Oct 3 Ranakpur

Niche at the Jain Temple, Ranakpur

Today is my birthday and Himanshu (business partner) has gotten us a taxi to Ranakpur to see the Jain Temple.  It is one of India's largest and most important Jain temples with domed ceilings and crystal chandeliers, gods and demons carved on columns.  Built in 1439, it's an incredible milk-white marble building with a complicated series of 29 halls supported by 1444 columns, no two of which are alike.  The pale interior has a calming sense of space and harmony and is quite breath taking!

We left at 9am and after a short stretch of highway, the road turned into barely paved, narrow roads through small villages.  A creek ran alongside for a short way with a small herd of water buffalo submerged with only backs and heads showing above water.  The buffalo we saw grazing alongside the road were poorly with heavy hide shining as it was stretched over very prominent bones.  The fields of dry corn stalks sat after harvest and were slowly carried away by women in saris in large bundles on their heads headed home to feed the milk cows.  Old scarecrows stood in the midst of the dry stalks clothed in bright saris.

The car paused for herds of goats and donkeys herded by children to their grazing spots for the day.  Two bulls turned a large wheel attached to a water wheel that carried water to irrigate the fields.  Men sat in large turbans drinking their morning chai as a camel hauling hay passed by.  A dead cow lay beside the road, half eaten and dried up, left to rot in the sun.  It looked like it had been there for quite some time.  Monkeys played at the stream's edge as others sat being groomed...and the small car bounced on down the road.

We finally arrived at the temple after a 90 km drive.  Himanshu suffers from motion sickness and needed a nap after the bouncy ride.  He was just too nauseous and unable to walk into the temple to marvel at the wonder.  I will gladly go back with anyone who visits us here and next time will get some Dramamine for Himanshu!