Kanch Mandir

In the heart of Indore’s old bazaar stands a temple unlike any other in India. Kanch Mandir, the temple of glass, is a Jain shrine in which nearly every surface, from the floor underfoot to the ceiling overhead, is a mosaic of mirror and coloured glass.

History of the Temple

The temple was built in the early twentieth century by Sir Seth Hukumchand Jain, a leading industrialist of Indore known as the cotton king. Craftsmen were brought from as far as Iran and Austria to complete the glasswork, and the result has dazzled visitors for over a hundred years.

Significance of the Temple

Within the shimmering interior sit serene murtis of the Jain Tirthankaras. Panels of glass mosaic depict scenes of dharma, including the consequences of good and bad deeds, so the temple teaches even as it delights the eye. Standing between its mirrored walls, a visitor sees their own reflection multiplied endlessly, a quiet lesson in how one soul is repeated in all.

What to Experience

The play of light

Visit in the morning when sunlight enters the hall and every wall begins to sparkle.

Old Indore around you

The temple sits near Sarafa Bazaar, and an evening walk through its famous food street is the perfect ending to the visit.