Kanch Mandir, literally Temple of Glass, is a famous Jain temple in Indore, built by Sir Seth Hukumchand Jain. The construction began sometime around 1903.
History Sir Seth Seth Hukumchand Jain was a prominent trader and one of India's industrial pioneer. He built a mansion at Itwaria BazarKanch Mandir http://wikimapia.org/148432/Kanch-Mandir called Shish Mahal and adjacent to it the Kanch Ka Mandir, both elegantly built using a white stone. Externally, the temple is built as a medieval mansion complete with a canopied balcony and a shikhara.
Structure and Interior The interior of Kanch Ka Mandir is entirely covered by glass panels and mosaics; including the floor, columns, walls and the ceilings.Kanch Mandir http://www.indorecity.net/tourist-attractions/kanch-mahal.html Seth Hukumchand hired craftsmen from Jaipur and some even from Iran to work on the temple. The ornamentation follow the old and medieval Jain style, with the major innovation being the use of multicolored glass and mirrors.
In the main Garbhagriha, the idols of the Tirthankaras are flanked by mirrors on both sides, thus their images are seen infinite times.
Photography of the interior is generally prohibited.
The temple serves as a central institution for Indore Jains. Some processions start or terminate at the Kach Ka Mandir.कांच मंदिर इतवारिया से निकलने वाली दिगंबर जैन समाज के महामुनियों की रथयात्रा http://prabhatkiran.com/Webforms/Channel_News_Details.aspx?contentId=2503&masterId=1
Festivals Jain festivals are celebrated with great enthusiasm at the Kach Ka Mandir. On Sugandh Dashami, special mandalas are constructed using multi-colored rice-powder.दशमी पर महके जैन मंदिर http://www.bhaskar.com/2008/09/11/0809110945_jain_mandir.html
Collective kshamavani (festival of forgiveness) in Indore is organized here as a central institution, even though it is also celebrated at other Indore Jain temples.काँच मंदिर पर सामूहिक क्षमावाणी आज http://hindi.webdunia.com/religion/religion/jainism/0809/16/1080916017_1.htm
Annual Ratha Yatra on a golden palaki is taken our from here.स्वर्ण रथयात्रा काँच मंदिर से http://hindi.webdunia.com/religion/religion/news/0804/17/1080417034_1.htm
Notes
External links
Jaina Architecture in India, comprehensive study of Jain architecture with high quality photos Photos of Mulnayak in Jain temples Kanch Mandir on MyindoreCity, with photos and history of Kanch Mandir