RANAKPUR

And the hills rolled on

All through the way

We drove through dense greenery

We drove through dusty roads

And the hills remained

Soft

Rolling

Mysterious we stopped at a wayside eatery.

A huge dining hall with a long verandah that overlooked the hills

It felt like the Half-Way House

There it was standing in the middle of the Highway perched amidst the Hills. A quick lunch and some more distance later we arrived at Ranakpur.



Photo credits: Inside 1: Surya Temple - colourbox.com; Inside 1A: ampersandtravel.com

Ranakpur is a quaint beautiful, serene little town renowned for the absolutely marvelous Jain Temple. It is a major pilgrimage sight for the Jains. Ranakpur is named after Rana Kumbha, the ruler of Mewar who offered his land for the construction of a temple. It was built by a Jain businessman Dharna Shah approximately 600 years earlier.

The vast temple complex comprises Chaumukha Temple, Parsavanath Temple, Amba Mata Temple and Surya Temple. Chaumukha Temple is the most prominent amongst all of them. The term ‘Chaumukha’ means four-faced. Lord Adinath (the first Jain ‘Tirthankara’) is the main presiding deity of Chaumukha Temple.This architectural marvel comprises of intricately carved pillars, domes, and columns and jhoomars.The carvings and designs need to be seen to be believed. 600 years ago everything was hand-carved and intricate to the minutest details.Personally I believe that this temple is breathtakingly fascinating and compares to the Wonders of the World.

MOUNT ABU

We travelled alongside the Arravalis for a few days now a natural destination had to be Mount Abu, Rajasthan’s sole Hill Station. Mount Abu is set on a high rocky plateau in the Aravalli Range very close to the ancient Dilwara Temples.



Photo Credits: Mount Abu - traveltradejournal.com; Inside 2A: Mount Abu: tourmyindia.com

Built between the 11th and 13th centuries Dilwara Temple is an architectural marvel with its intricate stone carvings and also a rebound Jain pilgrimage destination. The five shrines are dedicated to Adinath, Rishabhdev, NemiNathji, Mahavir Swami and Parshvanath. As in keeping with many holy places one is not allowed to take pictures inside and hence I can only speak about the absolutely fascinating intricacies that I had the privilege to witness. The workmanship of the people who built the temples of Ranakpur and Dilwara leaves one gaping in sheer bewilderment.

Such precision and such beauty in days of the past.

Unlike Ranakpur when one sees the Dilwara Temple from outside it looks like any other structure in the village. All ornate designs were kept inside.

From the top the marble was simply painted white.

These temples contained within their premises great wealth and the temple top at Dilwara is hence camouflaged to avoid drawing attention to the plunderers and enemies

Another interesting story about Dilwara is how it got its name.The four temples were built by the kings and their ministers with marbles chosen carefully. The fifth shrine is built by the masons who were working on the other four shrines. These masons worked during their break hour every day and used the marble that was rejected for the other four shrines.

Here after this temple came from the” Dil” or heart of the masons. Hence the name Dilwara… and that name has stuck throughout the centuries.

Apart from Dilwara Temple another must see at Mount Abu is the Nakki Lake. Folk lore says that the lake was dug out by the Gods by simply using their nails to gain shelter from the Demon Banshkhali.

Whatever may be the origin Nakki Lake is a pretty spot where on side there are activities galore like pedal boating and popcorn.

Drive round to the other side of the lake for beautiful serenity.

Here is where can sit for hours looking at the sun go down over the hills and the lakes.



Photo Credits: Connaught House - tripadvisor.com; Inside 3A: Connaught House - swantours.com

What really endeared us to Mount Abu more than the magnificence of the Dilwara Temple or the beauty of Nakki Lake was the charm of the pretty Connaught House, a beautiful cottage built by the British and currently owned by Maharaja Gaj Singh of Jodhpur.

This quaint heritage property has five rooms in the main wing and five more in the annex; also a living room and dining room strewn with pictures from the yesteryears. The rooms are large and beautifully done up with closets and dressers and ornate mirrors.. The gardens are layered,lush,green and filled with large trees and pretty flowers. My room has the cutest nook overlooking the garden, an ideal place to spend your time with coffee and a book.

Connaught House Is a hotel run by Jodhana Heritage Hotels but it is more a home in the hills.

Banner Left – jaipurstuff.com; Banner Center: Dilwara Temple – en.wikipedia.com; Banner Right: yummytummy.blogspot.com

To read more of Ipsita Ganguli's writings log onto www.ipsitaganguli.com

RANAKPUR

And the hills rolled on

All through the way

We drove through dense greenery

We drove through dusty roads

And the hills remained

Soft

Rolling

Mysterious we stopped at a wayside eatery.

A huge dining hall with