Kanch Temple

This Jain temple is frequently visited by people across faiths and religions.

About Temple

Located in the Indore district of Madhya Pradesh, Kanch Temple is known for its uniqueness across the world. The interiors of this 102-year-old temple are completely made up of glass. From the roof to pillars, doors, windows and chandeliers, everything is ornamented with glass. Though it is a temple of the Jain community, it is frequented by people from across faiths and religions. You cannot escape being spellbound by the enchanting beauty and craftsmanship embodied by the temple.

History of the temple

The construction of Kanch Temple was started in 1903 by Sir Seth Hukumchand, a noted industrialist and a resident of Indore. He built a grand residence at Itwaria Bazaar, named Sheesh Mahal and the Kanch Mandir was constructed next to it. While Seth Hukumchand built it with a wish for a personal temple, it was later opened to the entire public. Notably, the temple was built at an astounding cost of 1 lakh 62 thousand rupees, with the involvement of nearly 250 workers. The temple is adorned with eye-catching artworks and murals that speak of Jain philosophy and spirituality.

Significance of the temple

The temple premises are filled with depictions of Jain Gurus and Munis and ornamented portrayals of tales from Jain philosophy and mythology. A golden chariot and carriage are also present here, which are taken out every year for the annual Rath Yatra. Further, Further, the festivals of Sugandh Dashmi and Collective Kshamavani are also observed here. The temple is known as Chaityalaya because the complete consecration of the Gods could not be performed there.

Architecture of the temple

Notably, Seth Hukumchand himself prepared the architectural design of the Kanch Temple. Its sanctum houses an alluring idol of Shree Chandrapha Bhagwan, who is accompanied by Adinath Bhagwan on his right. The statue of Adinath Bhagwan (Lord Mahavira) is made up of shining black onyx, which was sourced from Jaipur. The glass used for the construction of the temple was brought from Belgium and the carvings were done by artists from Iran and Jaipur. Given the glasswork, the interiors of the temple resound with a 3D effect that heightens its appeal. Interestingly, cement was not used for building this temple and the rocks have been joined using a mixture of lime.

Temple Timings

Timing

Temple timings

10:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Offerings of the temple

Travel Details

The below are the travel details for the temple

Travel Icon Airplane
Devi Ahalya Bai International Airport is the closest airport to Kanch Temple, placed 5.8 km away from it. Buses and autos are easily available here.
The temple lies at a distance of 2.7 km from the Indore Railway Station. You can take a bus or auto from there.
Kanch Temple is located 1.3 km from Gangwal Bus Stand, which offers connectivity to different districts across Madhya Pradesh. You can avail of the bus services provided by the state transport corporation or private agencies.

Social Media

Social media associated with the temple