Kanch Mandir In Indore, Madhya Pradesh

A quaint Jain shrine, Kanch Mandir in Indore, Madhya Pradesh is an architectural marvel in glass. It was built by Sir Seth Hukumchand of Indore in the 20th Century, with materials for the temple collected from the various sources from different regions of Italy and Europe. Sir Seth Hukumchand was one of the flourishing traders in India and also a business tycoon. He constructed his royal mansion at Itwaria Bazar in Indore which was called Sheesh Mahal and adjacent to it was construction Kanch mandir. The architecture of both these places was royal which involved the use of white stone. The temple looks extremely beautiful all decorated with shiny mirror work. Since it is Jain temple, deities of Tirthankaras can be seen all over the temple. 

Architecture of Kanch Mandir:

Inside the temple, thousands of mirrors adorn the walls, ceilings, floors, pillars and door knobs. The charisma of the temple is further intensified with the delicately crafted Chinese lantern-type glass lamps and cut glass chandeliers. The interiors of the Kanch Mandir in Indore are just mesmerizing. The temple boasts of more than 50 murals depicting Jain stories.  These paintings, done in glass depict scenes of conversion to Jainism and pictures of sinners belong tortured in the afterlife. Atop is a special glass chamber with the images of Lord Mahavira in plan black onyx and the use of glass which multiplies the three statues of Lord Shantinath, Aadinath & Mahavira installed there into an indefinite number. Externally, the temple is built as a medieval mansion complete with a canopied balcony and a shikhara.

Jain festivals are celebrated with great enthusiasm at the Kanch ka Mandir. On Sugandh Dashami, special mandalas are constructed using multi-colored rice-powder. Collective kshamavani, also known as the festival of forgiveness, is organized  in Indore as a central institution, even though it is also celebrated at other Indore Jain temples. Annual rath-yatra on a golden palaki is also taken out from here.

The temple has immense importance not just in the Jainism but also in other religions as well. People from all regions come to this temple for religious purposes as well as to admire its beauty. There are also Chinese style glass chandeliers and glass lamps inside the temple that looks amazingly beautiful. The main deity here is of Mahavira which is made of black onyx and then decorated with glass beads of different colors. Everything in this temple from ceiling to walls and doors is adorned with mirrors and glass and it resembles the Sheesh Mahal at Amer Fort in Rajasthan. Various religious ceremonies also take place at this temple complex. 

Various festivals especially the Jain festivals are celebrated at Kanch Mandir in Indore, Madhya Pradesh with great pomp and show. During the festivities of Sugandh Dashmi, a thing called mandalas are made which is made using rice powder of multi-colors. There is also a festivity called rath yatra which is taken on a golden palki is taken from this temple every year. Another festival that is celebrated here is the Kshamavani which is known popularly as the festival of forgiveness is also celebrated at this temple.  

Kanch Mandir in Indore, Madhya Pradesh is located at the Hukumchand Marg in Itwaria Bazar beside Sheesh Mahal and can be easily reached from the railway station or any other location in Indore by local rickshaw drivers or cab drivers. Kanch Mandir can be visited any day of the week from 05:00 am to 12:00 pm and again from 04:00 pm to 08:00 pm. The best season to visit this temple would be from October to March when the weather in Indore is pleasant and cool. Photography inside the temple is not permitted, hence do not carry any camera or video camera inside the temple. There is no entry fee to enter the temple. The temple is not so big and the average time required to explore the temple is 30 minutes.