Shri Digambar Jain Temple

Shri Digambar Jain Temple is a prominent Jain temple located on Jain Temple Road in Dimapur, Nagaland's largest city. Built in 1947 and dedicated to Lord Mahavira, it is noted for its intricate glasswork, ornate domes and detailed marble carvings. The temple serves the small Jain community of Nagaland and attracts visitors for its peaceful atmosphere, architectural craftsmanship and religious significance in a predominantly Christian state.

Visitors can expect a compact, ornate temple complex in central Dimapur with a domed exterior, intricate glass mosaic work, marble pillars and carved interiors. The main sanctum houses idols of Lord Mahavira and other Jain Tirthankaras. The surroundings are urban and busy, with market areas nearby. Inside, the atmosphere is quiet and devotional, with space for prayer, circumambulation and viewing detailed craftsmanship. Photography is typically allowed in outer areas but restricted inside the sanctum.

The temple was built in 1947 by the local Jain business community, notably families of Seth Kanhaiyalal Sethi, Hardev Sethi, Jethmal Sethi and Phulchand Sethi who had settled in Dimapur before Independence. Dedicated to Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, it was constructed to serve the Jain traders from Rajasthan who established Dimapur as a commercial centre. It remains the oldest and most prominent Jain temple in Nagaland.

The temple is the principal religious centre for the Digambar Jain community in Nagaland and a notable example of Jain architecture in Northeast India. It reflects the cultural presence of the Jain community in a predominantly Christian state and is visited during Jain festivals such as Mahavir Jayanti and Paryushana for prayers and community gatherings.