Ranakpur Travel

Ranakpur is located in the state of Rajasthan and is one of the five most important pilgrimage sites of Jainism. A quaint town in Rajasthan, Ranakpur is extremely popular among tourists. Although Ranakpur has been waived off from other tourist destinations in Rajasthan, it still receives several visitors because of its status as a major pilgrim destination in the state. Tucked away in a remote valley in the Aravali mountain range, Ranakpur is renowned for some amazingly carved Jain temples constructed in amber stone around the year 1439 AD.
History
Ranakpur has been named after the ruler of Mewar, Ranak Kumbha, who offered his land for the construction of a temple. The city was inspired by a dream of a celestial vehicle, and a Jain businessman Dharna Shah started its construction under the patronage of Rana Kumbha. The construction is well documented in a 1437 CE copper-plate record, inscriptions in the temple and a Sanskrit text Soma-Saubhagya Kavya.

Attractions
One of the most popular attractions here is the Ranakpur Jain Temple which holds immense importance for all Jains. Covering an area of 4,500 square yards and housing 29 halls, the temple is one of the most important of the five major pilgrimage centres of Jainism. The temple is famed for its brilliant architecture and was also voted amongst the top 77 wonders of the world.

Another popular attraction here is the small town and municipality in the Pali District of Rajasthan, Sadri. It is one of the major worship places for the Jain community. It used to be under the reign of Sindhal Rathores, and now works as a gateway to Marwar from Mewar. The major attractions of the place include the Ranakpur Jain Temple, Parshuram Mahadev Temple, Varahavatar Temple and Chintamani Parasnath Temple. Sadri has fourteen ancient Jain Temples which include Shri Parashuram Mahadev Temple, Shri Vokkal Mata Temple, Shri Mahakali Temple, etc.
Surya Narayan Temple is another major attraction here. This beautiful temple projects the various wall murals on its wall of circular structures, and is dedicated to the Sun God. The temple also features a sculpture of Lord Surya riding a chariot with seven horses.

Muchhal Mahavir Temple is another popular attraction of Ranakpur. Dedicated to Lord Mahavir, the temple is situated in the Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary. The prime attraction of the temple is an idol of Lord Mahavir with a moustache. The temple features two sculptures of elephants at the entrance gateway in guarding position.

Best time to visit Ranakpur
October to March is the best time to visit Ranakpur. Lying in the tropical climatic zone, Ranakpur experiences typical hot and dry summers. The maximum temperature during the season rises up to 42 degrees Celcius resulting in scorching heat. Monsoon receives scanty rainfalls but drops in temperature are observed.

How to reach Ranakpur
By Air – The nearest airport to Ranakpur is Udaipur, which is 60km south of Ranakpur. There are regular flights to Delhi, Jaipur, Aurangabad, Jodhpur, and Mumbai from Udaipur.
By Train – The nearest major railways station is Udaipur, and trains for Delhi, Chittaurgarh, Ajmer, and Jaipur are available from here. 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. 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.