Bhandasar Jain Temple

Bhandasar Jain Temple is an ancient temple situated in Bikaner town of Rajasthan. It is one of the top places of pilgrimage in Bikaner and also one among the most enchanting Bikaner tourist attractions.

Bhandasar Jain Temple was constructed by Bhandasa Oswal, a Jain merchant in the year 1468 AD and was completed after his death in 1514 AD. The temple is dedicated to Sumatinath, the fifth Tirthankar. It is believed that the temple was made with 40,000 kilograms of ghee instead of mortar, which locals insist oozes through the walls on hot days.

Bhandasar Jain Temple reflects the grandeur of Rajputana architecture. This three storeyed temple is built of red sandstone and is mainly famous for wall paintings and usta art. The temple is known for its gold-leaf work and artistically sculpted pillars. The pillars of the temple have floral designs. The Bhandasar Jain Temple is decorated with beautiful frescoes that narrate the story of 24 Jain Tirthankars. The mirror work of the temple is among the major attractions of the temple. The ground floor of the temple possesses a white marble statue of Lord Sumatinath perched on a silver throne atop a 2 feet high pavilion. The sandstone pillars in the ground floor of the temple are embellished with beautiful sculptures.

The first floor of the Bhandasar Jain Temple is fairly simple though the second floor is a little elaborate and offers a sanctum for statutes of Jain deities. There are several artistically carved balconies on the first and second floors of the Bhandasar Jain temple that offers great views of Bikaner. Besides Bhandasar Jain Temple, Sandeshwar Temple is the second Jain Temple in Bikaner. This temple is smaller than Bhandasar Jain Temple but contains brilliant carvings on doors and pillars.