Adinatha Temple

Adinatha Temple is a Jain temple located in the Eastern Group of Temples at Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. Dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankara Adinatha (Rishabhanatha), it was built in the late 11th century during the Chandela period. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Khajuraho Group of Monuments, it is noted for its Nagara-style architecture, elegant proportions, and finely carved sculptures including a celebrated yakshi figure.

Visitors can expect a compact, well-preserved Jain temple set within the Eastern Group complex on a raised platform. The temple features a sanctum, vestibule and mandapa with intricate exterior carvings of yakshis, deities and geometric patterns, and a black schist image of Lord Adinatha inside. The surroundings are open and quiet compared to the Western Group, allowing close viewing of architecture and photography of detailed stonework.

Built in the late 11th century during the Chandela dynasty, Adinatha Temple represents the later phase of Khajuraho temple construction. It is one of the well-preserved Jain temples of the Eastern Group and forms part of the Khajuraho Group of Monuments inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 for its outstanding Nagara temple architecture and sculptural art.

The temple is sacred to Jains as it is dedicated to Adinatha, the first Tirthankara. It reflects the religious tolerance and coexistence of Hindu and Jain traditions at Khajuraho and showcases the region's classical sculptural and architectural heritage that continues to be important for pilgrimage, cultural study and heritage tourism.