Road and Ranakpur

The road from Jojawar to Ranakpur passes through interesting rocky country and small towns. Ranakpur is the site of an enormous, beautiful Jain temple, the Adinath Chaumukha Mandir.
The somewhat arid land here is covered with isolated trees and cactus-like bushes. A curious mosque along the road It does not take many cows to block such a narrow road. The plain is interspersed with odd rock outcroppings. We stopped for photos in a village along the way.
Village scene with market, turbans, cow and -- yes -- a pig. Another colorful village, with women selling flowers There was a celebration on the return of a group who had made a pilgrimage to Haridwar. They had brought back Ganga water, which must be what is in the recipient the young woman is balancing on her head. Fort on top of a rock rising from the surrounding plain
Ranakpur, in a green valley, is the site of several temples, notably the huge Jain Adinatha Temple, which itself is worth the trip. The Adinatha Temple is named after the first Jain tirthankara (he who has passed the ford, i.e., reached the Jain version of nirvana) The interior of the Adinatha Temple is literally breath-taking. The temple contains 1400 beautifully-carved white pillars.
The central dome of the temple, which was restored at the end of the 19th century after centuries of neglect. The pillars seem to lead you on to ... infinity? Another dome, the roof of one of 29 halls in the temple Example of the delicate carving on the columns
A dancing lady and others The Parshva Plaque shows the 23rd Jain tirthankara, Parshvanatha, who lived in the -7th or -8th century. He is protected by a thousand-hooded cobra. Looking out from a porch towards a hilltop Hindu temple Surrounding green mountains and wall of Adinatha Temple
European tourist at the Adinatha Temple American tourist at the Adinatha Temple Carved lions and elephants Nice carved elephant
Gorgeous pillars and a priest in red robes