Ranakpur is a village near Sadri town in the Pali district of Rajasthan in western India. It is located between Jodhpur and Udaipur in a valley on the western side of the Aravalli Range. It is widely known for its marble Jain temple. The main temple is called the Chaumukha temple. It houses a few more temples within its premises. The renowned Jain temple is dedicated to Adinatha. The temple, with its distinctive domes, shikhara, turrets and cupolas rises majestically from the slope of a hill. The most outstanding feature of this temple is its infinite number of pillars. Over 1444 marble pillars, carved in exquisite detail, support the temple. The pillars are all differently carved and no two pillars are the same. It is said that it is impossible to count the number of pillars there. The pillars are also so ingeniously arranged that none of them obstruct the view of the pilgrim wishing to have a glimpse of the image of God. Also each statue faces another. There is particularly one beautiful carving made out of a single marble rock which has 108 heads of snakes & numerous tails. One cannot find the end of the tails. The image faces all four cardinal directions. The construction of the temple and quadrupled image symbolize the Tirthankara's conquest of the four cardinal directions and hence the cosmos. The temple is one of the five major sites for Jain pilgrimage India. The sprawling temple displays a unique mix of Hindu and Jain influence in architecture covering more than 40,000 square feet (3600 mtrs) & is built using light colored marble. This temple was recently nominated as one of the top 77 wonders in a contest for the new Seven Wonders of the World.
The Languages spoken here are Rajasthani, Hindi & English.
The climate at Ranakpur gets very hot in summer & cold during winter especially during the nights. Light tropical cotton for summer & woolen for winter is recommended clothing. The best season to visit is from September to March.
People travel to Ranakpur because of its splendid Jain temples & the Sun Temple which is the biggest attraction for majority of the tourists. It is also now more significant as the Jain temple was nominated for the new 7 wonders of the world.
All foreign visitors are required to carry a passport valid at least for 6 months. Visa exemptions include Bhutanese and Nepalese who are staying for less than 3 months & Special restrictions apply to Pakistani and Afghan nationals.
Ranakpur is not directly accessible through Rail & Air. However, The Road connectivity is good. Ranakpur is easily reachable by car or bus from Jodhpur & Udaipur.
By Air: Udaipur 90 km is the nearest airport. The domestic airport is served by nearly all private and public airlines. Regular flights connect Udaipur to cities like Delhi and Mumbai. A taxi or state run buses are the best options to reach there.
By Rail:
Ranakpur lies only 90 kms away from Udaipur. The most convenient Railway Station is also Udaipur, which is connected to other major cities with a well-laid Rail network.
Falna is the nearest railhead on the Delhi-Ahmedabad sector. As Ranakpur is located in the mountain ranges of Pali district, one has to pass the lush green valleys and streams.
By Road:
Ranakpur is easily accessed by road from Udaipur. It is at a distance of 90 kms & takes around 3 hrs to reach. An excellent road network links Udaipur to other major cities in Rajasthan. A local bus to Udaipur stops right outside the Ranakpur temple every hour.
Local Transport:
Tourists can easily find transport for moving around locally. Hiring cars or auto rickshaws, rickshaws and cycles (metered/unmetered) are the most common modes of transport.
The Ranakpur Jain Temples were built during the reign of the liberal and gifted monarch Rana Kumbha in the 15th century. There are four subsidiary shrines-twenty four pillared halls and eligible domes supported by over four hundred columns. The artistically carved nymphs playing the flute in various dance postures at a height of 45 feet are an engrossing sight. In the assembly hall, there are two big bells weighing 108 kgs. Whose sound echoes in the entire complex. Apart form the main temple, the other interesting places to see at Ranakpur are: Sadri at a distance of 8 Kms-this place is famous for some beautiful temples and an old Dargah of Khudabaksh Baba. The Varahavtar Temple and the Chintamani Parasvanath Temple are the most ancient of the temples situated here.
Desuri: At 16 Kms-it has three temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman and Navi Mata. An old mosque situated here is also worth a visit. A temple dedicated to Parsuram Mahadeo nestled in the hills is also close by. It is situated in the Kumbhalgarh tehsil of Rajsamand. Ghanerao: Ghanerao abounds in Hindu temples. Most notable is the temple of Gajanand with a life-size statue of the goddesses Ridhi and Siddhi. The statue is guarded by Hanuman and Bhairon on either side. Muchhal Mahaveer: This temple is situated about 5 km from Ghanerao in the Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary. Its distinctive feature is the statue of Lord Mahavira with a mustache. The two statues of elephants guarding the gateways are splendid examples of architecture. In the vicinity are the Garasia tribal villagers who are famous for their colourful costumes.
Where To Eat:
At Ranakpur, there are a few places to eat. There are budget hotels and other restaurants that cater to the needs of the tourists to suit every pocket .
Where To Stay:
A few good places to stay while at Ranakpur are Hotel Maharani Bagh, (set among a mango grove), Fateh Bagh, Ranakpur hill resort, & Shivika lake hotel. Most tourists return back to Udaipur for an overnight stay.
