Best Jain Temples in Bhagalpur: Top 5 Must-Visit Places 2025

If you think Bhagalpur is just about silk and rivers, think again. This historic city is also a powerhouse of Jain spirituality, home to some of the most revered Jain temples in India, where history, faith, and architecture come together in divine harmony. From the ancient Shri Champapur Digambar Jain Siddha Kshetra, the only place where all five sacred life events of Lord Vasupujya happened, to serene Shwetamber sanctuaries and the mystical Mandar Parvat temples, Bhagalpur offers a spiritual journey unlike any other. Whether you’re a pilgrim, history buff, or curious traveler, these Jain sites are more than just temples—they’re living legacies of devotion and enlightenment waiting to be explored.

5. Mandar Parvat Jain Temples (Jain Temples in Bhagalpur)

• Location: Mandargiri, Bounsi, Banka District, Bihar – 813104
• Significance: This sacred site is believed to be where Lord Vasupujya, the 12th Tirthankara in Jainism, attained Kevalgyan (omniscience) and Moksha (liberation).
• Best Time to Visit: September to March, especially during Mahavir Jayanti and Makar Sankranti festivals.
• Accessibility: Mandar Hill is accessible via road and rail, with the nearest railway station being Mandar Hill Station.

At the base of Mandar Hill lies Paapharni Sarovar, a sacred pond believed to cleanse sins. In its center stands a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi.

• A grand Digambar Jain temple stands atop the hill, marking the Nirvana site of Lord Vasupujya.
• The temple houses ancient footprints (Charan Paduka) and a 5-foot-tall Khadgasana idol of the Tirthankara.
• Nearby, a cave temple contains a standing idol, and there are three pairs of ancient footprints commemorating significant events in Lord Vasupujya’s life.

4. Shri Jain Shwetamber Mandir

• 

• Address: Tanti Bazaar Road, Nathnagar, Champapur
• Also Known As: Shri Jain Shwetamber Mandir, Urdu Bazar

Nestled in the bustling lanes of Urdu Bazar, Bhagalpur, Shri Jain Shwetamber Mandir is a serene spiritual haven amidst the city’s daily rush. It’s one of the oldest and most revered Shwetamber Jain temples in the region, representing centuries of devotion, heritage, and Jain values. While it may not have the fame of Champapuri, it carries a deep, quiet spiritual weight for the local Jain community.

• The temple is adorned with traditional Shwetamber Jain architecture, including a pristine white marble sanctum, domed ceilings, and intricately designed pillars.
• Inside, you’ll find a peaceful murti (idol) of a Tirthankara (often Lord Parshvanath or Mahavir Swami), seated in meditative posture.
• The walls are decorated with Jain symbols, shlokas, and motifs representing non-violence, truth, and enlightenment.

This temple is a key hub for local Jain festivals, daily prayers, and community rituals. Celebrations like Mahavir Jayanti, Paryushan, and Samvatsari Pratikraman are observed with great devotion here.

3. Shri Champapuri Vasupujya Swami Panchkalnayak Shwetamber Jain Tirth (Jain Temples in Bhagalpur)

• Location: Tanti Bazar Road, Nathnagar, Bhagalpur, Bihar – 812002
• Also Known As: Shwetamber Jain Tirth, Panch Kalyanak Mandir, Vasupujya Swami Mandir

This temple commemorates all five Kalyanaks (spiritual milestones) of Lord Vasupujya, the 12th Tirthankara, who was born right here in Champapuri, making this one of the best Jain temples in Bhagalpur. It’s a part of the Champapuri Tirth, and while the Digambar sect has its temples nearby, this Shwetamber temple offers a distinct spiritual and architectural experience.

The five Kalyanaks celebrated here:

1. Garbha – Conception
2. Janma – Birth
3. Diksha – Renunciation
4. Kevalgyan – Enlightenment
5. Nirvana – Liberation

Temple Highlights:

• Main Shrine: Dedicated to Lord Vasupujya, featuring a peaceful white marble idol in meditative posture.
• Panch Kalyanak Altars: Each life event is honored with its own altar, richly adorned with intricate Jain motifs.
• Modern Shwetamber Architecture: Clean, airy halls with white marble floors and delicate carvings create a serene atmosphere.
• Festivals: Major celebrations during Mahavir Jayanti, Panch Kalyanak Mahotsav, and Paryushan.

Devotional Activities:

• Daily Puja, Snatra Poojan, and Samayik for devotees
• Educational tours for Jain youth and yatris
• Spiritual discourses (pravachans) during festivals

2. Shri Digambar Jain Bisapanthi Siddha Kshetra Mandir

Location: Champapuri, Nathnagar, Bhagalpur – 812002, Bihar
Also Known As: Bisapanthi Kshetra, Part of the twin temples of Champapur
Spiritual Lineage: Follows the Bisapanthi sect of Digambar Jainism

This temple is a part of the Champapuri Jain complex, historically revered as the land of Lord Vasupujya’s Kalyanaks. While Champapur Bada Mandir is more widely known, the Bisapanthi Siddha Kshetra is equally sacred and holds deep spiritual value for the Digambar Jain Bisapanthi followers. The temple is considered a Siddha Kshetra—a place where souls are believed to have attained liberation (moksha), making it a hotspot for both religious devotion and spiritual aspiration.

• Separate Complex: Unlike the Terapanthi Kothi nearby, the Bisapanthi Mandir has its own dedicated space with 35+ intricately carved altars (Vedis).
• Serene Architecture: You’ll find classic Jain Digambar temple architecture—simple, clean lines with spiritual symbolism woven into every structure.
• Historical Lineage: Bisapanthi practices are distinct and more traditional in rituals, especially in offerings and temple conduct.
• Daily poojas and Jain rituals, observed with strict Digambar discipline
• Devotees often perform Nirvana Ladoo Abhishek and Siddha Vandana here
• Large gatherings during the Panch Kalyanak Mahotsav and the Mahavir Jayanti

1. Shri Champapur Digambar Jain Siddha Kshetra (Bada Mandir) 

Location: Nathnagar, Bhagalpur – 812002, Bihar
Also Known As: Bada Mandir or Shri Vasupujya Tirth Champapuri
Significance: One of the most sacred Jain tirthas in India

Shri Champapur is not just any Jain temple, it is the best Jain temple in Bhagalpur. This is the only place in the Jain world where all five Kalyanakas (auspicious life events) of Lord Vasupujya, the 12th Tirthankara, took place:

1. Garbha Kalyanak – Conception
2. Janma Kalyanak – Birth
3. Diksha Kalyanak – Renunciation
4. Kevalgyan Kalyanak – Enlightenment
5. Nirvana Kalyanak – Liberation

What You’ll See:

• Ancient Temple Complex: Dating back over 2,500 years, the temple is a prime example of Jain architecture and devotion.
• Panch Kalyanak Mandir: Dedicated altars for each Kalyanak.
• Keerti Stambhas (Columns of Fame): Majestic stone pillars believed to be erected by Chakravarti Samrat Bharata, son of Lord Rishabhdev. These are historical treasures in their own right.
• Meditation caves are nearby for seekers and monks.
• Holy footprints (Charan Paduka) of Lord Vasupujya are also worshipped here.

Religious Activities:

• Daily rituals and pujas
• Annual Mahavir Jayanti and Panch Kalyanak Mahotsav are celebrated with grandeur
• Tirth Yatra (pilgrimage) destination for Jains across India and Nepal