Famous Tourist Places to Visit in Ranakpur

In the Rajasthan, Ranakpur is a small village. Ranakpur is situated on the west side of the Aravalli mountain range between Udaipur and Jodhpur. The village is famous for the 15th-century Ranakpur Jain Temple, with special religious significance among Jain followers. The grandeur of the temple is visible in its magnificent high pillars. The beauty of the temples is mesmerizing against the backdrop of the endless desert. This place offers an unusual sight in Rajasthan, a unique glimpse of greenery and condensed streams. Absorbed in the bounty of vibrant beauty with vibrant culture, Ranakpur is one of the must-visit places in Rajasthan. This village is named after Rana Kumbha, who donated some land for this. In today's article, we will tell you about the famous tourist places of Ranakpur.

A little bit of Ranakpur, Rajasthan - India: -

Five temples in India are considered to be the holiest for Jains. One of them is the Ranakpur Jain temple. The Ranakpur Jain temple is located near the town of Sadri in the Pali district, Rajasthan, between Udaipur and Jodhpur. It is also known as Charturmukha Dharana Vihara and is dedicated to Tirthankara Rishabhanatha, the first Tirthankara of Jainism and founded the Ikshvaku dynasty. Only four believers built the temple at the beginning of the 15th century. Its construction was completed in 50 years—a record speed for the middle Ages. In addition, the temple, every centimeter of which is decorated with complex and beautiful carvings and sculptures. The magnificent Jain temple carved in white marble is one of the five holiest places for the Jain religion and is surrounded by walls. The Ranakpurpur Jain Temple was built to order by a local businessman named Darna Shah. Shah searched the land to build the temple of King Rana Kumbha. King Rana Kumbha not only gave a large piece of land to build the temple but also asked to build a city around it. The built city was named Ranakpur, after the king, and the city itself is now known as Ranakpur. The temple's construction began in the fourteenth century and lasted until the fifteenth century. The Ranakpur temple was built taking into account the movement of the sun's rays during the day, so it is always bright there, even without artificial lighting. And vast and high halls - a feeling of spaciousness, fresh air, and unearthly beauty. It was conceived just like that: as a window to a better world, to another dimension. This temple is often called the Four Faces. Here are some incredible features of Ranakpur:

• His giant sculptures in the temple look in different directions of the world. Hence the name.
• Carvings on the themes of historical events and religious motifs cover all the walls, ceilings, and even 1444 columns in the Ranakpur temple in India.
• At the same time, no column is similar to the other. And one of them is especially slightly inclined to emphasize human imperfection in front of the gods.
• The eyes of the statues of the gods give the shining. Jains believe that the energy of a god can be transmitted to believers through the eyes.
• Countless treasures are kept in the caches of Ranakpur to this day: precious stones and jewelry made from them donated by the
• Maharajas and gold and silver coins, utensils made of precious metals - offerings of pious Jains.
• Nearby are three more small Jain temples, decorated with incredible carvings on the outside and ancient Hindu temples. All of them are available for inspection. But coming to Ranakpur, remote from the usual tourist routes, tourists want to admire the considerable three-level and multi-domed Jain temple.

It is just an extraordinary example of the genius of architecture who wants to amaze and make you be enchanted with your mouth open. There are similarities with the Dilwara temple on Mount Abu and with some sculptures of Khajuraho. Being a trendy place among Jains, you can meet many pilgrims of this religion who receive blessings from the "monks" of the temple.

Ranakpur - Why is Ranakpur famous for?

Ranakpur Jain Temple in Ranakpur is dedicated to Tirthankara Rishabhanatha. Dharna Shah, a local Jain businessman, began constructing the temple in the 15th century following a divine vision. According to Jain cosmology, the temple honors Adinath, the first Tirthankar of the present half-cycle. The city of Ranakpur and the temple are named after the provincial sovereign monarch, Rana Kumbha, who supported the temple's construction. The Jain culture's largest and most important temple is Ranakpur temple. This temple is located in the village of Ranakpur near the city of Sadri in the Pali district of Rajasthan. The pillars are all carved differently, and no two pillars are alike. It is also said that counting of pillars is impossible for human. Furthermore, all the statues face one or the other statue. There is a beautiful sculpture made from a single marble rock where there are 1008 snake heads and numerous tails. The end of the queue cannot be found. The image faces all four cardinal directions. On the central entrance axis, on the western side, is the most prominent image. The moolnayak of this temple is a 6-foot white-colored Adinath idol.

Places to Visit in Ranakpur

Ranakpur is located in Rajasthan, India, the land of kings. And it turns out that's precisely what it has to offer, in abundance. Ranakpur, a rather popular tourist destination near the Aravallis, has plenty of temples and monkeys, and heavy Jain religious influences. Perfect for your rendezvous with religion, history, and great Indian glory. Being located in Rajasthan, it is very inconvenient in the summer, and it pays to choose suitable times of the year and book in advance. Here we will know all about famous places of Ranakpur.

Ranakpur Temple

This temple is counted among the five important pilgrimage sites of Jains. It is made of very beautiful light-colored marble.The basement area of ??the temple is spread over square feet. There are inside the temple almost 29 halls, and 1444 pillars. The Ranakpur temple is dedicated to Adinatha, an important figure within Jainism known to be the founder of this religion. The temple, with its distinctive domes, sikharas, and towers rises majestically from the side of a hill. The pillars of the temple are carved differently and no two pillars are the same. It is also said that it is impossible to count all the columns. There is a beautiful statue carved out of a single rock where there are 108 snake heads and numerous tails.

Ranakpur temple building
One cannot find the end of the queues. The image is directed to the four cardinal points. On the axis of the main entrance, on the western side, is the largest image. The temple is designed as having four faces. The construction of the temple and the quadrupled image symbolize the conquest of the four cardinal points of Tirthankara, and therefore of the cosmos.

Access to Ranakpur temple
To enter the temple, you have to take off your shoes. The same sign located right at the entrance also indicates that if you wear any clothing made with animals, you must remove it before entering. An enormous red carpet, strategically placed to protect the soles of your feet from the burning ground, provides an elegant and cinematic entrance to this 15th-century temple.

The Surya Narayan temple

Surya Narayan Temple is a beautiful temple in Ranakpur dedicated to Suryadev. Temple is dedicated to the Lord of the Sun, as are many others for Jain saints such as Adinathji. It attracts the people from all over the world and is also very popular with tourists. The temple features various murals on its wall of circular structures. It also has an idol of Lord Surya riding a chariot with seven horses. A significant temple of Amba Mata near this temple attracts the devotees who come here. Apart from the Jain temple, you can come here to visit the famous Surya Narayan Temple. This magnificent temple is a beautiful structure dedicated to Lord Surya, which is visited by devotees and tourists from far and wide. This temple is counted among the most prominent places in Ranakpur. The main attraction of this temple is its structure and unique paintings on the walls.You can see the beauty of the walls while roaming in this temple. Some pictures made here are related to some mythological story or event. The temple complex is relatively quiet, where you can sit for a while and take off your physical and mental fatigue. For art lovers, this temple is no less than a treasure.

The Janissary Temple

The temple is designed as a chaumukha with four faces. The construction of the temple and the quadruple image symbolize Tirthankara's conquest of the four cardinal directions and, therefore, of the cosmos. The temple's architecture and stone carvings are based on the ancient Mirpur Jain Temple in Mirpur, Rajasthan.

To the male

Narlai is a small village in the Pali district of Rajasthan. This village is on the foothills, liitle away from the famous town of Ranakpur. Here travelers can see many Jain temples and Hindu temples. The murals and architecture of the temple of Lord Adinath, the first Jain Tirthankara, are trendy among tourists.

Mucchal Mahavir Temple

The temple's main attraction is an idol of Lord Mahavira with a mustache. At the entrance of the temple you can see two statues of elephants. Adjacent to this temple is a tribal village, 'Garasia,' particularly famous for its colorful costumes.

Ghanerao

It is a popular tourist attraction and is located near Ranakpur. In this village there are many big and small temples. Muchhal Mahavir Temple and Gajanand Temple are two of the most famous temples among the 11 Jain temples located in the region. In Gajanand temple, you can see beautiful idols of Lord Ganesha and deities and Riddhi and Siddhi.

Sadri

Sadri, a small town and municipality in the Pali district of Rajasthan, is one of the significant places of worship for the Jain community. Earlier, Sindhal Rathores used to rule here. The Sadri serves as the gateway from Mewar to Marwar. It was also called 'Gate to Marwar.' This place holds immense religious importance for the Jain community.
The major attractions here include Ranakpur Jain Temple, Parashuram Mahadev Temple, Varahavatar Temple, and Chintamani Parasnath Temple. There are fourteen ancient Jain temples in Sadri, including Shri Parashuram Mahadev Temple, Shri Vokkala Mata Temple, Shri Mahakali Temple, etc. Other attractions include Kumbhalgarh National Forest, Ghanrao Rawla, Narendra Rawala, etc.

Narlai Ranakpur

Among the major attractions of Ranakpur Jain Temple is a small village named Narlai situated near a hill, about 6 km from Ranakpur. This Naralai village is famous for the Hindu and Jain temples built in its courtyard. In these temples, tourists get an opportunity to see the remains of ancient times.

Sethi ki Badi Temple

One of the major attractions of Ranakpur Jain Temple is Sethi ki Badi Temple, a prominent Jain temple belonging to Shvetambara. This temple is known for its attractive paintings on its walls.

Shopping In Ranakpur

The market of Ranakpur is exciting. Though the villages are small, there is no shortage of attractive items in the market. The market of Ranakpur is more famous for gold, silver, and earthenware. Beautifully carved signs, as well as magnificent puppets, can be seen in the market.

Chaturmukh Temple

Chaturmukh Temple is the main attraction of Ranakpur, which was built in the 15th century. This temple dedicated to Adinath is included in the great pilgrimages related to Jainism. A large numbers of tourists visit in this temple.

Where to stay near Ranakpur Jain Temple?

Around Ranakpur Jain Temple, you will find accommodation facilities at Ranakpur and Sadri, where according to your budget and convenience, you can choose the hotel.

• Roopam Resort
• Chandra Hill Resort
• Ideal Lake View Resort
• Mana Hotels
• Ranakpur Safari Resort

Best time to visit Ranakpur

It is recommended to visit the Ranakpur Jain temple in winter. The weather is excellent at that time, and you can take your time to explore the temple properly. There is no entrance fee, but the priest who will be your guide in the temple will ask you for a donation for the time spent. Ranakpur in Rajasthan is a city of yesteryear with unrivaled grandeur. It has loads of temples with fascinating architecture, interiors, and artifacts. It is ideal for tourists looking for art, beauty, history, or even a good time to look at folk tales. Be prepared to go early when summer is safe, maybe even during the monsoon.

Where is the temple and how to get there?

The town of Ranakpur is located in western India, in the south of the state of Rajasthan, in the Aravali mountain valley. The nearest big city is Udaipur, from where buses run to Ranakpur. But the way there is not close - about a hundred kilometers. And public transport in India is often crowded.
How to get to Ranakpur?

Ranakpur Jain Temple is well connected by road to nearby cities, so you can also visit Ranakpur Jain Temple by bus or your means. Ranakpur is nestled in a remote valley in the Aravali range. This temple is one of India's largest and most important temples. Ranakpur is well connected with other Indian places through air, rail, and road networks.

• By Air: Udaipur's nearest airport. Regular flights to Jaipur, Aurangabad, Jodhpur Delhi, and Mumbai from Udaipur.
• By Train:  The Phalna is the nearest railway station to Ranakpur, and the central railway station is Udaipur. Most tourists prefer to go to Udaipur to take a train as it offers more options.
• By Road:  There are frequent express buses from Udaipur, which take around three hours to reach Ranakpur.

Bottom line

Ranakpur is a relatively small city in the western Indian state of Rajasthan. Due to its location in a forested valley, Ranakpur has a reasonably comfortable climate. The town is typical for India, but this city is known worldwide thanks to the temple of the same name, one of the prominent Jain sanctuaries. Ranakpur Temple is also considered the largest Jain sacred building in India and the world. Its size and beauty are excellent. There are open areas in the building walls through which light enters the room. Remember that there is no artificial lighting in the temple, so it is better to visit it during daylight hours. If you are ready to visit the famous tourist places of Ranakpur then pack your bag and start your awesome journey.