Katraj Jain Temple

Peace and tranquillity are the two most dominant forces at this prominent place of worship, Katraj Jain Temple. The temple sits on a hillock which lies between the Pune-Satara highway, at Katraj in the district of Pune, Maharashtra. The mesmerizing view from the temple of the Pune city adds to the feeling of calmness experienced by the visitors. Once the temple is entered, there is no stopping the refreshing breeze from blowing into your hair. The temple is appreciated for its beauty, calmness and the significance it holds towards Jainism and ancient Jainism literature. The temple is not too old as it was built in the 20th century. Its other name famous among the locals is ‘Aagam Mandir’.

The temple premise has many small temples surrounding the main one and a Jal temple surrounded by water. The main temple is where the idol of Mahavir sits which is made up of Panchadhatus, a five-metal alloy of sacred significance. The idol is 12 ft in height and weighs 5 tonnes. The outer sanctum of the temple is where all the 48 Aagams are inscribed. These are open for people to read, understand and learn. There are other idols at the temple premise one of them being an idol of Bhagwan Paraswanath which is again made up of similar metal-mixture. The temple houses a Dharamshala with modern facilities and also a Bhojanalaya. The accommodation facility is available only for people belonging to the Jain community and these facilities are chargeable. There is also a goshala (cow shelter) on the premise.