Shreyansnath Digambar Jain Temple, Singhpuri

Tucked into the quiet village of Singhpuri, a short stroll south-west of the towering Dhamek Stupa, the Shreyansnath Digambar Jain Temple is one of Sarnath's most overlooked spiritual treasures.

• Jain tradition holds that this is Simhapuri (present-day Singhpuri), the sacred spot where Bhagwan Shreyansanatha, the 11th of the twenty-four Tirthankaras, was born to King Vishnu and Queen Keshudevi.
• The site is doubly hallowed as a Kalyanaka-kshetra, believed to mark four of the five auspicious life-events (Kalyanakas) of Shreyansanatha — his conception (Chyavan), birth (Janm), renunciation (Diksha) and attainment of omniscience (Kevala Jnana).
• For Jain pilgrims this makes Singhpuri a rare and revered tirth, a dharmic counterpoint standing gracefully beside Sarnath's celebrated Buddhist landscape.
• The present temple was built in 1824 CE to honour this birthplace, though its spiritual heart is far older: the mulnayak (principal idol) is a majestic seated image of Shreyansanatha carved from dark Saligram black stone, considered to predate the temple itself and worn smooth by centuries of veneration.
• Beside the idol are sacred footprint impressions (charan).
• The airy prayer hall is graced by a striking series of murals painted in 1943 that narrate the life of Bhagwan Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara — panels of colour and devotion that reward unhurried looking.
• The architecture is understated and white-walled, its calm shikhara and manicured garden offering a hush that contrasts beautifully with the busier stupa precinct nearby.
• Entry is free and the temple welcomes visitors of every faith, open from early morning until evening with a midday closure.
• Photography of the sanctum is often restricted, so ask before raising a camera; dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, and remove leather items and footwear before entering.
• Combine a visit with the Dhamek Stupa, the Sarnath Archaeological Museum (home to the Ashokan Lion Capital) and the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar, all within walking distance, for a rich half-day that spans two of India's great dharmic traditions.
• For vegetarian travellers, Singhpuri and greater Sarnath are wonderfully reassuring.
• As a Jain pilgrimage site the temple itself observes strict ahimsa — no meat, egg or alcohol has any place here — and the surrounding pilgrim town is overwhelmingly satvik.
• Simple garden restaurants and thali kitchens along Sarnath Road serve pure-vegetarian Bhojpuri and North Indian fare: fresh chole bhature, litti-chokha, paneer curries, hot puris and sweet lassi.
• Many Jain and Buddhist visitors keep to onion-and-garlic-free food, and most eateries happily oblige a Jain thali on request, so devout vegetarians and Jain travellers can eat with complete peace of mind.