Naya Mandir, Jain temple in Old Delhi, India
Naya Mandir is a Jain temple in Old Delhi standing opposite the Red Fort, featuring traditional carved wooden doors, multiple stone domes, and intricate stone sculptures adorning its exterior and interior walls. The structure spans several levels and contains various prayer halls with elaborately decorated chamber spaces.
A treasurer in the Mughal court founded this temple in the early 19th century after obtaining permission from the emperor to construct it. The approval specifically allowed the addition of a shikhara, the traditional pointed spire structure that crowns Jain temples.
The temple serves as a place where devotees gather daily to pray and perform rituals in a space filled with colorful images and statues depicting stories of Jain saints. The prayer halls reflect how followers practice their faith through meditation and worship in these decorated chambers.
Visitors must remove their shoes before entering and should plan to visit during regular operating hours. The site sits within a short walk from Chandni Chowk metro station, making it easy to reach from other parts of the city.
The temple contains a hidden chamber called bhonyra designed specifically to protect sacred statues during times of unrest. This secret refuge reveals how the community had to safeguard its most precious possessions when facing periods of instability.
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