breakfast, proceed from Jaipur to Bikaner (distance approx. 330 km/ time 5 hrs 36 mins.). After checking into the hotel, visit the Bhandasar Jain temple which is famous for its exquisite frescoes and gold leaf paintings. This temple was built in the 15th century of red sandstone and is painted inside unlike other temples. It was constructed using ghee (clarified butter) as a raw material instead of water. The columns are richly painted with miniatures depicting mythological and spiritual subjects. It is dedicated to the fifth Tirthankar Sumatinath Ji. Photography is permitted inside. The roads are narrow and hence there may be some delay due to traffic jams. Advisable to take a rickshaw from a car drop-off point. Washroom facilities are limited. No entry fee. The priest gives detailed information about the place. Dinner at the hotel and overnight.
Day 5: After breakfast. Visit the Junagarh Fort which rises majestically from the sandy expanse of the Thar desert. This imposing citadel was built in 1478 and is an amalgamation of diverse cultural influences. Follow this with a visit to the unique Karni Mata temple known for its 25,000 resident rats! These are worshipped here and regarded as the children of the Goddess Karni Mata. The solid silver doors of this temple are also a major attraction. They have panels depicting scenes from the legends surrounding the Goddess. Karni Mata is an incarnation of the Goddess Durga. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: After breakfast, travel from Bikaner to Jaisalmer (distance approx. 330 km/time 4 hrs 56 mins.). In the evening, explore the local markets of Jaisalmer.
Day 7: Visit the Jaisalmer Fort Jain temples, which form a complex of seven Svetambara Jain temples dating from the 12th to the 16th centuries. They are built of yellow sandstone and showcase intricate carvings and house ancient manuscripts. They are dedicated to the Tirthankars Parshvanatha, Chandraprabha, Rishabhanatha, Sambhavanatha, Shitalanatha, Shantinath and Kunthunatha. Appropriate dress is mandatory which should cover the shoulders and legs. Shorts are not permitted. Enter bare feet, though socks are allowed. No fee for Indians except Rs.50/- for mobile phones. Photography is permitted. For foreigners there is a small entrance fee. Tipping is commonplace. Some steps to be climbed to see the temple from inside. Best enjoyed as a guided tour. To be visited during the morning hours since the complex shuts down in the evening.
Follow this with a visit to the Lodurva Jain temple which is known for its architectural beauty. This too belongs to the Svetambara sect and is dedicated to Parshvanath Ji. At the entrance there is a beautiful Toran and if viewed through this the temple seems garlanded! The design of the edifice shows Chinese influence since this region was a part of the Silk Route and an entry point into India. A Kalpataru tree is enclosed in a stone structure with only its frozen blacktop visible from the outside. This is believed to be a wish-fulfilling tree. The monks residing here explain the history of the temple. In the evening, return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8: Jaisalmer to Jodhpur via Osian (distance approx. 300 km/ Time approx. 4 hrs.). Visit the Mahavira Jain temple at Osian. This is an 8th-century temple and is one of the oldest surviving ones in western India. In some temples of the complex women are not permitted. No entrance fee. Black clothing has to be covered with white cloth which the temple authorities provide. Photography is not permitted within the temples. Photographs may be taken at the point where the shoes are removed. No stairs to be climbed. There is provision to enjoy Jain meals. Upon arrival at Jodhpur, relax and explore local bazaars. Dinner and overnight stay at Jodhpur.
Day 9: At Jodhpur. Visit the Nakodaji Jain temple which is dedicated to Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankar and predecessor of Mahavira. According to accounts in the Jain scripture the Kalpa-sutra, he once saved a serpent that had been trapped in a log in an ascetic’s fire. The snake, later reborn as Dharana, the lord of the underworld kingdom of nagas (snakes), sheltered Parshvanatha from a storm sent by a demon. Follow with a visit to the Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant Thada.
Day 10: Jodhpur to Ranakpur (distance approx. 160 km/ time 2 hrs and 44 mins.). Upon checking into the hotel at Ranakpur, visit the Ranakpur Jain temple which is a 15th-century marvel with 1,444 uniquely carved pillars, dedicated to Adinatha. There are audio handsets to describe its history. The temple is open to people of the Jain faith in the morning but for others it is accessible from 12 noon to 5 PM. Ranakpur along with Muchhal Mahavir, Narlai, Nadol and Varkana forms the “Gorwad Panch Tirth”.
Day 11: Ranakpur to Mount Abu ( distance approx. 160 kms/ time 3 hrs 12 mins. ). The Dilwara Temples are renowned for their stunning marble architecture and intricate carvings, dating from the 11th to the 16th centuries. Also visit the Nakki Lake and enjoy the hill station’s ambiance.
Day 12: At Mount Abu: explore additional sites like Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple and Adhar Devi Temple. Relax amidst the natural beauty of Mount Abu.
Day 13: Travel from Mount Abu to Ajmer (distance approx. 365 kms/ time 6 hrs 17 mins.). Check in at the hotel and overnight stay.
Day 14: Pay a visit to the Ajmer Jain Temple (Soniji Ki Nasiyan) which is known for the ‘Swarna Nagri’(City of Gold), depicting Jain cosmology with gold-plated wooden figures.
Day 15: Ajmer to Sariska Tiger Reserve (distance approx. 241 kms time 4 hrs 27 mins.). Upon arrival, relax at the lodge/hotel. At night, the absence of significant light pollution allows for the visibility of a multitude of constellations, planets, and the Milky Way. Overnight.
Day 16: At Sariska: After breakfast, embark on the early morning safari which lasts for about three and a half hours. While returning from the safari, explore the Sariska Fort.
Day 17: After breakfast, visit Natni Ka Bara River, where you can observe nearly 200 tortoises swimming among various fishes, crocodiles and fishing birds. Take some beautiful photographs before heading back to Delhl. Sariska to Delhi ( distance 236 kms time 4 hrs 9 mins.). Overnight stay in Delhi.
Day 18: Visit the Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir which is Delhi’s oldest Jain temple, established in 1656, featuring a unique bird hospital. There are a set of rules for the visit, proper decorum must be shown at all times, no chewing gum etc. The Padmavati Mata idol here is worshipped by people of the Jain community all over the world. There is a belief that “Maa ke darbar se koi bhi khali haat nahin jata” (nobody is turned away empty handed from the court of the Goddess). Explore Chandni Chowk and nearby historical sites.Day 19: Depending on your schedule, enjoy some last-minute shopping or sightseeing before departure.