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 Some
56 miles north of Udaipur, on the curve
of a boulder-strewn river deep in the forested Aravalli hills,
lies the huge 15th century Adinath Jain Temple at Ranakpur. With
an area of nearly 4,500 square yards, it is not only the largest
Jain temple in India but also one of the most beautiful.
 Having
heard so much of its exquisite beauty, we were a little
disappointed when we saw its plain exteriors. But the moment we
stepped in, all our disappointment was replaced by wondrous awe.
The profuse and intricate carving on marble resembles lace-work
rather than stone-carving. It's akin to Mt.
Abu's Dilwara Temple, but on a much, much larger and complex
scale.
The architectural genius is simply overwhelming - One of the
remarkable things about the temple is the wonderful play of shadow
and light on the nearly 1,500 pillars, EACH of
which, interestingly displays a different decorative design. As
the sun's rays shift through the day, the pillars' colour from
gold to pale blue.
Intricate carving on the domed ceiling
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