Kumbharia Jain Temples

The Kumbharia Jain Temples are the architectural prize near Ambaji: a cluster of white stone Jain temples in Kumbharia village, a short drive from town. They date mainly from the 11th and 12th centuries and belong to the ornate western Indian temple tradition that rewards slow looking.

The interiors are the point. Pillars, domes, doorframes, and ceilings are cut with patient geometric and figurative carving, and the temples vary enough that the group never feels like repetition. They are active religious sites, so dress and behave accordingly. Photography rules can change; ask before taking pictures inside.

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The temples were built under the Chaulukya, or Solanki, rulers of Gujarat, the same broad architectural world that produced Modhera and many of the region's finest stepwells. Kumbharia is much quieter than those headline monuments, which makes the carving easier to study.

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