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Day6 (Monday)Ranakpur
Breakfast Onboard. Arrival at Udaipur. Visit Ranakpur Jain Temple at 0715 hrs. Lunch at hotel. Post lunch return to Udaipur. Departure for Jaipur. Dinner Onboard at 2000 hrs.
Located 96 km from Udaipur, Ranakpur is one of the five main holy places for Jains. Its history dates back to the 15th century when Rana Kumbha of Mewar gave a large strech of land in a quiet and picturesque valley, deep in the Aravallis, to the jains. Although over 500 years old, these temples are well preserved and are almost in perfect condition. The central temple is Chaumaukha temple. Dedicated to Adinath, the first Jain tirthankar(saint), this three storey temple is most complex and extensive in design. It has 29 halls, 80 domes and 1,414 pillars. What is intresting here is the fact that no two pillars are alike. Each of these pillars is covered with most intricate carvings. The grace with which these pillars are arranged, the tasteful admixtures of domes of different height with flat ceilings, and the mode in which light is introduced, combined to produce an excellent effect. Not only the pillars, but every conceivable surface is carved with equal delicacy. Within the complex are other temples, through not as magnificient as the Chaumukha, enhancing the charm of this beautiful place. The musical chimes of the temple bells, the gentle breeze flowing through the carved corridors and the serenity of the surrounding tempts you to spend more relaxed moments here than you may have planned. Few places in Rajasthan can match the ambience of Ranakpur.
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