RANAKPUR
 Ranakpur in Rajasthan, excellently tucked away in a remote valley in the Aravali range, is located some 60 km north of Udaipur in Pali district. It prides for one of the largest and most significant Jain Temples in the country. It’s well linked through a road network to other places in the region and reaching there won’t be a worry. Lush green valleys and streams besides striking sights make for a good viewing once you drive towards Ranakpur. Ranakpur features among the five most significant pilgrimage sites of Jainism. An extremely beautiful temple complex in the Aravali ranges is there and tourists get a sense of delight while visiting it.
Best Season to Visit: October to March
Sightseeing at Ranakpur
Ranakpur Jain Temple
The Ranakpur Jain Temple was built during the reign of the liberal and gifted monarch Rana Kumbha in the 15th century AD. An enormous basement covers 48,000 sq. ft area. Four subsidiary shrines, twenty four pillared halls and appropriate domes supported by over four hundred columns mark the temple. There are 1,444 columns in all that have been carved marvellously.
Kumbhalgarh
Kumbhalgarh wraps a glorious history around it and attracts a vast number of tourists each year. It’s located some 30 km northeast of Ranakpur and rated as the most significant fort in the Mewar region after Chittaurgarh. There is a wildlife sanctuary worth visiting which is known for its wolves.
Sadri
Sadri is located at a 10 minute drive and catches the attention of tourists for some intricately designed temples and an old Dargah of Khudabaksh Baba. The Varahavtar temple and the Chintamani Parsvanath temple are the oldest of the temples situated here.
Desuri Three Temples
Around 16 km from Ranakpur, there are three temples respectively dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman and Navi Mata. Apart from these temples, a visit would also take tourists to an old mosque and another temple dedicated to Parsuram Mahadeo, which is located in the hills nearby.
Ghanerao
Ghanerao is a nearby place and famous for a lot of Hindu temples, worth visiting. The temple of Gajanand that carries a life-size statue of the goddesses Riddhi and Siddhi is most amazing one. idols of Hanuman and Bhairon on either side excellently guard the statue in the main shrine.
Mahavir Temple
The Muchhal Mahavir temple, locates just 5 km from Ghanerao in the Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary, is famous for its statue of Lord Mahavira with a mustache. The two statues of elephants guarding the gateways also catch the attention of tourists for their striking way of presenting temple decoration. The Garasia tribal villages, well-known for their vibrant and vivid costumes, are also located very close to the temple site.
Reaching Ranakpur
By Air
The airport nearest to Ranakpur is in Udaipur. It is 60 km south of Ranakpur. There are flights to Delhi, Jaipur, Aurangabad, Jodhpur, and Mumbai from Udaipur.
By Rail
The nearest major railway station to Ranakpur is at Udaipur. There are regular trains for Delhi, Chittorgarh, Ajmer, and Jaipur from the Udaipur station.
By Road
Ranakpur is easily accessible by road from Udaipur. Amongst the major tourist destinations connected with Udaipur are Jaipur, Ajmer, Kota/Bundi, Jodhpur, Chittorgarh, Ahmedabad, Varodara, Mumbai, Delhi, Indore, and Mt Abu.
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