Hidden in a quiet valley of the Aravalli hills, between Jodhpur and Udaipur, the Jain temple of Ranakpur is one of the most beautiful temples in India. Built entirely of white marble, it is famous for its forest of 1,444 carved pillars – it is said that no two are alike.
History:
The temple was built in the 15th century by Dharna Shah, a Jain merchant and minister, with the support of Rana Kumbha, ruler of Mewar, after whom Ranakpur is named. The architect is remembered as Deepaka. It is dedicated to Adinath (Rishabhanatha), the first of the 24 Jain Tirthankaras.
Architecture:
The main shrine is a chaturmukha (four-faced) temple: four images of Adinath face the four directions, and the temple can be entered from all four sides. Around it are halls, smaller shrines and domes, connected by pillars and arches carved with dancers, musicians, flowers and geometric patterns. As the sun moves, light falls through the openings and the colour of the marble changes from white to gold. Look out for the carving of a serpent with a thousand heads and for one pillar that is deliberately left a little out of line.
Good to know:
Ranakpur is an active place of worship. Leather items (belts, bags, shoes), food and short clothes are not allowed inside, and visitors are usually admitted from midday after the morning worship – timings can change, so please check locally. An audio guide is available. Ranakpur is usually visited on the drive between Jodhpur and Udaipur, often combined with Kumbhalgarh Fort.
