Kankali Tila

Kankali Tila is an ancient archaeological mound located in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, renowned as a major Jain archaeological site. Excavated in the late 19th century, it yielded a large number of Jain sculptures, ayagapatas (votive tablets), inscriptions and architectural remains dating from the 2nd century BCE to the 12th century CE. Most antiquities are now housed in the Government Museum, Mathura and Lucknow Museum.

Visitors can expect an open, low earthen mound marking the excavated site in a semi-urban setting near Holigate in Mathura. The site itself is largely open ground with limited standing structures, as most sculptures and tablets discovered here have been moved to museums. Visitors can see the mound area, informational markers, and get a sense of the ancient Jain settlement layout. It is a quiet, historical site primarily for sightseeing and understanding Mathura's ancient heritage.

Kankali Tila was first noticed by Alexander Cunningham in 1871 and systematically excavated by Alois Anton Fuhrer in 1890-91. Excavations revealed a continuous Jain occupation from around the 2nd century BCE to the 12th century CE, including remains of Jain stupas, votive tablets (ayagapatas), stone images of Jain Tirthankaras, pillars and inscriptions. The finds established Mathura as a major centre of Jain art and provided key evidence for the development of Jain iconography and Brahmi inscriptions in ancient India.

The site is culturally significant as one of the most important Jain archaeological sites in India, representing the prominence of Jainism in ancient Mathura. The ayagapatas and Tirthankara images discovered here illustrate early Jain religious art and worship practices and are considered important examples of Mathura art.