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Ranakpur
is one of the most important pilgrimage sites of
Jainism. Ranakpur is one of the five holy places
of the Jain community, nesting in a tranquil
valley deep in the Aravalis. Ranakpur is known for
its famous Jain Temples.
The
Ranakpur Jain Temple were built under the reign of Rana Kumbha
in the 15th century. Ranakpur Jain Temples is is one of the
largest and most important Jain temples in India.
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The
Rankpur Jain temples is one of the most beautiful
Jain temple. Each temple provides an insight into
the rich temple architecture of the medieval
times. The most important temple is dedicated to
Rishabhji. An enormous basement of this temple
covers 48,000 square feet. The Rankpur Jain
temples covers an area of 4500 square yards. It is
four faced and houses an idol of Adinath. Rising
to three stories, the temple has four small
shrines with 80 spires supported by 420 columns.
There are four subsidiary shrines, 24 pillared
halls and in all 1444 columns. Each of the column
are intricately carved and decorated with most
elaborate sculptures and figures, no two being
alike. A special effect is the amazing play of
shadow, light and colours. As the sun rays shift
through the day in the temple the color of the
pillars changes from gold to pale blue. When the
Mughal Emperor Akbar visited this temple he was
full of admiration and he had made an inscription
on one of the columns, which says, that no one
ever will be allowed to destroy this jewel of
architecture. |