The famous Ranakpur temples are just 50 kilometers from Kumbhalgarh by the scenic route through Vanpura and Saira.
Begun in 1438 by Rana Kumbha, Ranakpur became a strangely tranquil meditation center in a frequently war ravaged land. It also became a magnificent sculpture museum to which wealthy Jain merchants and ministers kept adding shrines and statues. The central Chaumukha Temple is dedicated to the venerated Tirthankara Adinath. With its 29 halls and 1,444 distinctly different carved pillars, this is an astounding monument. Two temples dedicated to the Jain saints, Parasnath and Neminath have beautiful erotic carvings very similar to those which have made Khajuraho famous. And truly worth visiting is the much earlier, probably 6th century, Sun Temple close by, which has polygonal walls richly embellished with warriors, horses, and booted solar deities driving splendid chariots.
