Ranakpur:
Ranakpur is located in the mountain ranges of Pali district, 23 kms. away
from the Phalna railway station. Ranakpur in the state of Rajasthan, is one
of the five most important pilgrimage sites of Jainism. Amidst the sandy
land stands the Chaturmukh Jain Temple of Rishabhadev or The Ranakpur Jain
Temple.
Location:
Ranakpur complex is one of the biggest and most important Jain temples in
India, the extremely beautiful. Ranakpur is located about 56 miles north of
Udaipur.
It lies in a remote and quiet valley of the Aravalli Range 60 km from
Udaipur.
The past:
Ranakpur is one of the five holiest places of the Jain community and
spectacular in architecture. It is probably the most complex and extensive
of Jain temples in India. The Ranakpur Jain Temple were built under the
reign of monarch Rana Kumbha in the 15th century and is the largest Jain
temple in India.
Temple Of Architectural Genius:
The main temple here is the Chaurnukha Temple, or Four Faced Temple.
this temple is dedicated to Adinath, the first tirthankar. The sheer
immensity and the graceful appeal of the main temple leaves the onlooker
mesmerized. Built in 1439,this huge, beautifully crafted and well kept
marble temple has 29 halls supported by1444 pillars, no two of which are
similar. The interiors are embellished with carvings of Jain saviors,
plant and floral motifs. Within the complex are two other Jain temples-
to Neminath and Parasnath - and, a little distance away, a Sun Temple. "The
Amba Mata Temple". The entire complex is beautifully planned so
that all the courtyards within the temple open out to the bare sky.
Trip time:
The magnificent temple of Ranakpur and the surrounding areas can be
visited in a time span of 2-3 days. The ideal time for visit would be
between October to March.
Climate:
The climate of Ranakpur is tropical with the mercury climbing up to a
maximum of around 42°C and a minimum of around 22°C. Winters
are only a little colder with a maximum of around 20°C and a
minimum of around 11°C. The annual total rainfall is around 55
centimeters. Winter months (October-March) are the best for visiting
this place.
Mode of transport to
ranakpur:
» 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.
