Dilwara Temples is also covered in our Mount Abu guide, which is the main page for it: Dilwara Temples in the Mount Abu guide.
The short answer
Dilwara Temples: what visitors should know first
The best day trip from Ambaji for anyone who enjoys carved marble. Go early, check the visiting hours and camera rules on arrival, and combine with Kumbhariya, whose carving is often compared with Dilwara.
History and context
The story behind Dilwara Temples
The Vimal Vasahi was completed around 1031 under Vimal Shah, a Jain minister under Bhima I of the Chaulukya dynasty. The Luna Vasahi was built by 1230 by the brothers Vastupala and Tejpala. Other temples followed between 1459 and 1582.
The five temples are Vimal Vasahi, Luna Vasahi, Pittalhar, Parshvanath and Mahavir Swami.
Useful facts
Dilwara Temples facts at a glance
- Location
- Near Mount Abu, Sirohi district, Rajasthan
- Experience type
- Jain temple complex
- Known for
- White marble carving
- Built
- c. 1031 to 1582
- Distance
- About 45 km from Ambaji by road
Why it matters
Why Dilwara Temples is worth your time
Dilwara is the high point of Maru-Gurjara marble carving, and Kumbhariya's Mahavira temple is often compared with it. Seeing both lets you trace the style across two states.
The temples remain active places of worship managed by the Seth Shri Kalyanji Anandji Pedhi. Visiting it from Ambaji places the smaller carved temples of Banaskantha in context, and shows how a region of marble quarries produced a tradition of devotional architecture that spread across Rajasthan and Gujarat. Because both sites are active places of worship, the visit works best when approached as a pilgrim would, quietly, with attention to ceilings, pillars and the small figures carved into every surface of the marble.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Vimal Vasahi
The earliest temple, completed around 1031.
- 02
Luna Vasahi
Built by 1230 by Vastupala and Tejpala.
- 03
Carved ceilings
Look up for the finest work.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Treat Dilwara as a half-day trip from Ambaji. Start early to arrive before the tour groups, since the carved ceilings are best seen in quiet. The complex has five temples within one walled compound, and the Vimal Vasahi and Luna Vasahi are the best known; allow time to look up.
Know in advance that interiors have strict rules, with posted visiting hours for tourists, and that devotees bathe before worship. Dress modestly and be prepared to leave bags and phones outside.
For a fuller picture of Mount Abu, see the Raahzo guide to Mount Abu; here, Dilwara is simply the best pairing with Kumbhariya on a Jain-temple day.
Plan with confidence
Small decisions that make the visit easier.
- Go early
- Dress modestly
- Check camera rules
- Arrange a car for the day
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Mount Abu, Rajasthan, about 45 km from Ambaji by road
- Time needed
- Half a day including the drive
- Best time
- Early morning, October to March
- Walking level
- Moderate
- Senior comfort
- Level marble floors inside, but a lot of standing and shuffling in queues; the drive up the mountain is winding. Plan a car for the whole day.
- Tickets and access
- Visiting hours are set by the temple management and tour times are posted outside; check on arrival. Expect rules about dress, leather and cameras.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Dilwara Temples
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
Level marble floors inside, but a lot of standing and shuffling in queues; the drive up the mountain is winding. Plan a car for the whole day.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
How far is Dilwara from Ambaji?
About 45 km by road to Mount Abu.
Who built Dilwara?
Vimal Shah built the earliest; Vastupala and Tejpala built the Luna Vasahi by 1230.
Can non-Jains visit?
Yes, during posted tourist hours.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.