Magnificant Jain Temples (26th - 27th Dec 07)

We caught a typically bumpy bus north of Udaipur to a town called Ranakpur. Ranakpur is a tiny village that has a stunning Jain (a religion similar to hinduism) temple carved out of white marble. The whole temple has 1400 pillars, all carved with amazing detail.

Inside the Ranakpur Jain Temple


The detailed carving of the temple


We were told by our cooking teacher in Udaipur to try the temple food hall. This was a large dining hall with stainless steel tables and a set meal which cost 60cents. The food was traditional Jain - which is pure vegetarian and no onions or garlic as they are hot foods that interfer with emotions. The food was served by male waiters who would pile more on your plate as soon as you looked like you were getting low. Out back the women were cooking and nick got invited back to try and test his chapati (flat bread) rolling skills. This was one of the best meals we have had in India, and in a temple dining hall which was a unique experience.

Nat & Tahlia in Ranakpur


The scenery here was very similar to Queensland, with red parched rocky hills and abundent wildlife. The valley was a truly peaceful place and our cottages were set on a lake, so it was a beautiful spot for breakfast. Our eardrums received a well deserved rest after the chaotic noisy Indian cities.