Ranakpur Jain Temple

The vast temple complex of the Ranakpur Temple comprises of the Chaumukha Temple, the Parsavanath Temple, the Amba Mata Temple and the Surya Temple. The Chaumukha Temple is the most prominent amongst all of these temples. This main temple, Chaumukha, is four-faced which is dedicated to the first Tirthankara, Adinath. Built in the form of a heavenly aircraft, it has 29 halls and 80 domes with 1,444 pillars of intricately carved figures of dancing goddesses. The striking temple has four entrances on four different sides which lead to the central chamber and sanctum containing a four-faced marble statue of Lord Adinath.

The style of construction of the temple and the quadrupled image symbolize the Tirthankara's conquest of the four cardinal directions and hence stand as a symbol of the cosmos. The architecture and stone carvings are based on the ancient Mirpur Jain Temple that is located at Mirpur in Rajasthan.

With a basement of 48,000 square feet, the temple complex of the Ranakpur Temple includes a total of four shrines with pillared halls and domes that are supported by 1,444 intricately carved columns. No two columns in the temple have a similar design. The ceilings are finely carved with fine scrollwork and geometric patterns. The brackets connecting the top of the domes to the floor are filled with figures of deities, while the dome is in concentric bands.

The temple's foundation is made of three levels so that the several pavilions can be accommodated on the base itself. Beautiful turrets rise from the walls, where each of them relates to a cell on the inner façade of the wall. The roof is formed of five spires and 20 cupolas. The prayer hall of the temple, also known as the mandapa, boasts of two huge bells that weigh 108 kilograms each. The Temple of Parsavanath is another temple that is worth visiting. Built in the middle of the 15th century, it is famous for its engraved windows that are embellished with Jain figures and is also known as Patriyon Ka Mandir.