Khandargiri, Chanderi - Timings, History, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 3 km from Chanderi Bus Station, Khandargiri is a historical as well as a religious place located in Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the most popular places of heritage in Madhya Pradesh, and among the must-visit Chanderi sightseeing places.

Situated on the Ramnagar Road, Khandargiri is a popular pilgrimage site for the Jains as it was the center of Jain art, culture & philosophy in ancient times. There are around six caves on the hill and some of the inscriptions in the caves reveal that these temples are over 700 years old. The oldest dated cave is Cave 6 according to the inscription in this cave in Sanskrit and Nagri script.

The most impressive part of Khandagiri is the towering statue of the first Jain Tirthankara Rishabhnath, also known as Lord Adinathapresent in Cave-2. The statue towers around 45 feet and is engraved on the surface of the hillock. Apart from this massive carving, the hillside has been carved with images of the other Tirthankaras as well, but on a smaller scale. These idols are carved by cutting rocks of hills, completed during the 13th to 16th century. Also, there are two caves that have been carved into the rock face. Within these caves too, inscribed statues of the Tirthankaras can be found.

A modern temple has been made at the bottom of the hill. One needs to climb around 100 steps to reach the caves from the bottom of the hill. The hillock is a perfect location that will offer tranquillity as the sun sets down on the old town of Chanderi.

Timings: 8 AM - 5 PM

Entry: Free