While we were out searching for the zero, we drove by another amazing sight which gains very little attention anywhere. Cut into the hill side on either side of the single lane road that winds up to Gwalior fort are a slew of giant Jain statues. Our guide mentioned that these sculptures are similar to those that got bombed and ruined in Afghanistan. Time for me to do some more research...
Jain statues are recognizably different from statues of Buddha despite often being carved in the same form as they are typically nude. A few of these seemed to be sporting stone loincloths. These sculptures are thought to have been carved between 1441 and 1474. These statues which are up to 57 feet high represent the 24 Tirthankaras in the Jain faith. That is the role models for spiritual guidance, sort of their version of saints.
I'm not really sure that my research gave me much more information, it is surprisingly difficult to find definitive information about these statues. The only thing I am sure of is that they were a surprise well worth getting out of the car for!
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