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Ranakpur
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| Languages: |
Rajasthani, Hindi, Urdu, English, Sindhi |
| Best Time To Visit: |
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The tranquil pilgrimage town of the Jains renowned for some marvellously carved Jain
temples in amber stone, Ranakpur is one of the five holy places of the Jain community. 60-km from Udaipur; these temples were built in the 15th century AD during the reign of Rana Kumbha and are enclosed within a wall. The central 'Chaumukha' or four-faced temple is dedicated to the venerated Tirthankara Rishabhji. Open on all four sides, it enshrines the four-faced image of Adinath. The temple is an astounding creation with 29 halls and 1,444 pillars - all distinctly carved.
Images of 24 tirthankaras are carved on the 'mandaps' or porticos in a corridor around the shrine with each 'mandap' having a spire adorned with little bells on the top. The gentle breeze wafting through the corridors move the bells creating celestial music all around the complex. Rising in three storeys, the temple has four small shrines with 80 spires supported by 420 columns.
Two temples, dedicated to the Jain saints - Parsvanath and Neminath, face the main temple. The temples have beautiful carvings similar to that of Khajuraho. Another temple worth visiting the nearby Sun Temple, an 8th century AD temple dedicated to the Sun god. The temple has polygonal walls, richly embellished with carvings of warriors, horses and solar deities riding splendid chariots. |
What to See: |
» Jain Temples
» Sar Bagh |
» Chhatra Mahal
» Taragarh fort |
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» Mansingh Palace
» Hotel Regency
» Hotel Embassy |
» Hotel Sahil
» Phool Mahal Palace
» Hotel Ambassador |
» Roopangarh Fort
» Hotel Chitvan |
Festivals: |
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Shopping: |
| Just like any other city in Rajasthan, Ajmer is also a shopper's paradise. There are numerous items in Ajmer that you will find worth buying. The most famous shopping items of Ajmer includes Antiques, Ornaments, Gold and silver jewelry in contemporary designs, Bandhini (colorful tie-and-dye Saris), Embroidered Jodhpuri Jutis (footwear), Ittar (a special form of local perfume). |
Accessibility: |
| By Air - Jaipur (132 km from Ajmer) is the nearest airport.
By Rail - Regular train services link Ajmer with all major cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
by surface - There is a well-connected network of buses that ply to and fro from Ajmer connecting it to major towns and cities in north India. |
