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 Ranakpur is
named after Rana Kumbha whom Dharna Sah, a Jain businessman,
approached when he had the vision of his great temple to ask for
the land for its construction. Renowned for some marvelously
carved Jain temples in amber stone, Ranakpur is amongst the five
holiest places of the Jain community and exceptional in beauty.
These temples were constructed in the AD 1439. It is located in
the mountain ranges of Pali district, 39 kms. away from the
Phalna railway station. Ranakpur is reached after passing lush
green valleys and streams and the heart capturing views drive
away any fatigue of the journey. The Ranakpur Jain Temple were
built during the reign of the liberal and gifted monarch Rana
Kumbha in the 15th century. An enormous basement covers 48,000
sq. feet area. There are four subsidiary shrines, twenty four
pillared halls and eligibly domes supported by over four hundred
columns. The total number of columns is 1,444 all of which are
intricately carved no two being alike. The artistically carved
nymphs playing the flute in various dance postures at a height
of 45 feet are an engrossing sight. In the assembly hall, there
are two big bells weighing 108 kgs. whose sound echoes in the
entire complex.
Ranakpur - The Jain
Temples in Aravali
 Ranakpur in the state of Rajasthan is one of the five
most important pilgrimage sites of Jainism. It is home to an
exceptionally beautiful temple complex in the Aravali ranges and
a must visit for the tourists coming to this region.
Location
Ranakpur is tucked away in a remote valley in the Aravali range.
It is situated around 60 km north of Udaipur in Pali district
and boasts of one of the largest and most important Jain Temples
in the country. The place is well connected through a road
network to other places in the region.
History
Ranakpur is named after Rana Kumbha whom Dharna Sah, a Jain
businessman, approached when he had the vision of his great
temple to ask for the land for its construction. Renowned for
some marvelously carved Jain temples in amber stone, Ranakpur is
one of the five holiest places of the Jain community and
exceptional in beauty. Situated at a distance of around 60 km
from Udaipur, these temples were constructed in the AD 1439.
Pilgrimages
Attractions of Ranakpur
The Ranakpur Jain Temple was built during the reign of the
liberal and gifted Rajput monarch Rana Kumbha in the 15th
century. The basement is of 48,000 sq. feet area that covers the
whole complex. There are four subsidiary shrines, twenty-four
pillared halls and domes supported by over four hundred columns.
The total number of columns is 1,444 all of which are
intricately carved with no two being alike. The artistically
carved nymphs playing the flute in various dance postures at a
height of 45 feet are an interesting sight. In the assembly
hall, there are two big bells weighing 108 kg whose sound echoes
in the entire complex. The main temple is a Chaumukh or a
four-faced temple dedicated to Adinath.
The three other Jain temples in the same complex, including a
temple of the Sun God, are all well worth a visit. One kilometer
away from the temple complex is the temple of Amba Mata.
Sadri
Sadri, eight km away, is famous for some beautiful temples and
an old dargah of Khudabaksh Baba. The Varahavtar temple and the
Chintamani Parsvanath temple are the oldest of the temples
situated here.
Temples at Desuri
Three temples, dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman and Navi
Mata are among some noteworthy temples at Desuri around 16 km
from Ranakpur. An old mosque situated here is also worth a
visit. A temple dedicated to Parsuram Mahadeo, nestled in the
hills, is also close by.
Another nearby place, Ghanerao, abounds in Hindu temples. Most
notable is the temple of Gajanand with a life-size statue of the
goddesses Riddhi and Siddhi. The statue in the main shrine is
guarded by idols of Hanuman and Bhairon on either side.
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Muchhal
Mahavir temple
The Muchhal Mahavir temple is situated about five km from
Ghanerao in the Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary. Its distinctive
feature is the statue of Lord Mahavira with a mustache. The
two statues of elephants guarding the gateways are splendid
examples of temple decoration. In the vicinity are the
Garasia tribal villages famous for their colorful costumes.
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Falna
Ranakpur
The Jain Golden Temple in Falna, a small town in Rajasthan
has a unique attraction worldwide. It is the first temple
that has been constructed by the people of the Jain
community. The specialty of the temple is that, from the
Falna town itself about 90 Kg. of gold was donated by the
ladies of the Jain community for the idolization of temple
dome and Lords idol.
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