Ranakpur travel unveils the cultural heritage of the
'city of the temples' which is situated about 60
kilometers north of Udaipur. The Ranakpur temples are an
excellent manifestation of Jainism. Ghanerao, Sadri,
Falna, Narlai, Desuri and Ranakpur Jain Temples are some
of the famous sites in Ranakpur that must be visited by
the tourists.
Located at about 96 kilometers away from Udaipur,
Ranakpur is famous for its intricately carved Jain
Temples. It is, in fact, one of the holy places
belonging to the Jain community in India. The Jain
Temples of Ranakpur were constructed in 15th century AD .
Among the Jain Temples, the centrally located temple of Rishabhji is a marvel to look at. Spread over an area of
48, 000 square feet, this Ranakpur temple possesses 1444
pillars and 29 halls. Muchhal Mahaveer is another famous
Jain temple of Ranakpur that enshrines the statue of
Lord Mahavira. A characteristic feature of this temple
is that the idol has a mustache.
HISTORY
Ranakpur is named after Rana Kumbha whom Dharna Sah, a
Jain businessman, approached when he had the vision of
his great temple to ask for the land for its
construction. Renowned for some marvelously carved Jain
temples in amber stone, Ranakpur is one of the five
holiest places of the Jain community and exceptional in
beauty. Situated at a distance of around 60 km from
Udaipur, these temples were constructed in the AD 1439.
TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS
The Ranakpur Jain Temple was built during the reign of
the liberal and gifted Rajput monarch Rana Kumbha in the
15th century. The basement is of 48,000 sq. feet area
that covers the whole complex. There are four subsidiary
shrines, twenty-four pillared halls and domes supported
by over four hundred columns. The total number of
columns is 1,444 a ll of which are intricately carved
with no two being alike. The artistically carved nymphs
playing the flute in various dance postures at a height
of 45 feet are an interesting sight.
In the assembly hall, there are two big bells weighing
108 kg whose sound echoes in the entire complex. The
main temple is a Chaumukh or a four-faced temple
dedicated to Adinath. The three other Jain temples in
the same complex, including a temple of the Sun God, are
all well worth a visit. One kilometer away from the
temple complex is the temple of Amba Mata.
PLACES AROUND RANAKPUR
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, eight km away, is famous for some beautiful
temples and an old dargah of Khudabaksh Baba. The
Varahavtar temple and the Chintamani Parsvanath temple
are the oldest of the temples situated here.
Three temples, dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman and
Navi Mata are among some noteworthy 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 also close by.
Another nearby place, Ghanerao, abounds in Hindu
temples. Most notable 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.
The Muchhal Mahavir temple is situated about five
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 temple decoration. In
the vicinity are the Garasia tribal villages famous for
their colorful costumes.
WHERE TO STAY
There are many places in Ranakpur that provide quality
accommodation. The costs can range between an amount in
four figures for the best double-bedded rooms to a
donation of an amount one's own discretion in a
dharmshala. Heritage hotels are the best bet in this
region, if one is interested in enjoying the royal
hospitality and charm of the bygone era. Facilities in
the major hotels are good and worth the money spent.
HOW TO REACH
BY AIR - The nearest airport is Udaipur 60 km
south of Ranakpur. There are regular flights to Delhi,
Jaipur, Aurangabad, Jodhpur, and Mumbai from Udaipur.
BY RAIL - The nearest major railway station is
Udaipur. There are trains for Delhi, Chittaurgarh,
Ajmer, and Jaipur from this station. The nearest railway
station from Ranakpur is Phalna but most of the tourists
prefer going to Udaipur to catch a train as it offers
more choice.
BY ROAD - There are frequent express buses from
Udaipur that take around three hours to reach Ranakpur.
State transport corporation buses as well as private
buses connect Udaipur to other cities in the region.
Major destinations that are connected to Udaipur are
Jaipur, Ajmer, Kota/Bundi, Jodhpur, Chittaurgarh,
Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Mumbai, Delhi, Indore, and Mt Abu |