Ranakpur
in Rajasthan is tucked away in a remote valley in the Aravali range. It is
situated around 60 km north of Udaipur in Pali district and boasts of one of
the largest and most important Jain Temples in the country. The place is
well connected through a road network to other places in the region. from
the Phalna railway station. Ranakpur is approached through the lush green
valleys and streams and the eye capturing sights, which drives away the
fatigue of the journey. Ranakpur is one of the five most important
pilgrimage sites of Jainism. It is home to an extraordinarily beautiful
temple complex in the Aravali ranges and visiting it is worthwhile for the
tourists coming to this region.
Best Season to Visit : October to March
Sightseeing at Ranakpur -
Ranakpur Jain Temple : The Ranakpur Jain Temple were built during
the reign of the liberal and gifted monarch Rana Kumbha in the 15th century
AD. An enormous basement covers 48,000 sq. ft area. There are four
subsidiary shrines, twenty four pillared halls and appropriate domes
supported by over four hundred columns. There are 1,444 columns in all,
which are intricately carved. 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.
Kumbhalgarh : Kumbhalgarh is a historical site around 30 km
northeast of Ranakpur. It is the most important fort in the Mewar region
after Chittaurgarh. The other important place to visit in Kumbhalgarh is a
wildlife sanctuary known for its wolves.
Sadri : Sadri, at a distance of 8 km is famous for some intricately
designed temples and an old Dargah of Khudabaksh Baba. The Varahavtar temple
and the Chintamani Parsvanath temple are the oldest of the temples situated
here.
Desuri Three Temples : , dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman and
Navi Mata are among some remarkable temples at Desuri around 16 km from
Ranakpur. An old mosque situated here is also worth a visit. A temple
dedicated to Parsuram Mahadeo, nestled in the hills, is located nearby.
Ghanerao : Another nearby place, Ghanerao, has plenty of Hindu
temples, worth visiting. Most amazing is the temple of Gajanand with a
life-size statue of the goddesses Riddhi and Siddhi. The statue in the main
shrine is guarded by idols of Hanuman and Bhairon on either side.
Muchhal Mahavir Temple : The Muchhal Mahavir temple is situated
about 5 km from Ghanerao in the Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary. Its outstanding
feature is the statue of Lord Mahavira with a mustache. The two statues of
elephants guarding the gateways are beautiful examples of temple decoration.
In the vicinity are the Garasia tribal villages famous for their colorful
costumes.
Reaching Ranakpur -
Air : The airport nearest to Ranakpur is in Udaipur. It is 60 km
south of Ranakpur. There are flights to Delhi, Jaipur, Aurangabad, Jodhpur,
and Mumbai from Udaipur.
Rail : The nearest major railway station to Ranakpur is at Udaipur.
There are regular trains for Delhi, Chittorgarh, Ajmer, and Jaipur from the
Udaipur station.
Road : Ranakpur is easily accessible by road from Udaipur. Amongst
the major tourist destinations connected with Udaipur are Jaipur, Ajmer,
Kota/Bundi, Jodhpur, Chittorgarh, Ahmedabad, Varodara, Mumbai, Delhi,
Indore, and Mt Abu.
SUGGESTED
TOURS
Ranakpur Attractions
