An important pilgrimage site for the Jains, Abu boasts of the most exquisite marble temples with simple exteriors but overwhelmingly lavish carved interiors built from the 11th century onwards. Western India was a stronghold of Jains, majority being wealthy traders and merchants, several of whom rose to positions of power as ministers in the service of the Solankis (ca. 950-1300 CE) who ruled western India with their capital located at Patan, Gujarat. It is these powerful Jain ministers who patronized the construction of temples at Abu.