Nestled in the lap of Aravalli Hills in Mount Abu, and built between the 11th and 13th centuries, Dilwara Temples, a group of five Jain temples, renowned for their detailed architectural beauty, along with intricate marble carvings, is considered one of the finest examples of Jain temple architecture in India. Although the exterior of these Svetambara Jain temples offers a simple outlook, the aesthetic artwork of the interior of the temples reflects the amazing architecture and the super craftsmanship of the related artisans. It is maintained by the historians that the initial temples were built by Vimal Shah, a Jain minister of Bhimdev Solanki, also known as Bhima I of the Solanki Dynasty, often referred to as the Chalukyas of Gujarat. However, additions to the temples were made by Vastupala, minister of king Vīradhavala, and his successor Vīsaladeva of the Vaghela dynasty, the last Hindu dynasty that ruled the prevailing Kingdom of Gujarat in the 13th century, before the Muslim conquest of the region. Apart from being regarded as the most impressive among Jain temples in Rajasthan, and famous for their intricate architectural marvels, the serene ambiance of the temples, surrounded by lush green hills, also attracts both the pilgrims and the tourists throughout the year.

The Mount Abu temple complex, named after the small village of Dilwara or Delvara in which they are located, is regarded as one of the Śvētāmbara Pancha Tirth or five principal Jain pilgrimage shrines. The temple complex, comprising five temples, dedicated to five Jain Trithankaras, the supreme preachers of the dharma, the righteous path, is enclosed within a single high-walled compound. Although each of the five temples is made of white marble and equipped with an opulent entranceway, along with minutely carved doorways, pillars, panels, and unique ceilings, each has its amazingly unique identity. Among the five temples, the main buildings of the first three, containing a large open hall for performing dance or drama, known as Ranga Mandapa, are surrounded by a series of miniature turreted shrines, locally known as the Devakulikā shrines, which is a distinctive feature of Māru-Gurjara architecture.

Apart from the main five Jain temples, namely Vimala Vasahi temple, Luna Vasahi temple, Pittalhar temple, Parshvanatha temple, and lastly, Mahavir Swami temple, the Mount Abu temple complex also contains several sub-shrines housing one or more images of Jain Trithankaras. Nevertheless, among the main five, Vimala Vasahi temple was constructed by 1031, which was followed by Luna Vasahi temple by 1230, while the others were built around two centuries later at intervals between 1459 and 1582. Carved entirely out of white marble, and dedicated to Rishabhanatha, also known as Adinatha, the first Tirthankara, Vimala Vasahi temple stands in an open courtyard surrounded by richly carved corridors, embellished with elaborate pillars and arches, along with numerous cells, adorned with tiny images of Jain saints aesthetically carved on marble. The pillars of the huge hall are decorated with aesthetically carved beautiful female figures playing musical instruments, while the ceiling features engraved designs of lotus buds, petals, and flowers. The grand temple houses the Nav Chowki, a group of nine intricately carved ceilings supported by elaborate pillars, and the Gudh Mandapa, accessible through a beautifully decorated doorway, containing two idols of Parshvanatha in the Kayotsarga position, a yogic posture of staying steady, and also an image of Rishabhanatha.

Dedicated to Neminatha, the twenty-first Tirthankara of the present half-time cycle, Luna Vasahi or Neminatha temple was built in 1230 by two brothers, Vastupal and Tejpal, ministers of a Virdhaval, the Vaghela ruler of Gujarat. Although outwardly it resembles Vimala Vasahi, its interiors are more intricately carved. Rang Mandap, the main hall of Luna Vasahi, contains engravings of 72 Tirthankaras in sitting posture, arranged in a circular band, above another circular band, containing 360 small figures of Jain monks. However, perhaps the most fascinating feature of the hall is its central dome that hangs from the ceiling like a huge ornamented pendant. Spanning more than nineteen feet in diameter, it prominently features figures of sixteen goddesses, known as Vidyadevis, the goddesses of knowledge or Vidya, encircling the central portion of the dome, along with the delicately sculpted lotus that hangs like a pendant from its centre. The Nav Chowki in the temple showcases detailed marble stone cutting work, and its ceilings depict scenes of the life of Neminatha with images of Rajmathi, who was to marry Neminatha, and Krishna, while the Gudh Mandap houses a black marble idol of Neminatha. The Kirti Stambha or the pillar of pride, a big black stone pillar that stands proudly on the left side of the temple, was constructed by Maharana Kumbha of Mewar. Apart from that, the Hathishala or the elephant stable of the temple features 10 polished and realistic marble statues of elephants.

The Pittalhar temple, built between 1316 and 1432 by Bhima Shah, a minister of Mahmud Begada, a Sultan of the Gujarat Sultanate, houses a massive 8-feet-long statue of Rishabhanatha, the first Tirthankara, also known as Adinath, made of brass, an alloy of copper and zinc, and locally known as Pittal, after which the temple was named. The main temple, containing 107 images, consists of a Garbhagriha or the sanctum sanctorum, the Gudh Mandap, housing a big marble Panch-Tirtha sculpture of Adinath, and the Nav Chowk, flanked by the idol of Yaksha Gomukha, the attendant deity of Rishabhanatha, and Yakshi Chakreshvari, his corresponding female attendant. However, it seems that for some reasons unknown, the construction of Rang Mandap and the corridor was left incomplete. Interestingly, in 1468-69 the old mutilated idol of the temple was replaced by installing a new idol, weighing 108 maunds or four metric tonnes.

Dedicated to Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tīrthaṅkara of Jainism, and built of grey stone by the clan of Sangvi Mandlik in 1458-59, the three-storey building of Parshvanatha temple is the tallest of all the five shrines in Dilwara. The outer walls of the sanctum display numerous ornate sculptures depicting the Dikpalas, believed to be the guardians of the eight cardinal directions, Vidyadharis, a group of celestial women connected to knowledge and power, Yakshis, and others, while the corridor showcases images of 17 Tirthankaras and paintings of flowers. The first floor of the building houses four idols of Chaumukha or four-faced Parshvanatha, which include Chintamani Parshvanatha, Magalakar Parshvanatha, and Manoratha-Kalpadruma, all under the hood of nine cobras, but the identity of the fourth or the last image of Parshvanath is illegible. The second floor contains the idol of Chaumukha Parshvanatha in the form of Sumatinatha, Parshvanatha, Adinatha, and Parshvanatha, along with the idol of Goddess Ambika, also known as Kushmandini, while the Chaumukha idol of Parshvanatha is installed on the third floor.

Constructed in 1582 and dedicated to Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, the small structure of the Mahavira Swami temple, renowned for the carvings on its walls, is the most modern structure in the complex. The intricate marble carvings and aesthetic paintings on the upper walls of its porch, depicting flowers, pigeons, court-scenes, dancing girls, horses, elephants, and many more, were created by artists from Sirohi in 1764. Inside the temple, the altar of Mahavira is flanked by three idols of Tirthankaras on each side. Interestingly, a rectangular marble slab located near the temple, attached to a triangle stone over it, displays 133 miniature images of Jain Tirthankaras, together with a larger image in the centre.

Unfortunately, the temples in the Dilwara Temple Complex were badly damaged in 1311, when the army of Alauddin Khilji of the Delhi Sultanate, the second ruler of the Khilji dynasty, invaded the southern Indian kingdoms under the leadership of Malik Kafur. However, the damages were repaired later, when two artisans from Mandore, namely Bijag and Lalag, played leading roles in repairing the magnificent temples in 1321.Subsequently, the temples were repaired and reconstructed again in 1906, and 19050-1965. Currently, the temples are administered by the Seth Kalyanji Paramanandji Pedi, a more than a century old religious trust managing various Jain temples in the Sirohi District of Rajasthan.