Around Udaipur

Udaipur not only ends up with its art and palaces. Jain temples lie expectantly with their intricate carvings in white marble. Forts such as the one in Mount Abu, enhance the highest mountains in the surroundings with their impressive walls and beautiful palaces and temples inside.

I did not have the chance to go to Mt. Abu, but I did go on a day trip to the fort at Kumbalgarh. With a 36 km. wall, it encloses more than 300 temples. We only had an hour to wonder around, and I even missed the inside of its palace, as I got entertained with the landscape the mountains and light there offered.

On this same trip I also had the chance to see one of the best Jain Temples in India, Ranakpur. A fascinating marble building which claims to have 1444 pillars, not one alike. Two meters from the entrance, there's a carved Heaven Tree in the ceiling. Amazing, spectacular are the words that come to my mind, but I know I'm missing something. Clearly, no words I could manage to write with my simple English are enough to describe the magnificence of the work dedicated on the construction of such cult complex.

In respect to the Heaven Tree, I must note that I'm not sure that's the name of the image, but at least that's what the guide around said. Tried to Google for it, unfortunately, with no luck. Should anyone know something about it, please let me know, cause it's too amazing to see that carved in marble and not know for sure what is it about.