Khandargiri Jain Temples

Khandargiri Jain Temples are a group of Digambara Jain temples and rock-cut caves located on Khandargiri Hill just south of Chanderi town in Ashoknagar district, Madhya Pradesh. The hilltop complex is an important Jain pilgrimage centre known for its ancient rock-cut Tirthankara images, shrines housing large Jain idols, and panoramic views over Chanderi. The temples show architectural features dating from the 9th to 11th centuries with later restorations and remain an active religious site.

Visitors can expect a short climb up stone steps to a hilltop complex of Jain temples, shrines and rock-cut caves. The site contains large stone idols of Jain Tirthankaras including Adinatha, carved niches, pillared halls and smaller shrines set among rocky outcrops. The hilltop offers open views of Chanderi town, Chanderi Fort and surrounding landscape. The environment is quiet and pilgrimage-focused with areas for prayer and circumambulation.

The Khandargiri Jain temples and rock-cut images are dated primarily to the 9th to 11th centuries, with later renovations. Chanderi was an important centre under Pratihara, Chandela and later Bundela patronage, and the hill preserves early medieval Jain art including colossal rock-cut figures of Tirthankaras carved into the hillside, reflecting the long-standing Jain presence in the region.

The complex is a significant Digambara Jain pilgrimage site dedicated to Jain Tirthankaras, especially Adinatha. It remains an active place of worship and is visited during Jain festivals such as Mahavir Jayanti. The site reflects Jain religious traditions, iconography and temple architecture of central India.