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The tranquil pilgrimage town of the Jains renowned for some marvellously
carved Jain temples in amber stone, 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 central 'Chaumukha' or
four-faced temple is dedicated to the venerated Tirthankara Rishabhji.
Open on all four sides, it enshrines the four-faced image of Adinath. The
temple is an astounding creation with 29 halls and 1,444 pillars - all
distinctly carved.
Images
of 24 tirthankaras are carved on the 'mandaps' or porticos in a corridor
around the shrine with each 'mandap' having a spire adorned with little
bells on the top. The gentle breeze wafting through the corridors move the
bells creating celestial music all around the complex. Rising in three
storeys, the temple has four small shrines with 80 spires supported by 420
columns.
Two temples, dedicated to the Jain saints - Parsvanath and Neminath, face
the main temple. The temples have beautiful carvings similar to that of
Khajuraho. Another temple worth visiting the nearby Sun Temple, an 8th
century AD temple dedicated to the Sun god. The temple has polygonal
walls, richly embellished with carvings of warriors, horses and solar
deities riding splendid chariots.
TEMPLES
Sadra (8 km): Famous for beautiful temples and an old Dargah of
Khudabaksh Baba. The Varahavtar Temple and the Chintamani Parsvanath Jain
Temple are the most ancient of the temples situated here.
Desuri (16 km): Three Jain temples, dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord
Hanuman and Navi Mata are among some noteworthy temples at Desuri. A
temple dedicated to Parsurama Mahadeo, nestled in the hills, is also
closeby. It is situated in the Kumbhalgarh
tehsil of Rajsamand.
Ghanerao: Ghanerao abounds in Jain and Hindu temples. Most
notable is the temple of Gajanand with a life-size statue of the goddesses
Ridhi and Sidhi. The statue is guarded by Hanuman and Bhairon on either
side.
Narlai (6 km): Lying at the base of a hillock, on the top of
which is a colossal 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 splendour.
Muchhal Mahaveer: This Jain temple is situated about 5 kms 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. In the
vicinity are the Garasia tribal villages famous for their colourful
costumes.
Falna (35 km): The railhead for Ranakpur Falna has some beautiful
temples too.
FORTS
Kumbhalgarh: The imposing fort a
principal bastion of Mewar after Chittorgarh.
has some interesting Jain temples. more...
WILDLIFE
Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary: The 586 sq. kms sanctuary supports
a rich variety of wildlife. Panther, Sloth Bear, Wild Boar, Four-Horned
Antelope and scientifically bred Crocodiles in the lake, are the major
attractions.
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.
RTDC Hotel Shilpi and Dharamshalas at Ranakpur provide comfortable accommodations for tourists.
Sadra: 8-km
Desuri: 16-km
Falna- 35-km
Narlai: 6-km
Udaipur: 60-km
| Climate | : | Max | Min |
| Summer | : | 42.0°C | 22.0° C |
| Winter | : | 20.00° C | 10.6° C |
| Rainfall | : | 55 cms. | |
| Best Time To Visit | : | September-March | |
| Clothing | |||
| Summer | : | light tropical | |
| Winter | : | light woollen | |
| Languages | : | English, Hindi, Rajasthani. | |