At 486 meters above the sea level 1444 carved white ivory columns, no two the same! No beggars or hawkers, just peace, friendly people and monkeys .
Ranakpur a 3 and a half hour drive from Jodhpur and 2 hours drive from Udaipur where the entire temple is made of white marble, 1444 columns with carvings so intricate, so fascinating that you can't imagine until you see it. The really amazing part is that no two are alike. You walk through the 24 pillared halls, each glistening with white marble that looks almost new - you can't even fathom that this place is nearly 600 years old.
It is also said that it is impossible to count the pillars. Also all the statues face one or the other statue. There is one beautiful carving made out of a single marble rock where there 108 heads of snakes and numerous tails. One cannot find the end of the tails. The image faces all four cardinal directions. In the axis of the main entrance, on the western side, is the largest image.The three other Jain temples in the same complex, including a temple of the Sun God. In the assembly hall, there are two big bells weighing 108 kgs whose sound echoes in the entire complex.The artistically carved nymphs playing the flute in various dance postures at a height of 45 feet are an engrossing sight.The dating of this temple is controversial but it is largely considered to be anywhere between the late 14th to mid-15th centuries.Inspired by a dream of a celestial vehicle, Dhanna Shah, a Porwad, is said to have commissioned it, under the patronage of Rana Kumbha, then ruler of Mewar.
This is truly one of the most amazing archaeological marvels.how they could carve the fantastic carvings of the 80 different domes out of a single massive piece of marble and lift it up there. Think - even one tiny mistake as they are chiseling out these carvings, and they would have to start all over. What really stuns you is that each room seems more beautiful than the last.
