Ranakpur is a town located in the Indian state of Rajasthan, India. This town is very popular among tourists and is also a major pilgrim destination in the state. Amidst the sandy land stands the Chaturmukh Jain Temple of Rishabhadev or The Ranakpur Jain Temple. The town of Ranakpur is quite cut off from other major destinations in Rajasthan, and is located at a distance of about ninety six kilometers from the city of Udaipur. Ranakpur is mainly famous for its Jain temples, which are all exquisitely carved structures. A view of these temples can be breathtaking when seen along with the background of endless desert sands. The huge complex is enclosed within walls, and houses Jain temples that are made of amber stone. In the complex, there are several temples including Chaumukha temple, Parsavanath temple, Amba Mata Temple and Surya Temple. Amongst all of them, Chaumukha Temple is the most important and as the term Chaumukha suggests, this temple is four-faced. Chaumukha temple is dedicated to Lord Adinath, who is the first 'Tirthankara' of the Jains. The Temple structure is highly compound having four different doorways to get into the chambers. These chambers ultimately take you to the main hall where the image of Adinath is positioned. The Chamukha temple that is located in this complex is the main temple in the region. This temple is dedicated to Adinathji, who is revered among Jains and regarded as the first tirthankara. This temple is a very huge structure that has around twenty nine halls and close to 1444 pillars in its premises. All these portions are distinctly carved, and they are all unique. No two pillars or structures in this temple have the same carvings.
The Ranakpur temple is one of the most famous Jain temple and dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankar (enlightened human) of our time cycle, Adinath (aka Lord Rishabha). It is a very big temple (ceiling around 7m high), made up of white marble, offers sculptures of same quality but different type than Dilwara, but is beautiful from the outside, too. It has more than a thousand columns none of which are alike. The temple is thus an architectural marvel that can excite any architecture buff or history buff who visits the place. The Parasvanath temple, the Neminath temple and the Sun temple are the other must visit locations. The temple is a masterpiece of architecture and boasts of not less than four additional shrines. It has 24 pillared halls with 80 domes that are supported by 400 columns. The upper and lower parts of the domes are linked by brackets that have deities' sculptures. Above all, you would be amazed to see at a height of 45 feet engraved nymphs playing the flute in various dance postures. Each column is intricately carved and it is surprising to know that no two columns have the similar design. 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. Ranakpur Temple was also nominated amongst the top 77 wonders, while deciding for new Seven Wonders of the World. However, number of wonders cannot be increased and some or the other would come amongst the top seven, still Ranakpur Temple is undoubtedly a wonder. If you are on a trip to Udaipur, don't miss this artistic temple that would become an unforgettable part of your beautiful memories.
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.
Get IN :
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 : here 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.
