Ajmer Jain Temple, or as the locals call it, Soniji Ki Nasiyan! is a Digambar Jain temple.
The temple dedicated to Lord Rishabhdev, the first of the 24 Tirthankara of Jainism.
But, the real gem of this temple is the Swarna Nagari, also known as the “City of Gold.” This main chamber boasts several gold-plated wooden figures that depict different aspects of Jainism. And when I say gold, I mean 1000 kg of it! That’s right, this chamber is carved out of wood and plated with real gold.
What’s more, the city of Ayodhya is depicted in intricate detail using this gold plating. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it. And guess what? Only Jains are allowed in the main temple or the Red Temple, so I felt pretty special being there.
But that’s not all, folks! The temple’s founder, Seth Moolchand Soni, had an ambitious idea to create a three-dimensional model of the story of Rishabhdev. And he didn’t stop at just any model. It took artisans at Jaipur twenty-five years to fashion thousands of individual parts required to create this larger-than-life representation. Seth Moolchand Soni unfortunately passed away before he could see his vision come to life, but his legacy lives on.
The temple’s halls are filled with fascinating gilt wooden figures and delicate paintings depicting scenes from Jain scriptures. The entrance gate is made of red sandstone, and the marble staircase leading to the main temple is simply stunning.
Please note, only Jains are allowed in the temple but others can enter the City of Gold museum by paying an entry fee of INR 10/-