Ranakpur [Rajasthan]

The exceptionally beautiful Ranakpur complex, 60 kms north of Udaipur, is one of the largest and most important Jain pilgrimage town in India. It is tucked away in a remote valley of the Aravalli range and is certainly worth seeing.

Ranakpur is one of the five holy places of the Jain community. 60-km from Udaipur; these temples were built in the 15th century AD during the reign of Rana Kumbha and are enclosed within a wall.

The main temple is the ' Chaumukha Temple ' or Four-faced temple dedicated to Adinath. Built in 1439, this huge, superbly crafted and well-kept marble temple has 29 halls supported by 1444 pillars, no two are alike. Within the complex are two other jain temples dedicated to ' Neminath ' and ' Parasnath ' and a little distance away, a ' Sun Temple . One kilometer from the main complex is the ' Amba Mata Temple .

Places Of Interest (Ranakpur)

Maharani Bagh Orchard Retreat
Maharani Bagh Orchard is located just 4 kms north of the famous Ranakpur Jain temple. Situated at the base of the Aravalli hills, these mango orchards were laid out in the late 19th century by the wife of Maharaja Takhat Singh of Jodhpur. The orchard has a lots of shady trees as well, and under them are several cottages with all modern amenities. The cool and peaceful atmosphere invites a large variety of exotic bird life. The guests can spend several peaceful hours watching birds or generally relaxing.

Parshvanath Temple
This temple was built, in the 14th century, dedicated to tirthankara (saint) Parshvanath. This temple is visited by thousands of Jain and Hindu devotees, who come to pay homage to this great saint. This temple has a black image of the saint in the inner sanctum. The exterior of the temple bears some erotic carvings. The temple is also remarkable for its ornately pierced stone windows.

Nearby Places (Ranakpur)

Sadri
Famous for some beautiful temples and an old dargah of Khudabaksh Baba. The Varahavtar Temple and the Chintamani Parasvanath Temple are the most ancient temples situated here.

Desuri
Three temples, dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman and Navi Mata are among some noteworthy temples at Desuri. 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.

Narlai (6 km)
Lying at the base of a hillock, on the top of which is a statue of an elephant, Narlai has many Hindu and Jain temples. The temple of Adinath is an ancient one. The outer ‘mandap’ of the temple has beautiful mural paintings on its ceiling which still retain their original splendor.

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 moustache. The two statues of elephants guarding the gateways are splendid examples of architecture.

Travel Information (Ranakpur)

Air : Udaipur 80-kms away is the nearest airport.
Rail : Falna 35-kms is the nearest railhead on the Delhi-Ahmedabad sector.
Road : A network of bus services joins Ranakpur with many nearby places.