Set amongst rolling hills and lush greenery, Ranakpur is small village but an important pilgrimage place for Jains. The white marble Jain Temple is one of the most beautiful architectural delights in India. The main Jain Temple complex has three main temples dedicated to Rishabhdeva, Neminath and Parsvanath. Overall, the complex has 29 halls and 1444 pillars, each alive and different from the other with unique carvings and sculptures that are believed to have been made by Jain devotees.
Ranakpur rings with legends starting from Rana Kumbha, who donated the village his name and land to build the Jain Temple complex, on the request of his minister Dharanashah. Dharanashah dreamt of a celestial vehicle taking him to a magnificent divine temple and narrated it to the Rana. The temple is believed to have been built on the site where Lord Rishabhadeva meditated under a rayan tree and left his footprint.
Places to See
Famous for its unique Jain Temples, Ranakpur offers several tourist attractions. These include:
- Ranakpur Jain Temple
- Falna
- Sadri
- Desuri
- Ghanerao
- Narlai
- Muchhal Mahaveer
- Kumbhalgarh Fort
- Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
Shopping
Not much of a shopping destination as such, Ranakpur is quiet a small village. However, you can go to Udaipur to buy miniature paintings, silver jewelry, puppets, stone carved items, precious gems and blue pottery.
Where to Stay
Ranakpur is basically a popular excursion point and people normally don't stay here for long. But still, you can find few options within your budget that may range from cheap accommodations to luxury hotels. You must try:
- Castle Bera Hotel
- Ghanerao Royal Castle Hotel
- The Fateh Bagh Hotel
- Ranakpur Hill Resort
- Maharani Bagh
How to Reach Ranakpur
Close to Udaipur, Ranakpur is a major pilgrimage site for Jains and has some ornate Jain Temples that have earned it the place in the world tourism map for architecture.
By Road: Ranakpur is connected to major cities nearby such as Udaipur by an excellent network of roads and regular bus services. From Udaipur, it takes 5 hours to reach Ranakpur by bus.
By Rail: The nearest railway station to Ranakpur is Falna, 36 km from the town. However, tourists prefer to travel up to Udaipur by train and take the bus from there. Udaipur railway station has regular trains that connect it to Ajmer, Jaipur, and Delhi.
By Air: The nearest airport to Ranakpur is at Udaipur, 98 km from the city, which has regular flights connecting it to Jaipur, Delhi and Mumbai.
