Ranakpur Tour
CHATURMUKHA DHARANA VIHARA
Ranakpur is a small quaint town nestled amid the secluded valley of Aravali Ranges in Rajasthan. Situated around 96 km North of Udaipur in Pali district, it is an important destination for Jain pilgrims. The place presents a unique spectacle of verdant greenery and gushing streams, an unusual sight in Rajasthan. Immersed in the vibrant culture with a myriad of enrapturing beauty in store, Ranakpur has made its way on the list of must-visit destinations in Rajasthan. It is named after Rana Kumbha, who donated some land for the place. There are many temples dedicated to different Tirthankaras in Jainism like Adinatha, Parasnath and Chaumukha Temple with marvellous architectures. Rightly nicknamed as 'A spiritual oasis in Aravalli', Ranakpur is a place with mesmerising beauty that will leave you awe-inspired with a rejuvenated soul.
Ranakpur is the most preferred family holiday site located in western part of Rajasthan. Being one of the most famous pilgrimage sites, there are quite a few interesting places to visit in Ranakpur. Ranakpur is known for one of the most stunning Jain temples dating back to the 15th century AD. The place sees a lot of tourist footfall during the months of October, November, and December. Though these are the preferred months, one can visit summer, monsoon, winter – anytime. The local attractions of this place are not too far from one another. They can easily be covered in two or three days.
Ranakpur Jain Temple
This is a very important temple for all Jainsand also known as one of the best places to see in Ranakpur. It has an extensive temple complex. It is spread over an area of 4,500 square yards and consists of 29 halls. This is one of the most important of the five major pilgrim locations of the Jains. The design of the temple is very eye catching. The architecture and designs will compel you to spend time observing the temple. Pilgrims from all over the world come here to seek blessings of the Lord.
Sadri
This is an important place of worship where there are a large number of temples present. It is one of the best places to visit in Ranakpur. This is basically a major worship place for the Jain Community. The town of Sadri acts as a gateway to Marwar from Mewar. This town used to be under the rule of the Sindhal Rathores. There are a number of places to visit in this little town – some of those are the Jain Temple, the Parshuram Mahadev Temple, the Varaha Avatar Temple and the Chintamani Parasnath Temple.
Surya Narayan Temple
This is another one of the top places to visit in Ranakpur. A large number of visitors come here to offer their prayers. The temple is dedicated to the Sun god. The temple features a sculpture that shows the Sun God riding his chariot that is being pulled by seven horses. Apart from this the entire temple has a large number of murals all over it. Each of these murals is a work of art and none of them are similar to the other. The Surya Narayan Temple is circular in shape.
Desuri
This is another beautiful town of Rajasthan. The town is about 16 kms away from the city of Ranakpur. Just like Ranakpur this town is also dotted with numerous temples. Each of these temples are extremely beautiful and have a background story of their own. The major attraction of this place is the three temples that are dedicated to three deities of Hinduism – Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman and Navi Mata. A large number of devotees come here to offer their prayers. There is also a very old mosque at this place. Apart from the three major temples there is another ancient temple that is dedicated to Lord Parsuram Mahadeo. This temple is located amid the majestic hills of the area.
Narlai
This is a small village located at the foot of a hill. This place is around 6 kms from the city of Ranakpur. This is one of the best tourist places in Ranakpur which is known for the numerous Hindu and temples that are located here. The most famous Jain temple is dedicated to the first Tirthankara, Lord Adinath. The temple is adorned with beautiful murals. The architecture of the place depicts the relics of ancient period. Another captivating feature of this place is the deep wells that are dug here. There are quite a few of them at this place. These are used by the people for drinking purposes.
Muchhal Mahavir Temple
The most interesting feature of this temple is the statue of Mahavir that shows him wearing a moustache. This is one of the best places to see in Ranakpur which one cannot miss. Dedicated to Lord Mahavir, this temple is located within the Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary. If you are coming to offer your prayers at the temple then you must surely keep enough time in your hand to explore the Sanctuary as well. Another interesting feature of the temple is the sculptures of two elephants right at the entrance of the temple.