Ranakpur Travel Guide
Renowned
for some marvellously carved Jain temples in amber stone ranakpur is one of
the five holy places of the jain community, 96km from Udaipur, these temples
were created in the 15th century A.D. during the regin of Rana Kumbha and are
enclosed within a wall. The central chaumukha or four faced temple is dedicated
to the venerated trithankara Rishabhji. Open on all four sides it enshrines
the four faced image of Adinath. Sprawling over 48,000 sq.feet the temple is
an astounding creation with 29 halls and 1,444 pillars-all distinctly carved.
Images of 24 tirthnkars are carved on the 'mandaps' or porticoes in a corridor
around the shrine with each mandap having a 'shikhar' or spripe adorned the
shrine with each mandap on the top. The gentle breeze wafting through the corridor
move the bell creating celestial music all around the complex. Rising in three
storeys, the temple has four small shrines with 80 spries supported by 420 columns.
Two temples dedicated to the Jain saints-parvanath and Neminath, face the main
temple. The temple have beautiful carvings simillar to that of Khajuraho.
Another temple worth visiting is the nearby sun temples an 8th century A.D.
temple Didicated to the sun god. The temple has polygonal walls, richly embellised
with carvings of worriors, horses and solar deities riding splendid chariots.
