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We travelled to the Jain Temples at Ranakpur. These are made of white marble quarried from Makrana, which was also used for the Taj Mahal. The temples are really cool and intricate. The architecture is amazing considering it was designed and project managed by a 12 year old. Ranakpur is tucked away in a remote valley in the Aravali range and is one of the five most important pilgrimage sites of Jainism. The Temple was built in the 15th Century, during the reign of the liberal and gifted Rajput monarch Rana Kumbha, after whom they get their name. Dharna Sah, a Jain businessman, approached Rana Kumbha when he had the vision of his great temple to ask for the land for its construction. There are four subsidiary shrines, twenty-four pillared halls and domes supported by over four hundred columns. The total number of columns is 1,444 all of which are intricately carved with no two being alike. Two temples dedicated to the Jain saints, Parasnath and Neminath have beautiful erotic carvings.
That evening we stayed at Arnyawas Lodge which is within a leopard sanctuary. We had our very own bungalow with the most amazing views of the mountain range and valleys. Unfortunately Mary decided that this was her time on the trip to get sick and spent the whole time in bed : (
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