Ranakpur is one of five holy Jain pilgrimage centers in Jainism known for its picturesque white marble temple complex situated in isolated green lush wooded valley of Aravalli mountains just 25km southwest of Kumbhalgarh and 98km away from Udaipur in the southeast section of Rajasthan.
History
In 15th century, Mewar’s Rana Kumbha’s court contained many Jain officials. To appreciate his official’s noble works, Rana donated large stretch of land to the Jains in deep picturesque valley of Arravalies. Wealthy Jains built serene temple complex in valley from marble quarried from nearby Makrana. This area called Ranakpur, named after Rana Kumbha.
Jain Temple Complex
Ranakpur’s Jain temple complex is marvel and finest example of breathtaking medieval western Indian temple architecture built from white marbles that also used in Agra’s Taj Mahal and Mt.Abu’s Dilwara Jain Temples.
A central temple in this complex is called Chaumukha (four-faced) dedicated to the first tirthankara, Adinath. This magnificent three-storied quadruple temple has unusual four-sided plan, with four separate entrances. Each entrance leads through a forest of delicately carved marble columns connected by marble arches in beautifully ornamented marble courtyards, sculptured panels, walls, ceilings, and chapels to the central shrine of four faced white marble image of Lord Adinath.. The temple has 29 halls, 80 domes and the pavilions include 1444 pillars with no two pillars are identical in design and sculptures. All pillars are intricately and artistically carved with different patterns of floral motifs and engraved Jain figures. Temple is built on a high plinth, has high boundary walls, has five spires (shikars) rise above the walls, and has about 20 cupolas (vaulted ceiling) each form the roof of a pillared hall gives you impression of the fortified temple cities. Another temple is the Sun Temple having polygonal walls with impressive carvings of warriors, horses & splendid chariots.
My Experience
During my Rajasthan tour in Feb 2005, I have visited Udaipur. As part of our side excursion tours around Udaipur, we visited Ranakpur. We left Udaipur early in the morning, as we were driving closer to Ranakpur on winding roads through narrow curves of the remote green lush jungle of Aravalli Mountains, we had our fist tiny glimpse of glorious white temple complex in the deep valley. It was stunningly beautiful tiny image of white temple complex in middle of nowhere.
Suddenly after some downhill hair curving turns, our car reached at Ranakpur temple complex’s main entrance. Once we entered into secluded temple complex, we were all surprised to see quite, clean, divinely spiritual complex without any hustle bustle. There wasn’t any of religious rituals supply, spiritual books, local crafts, and fast food shops like typical Indian temple complexes. There were hardly 10 cars in the parking lot and whole surrounding environment of gardens, saint cottages, quite walkways felt like you are time traveled back to the middle age Vedic Era Ashram. We all refreshed ourselves at nearly restroom and felt our spiritually divinely beautiful cleaned soul in serene tree shaded complex.
After our fist closer glance of Chaumukha temple, I was impressed by its sheer size. Once we climbed stairs of one of four-sided entrance with double-storied portals, entered through columned courts into mail hall, we were aghast by marble carving of never-ending sight of marble pillars, courtyards, ceilings, pavilions, interior temples etc. Since temple is open from all four sides, one of my most memorable moments of Ranakpur visit is my afternoon nap on marble floor of central shrine in the middle of marble structures. Temple’s interior was so quite and serene that we could clearly hear ringing bells of red and white flags hanged outside of temple complex in fluttering breeze of valley. After we came out from temple, we strolled around complex on nicely laid walkways and visited other temples especially Sun Temple.
Even though it’s been 500 years, these temples are still superbly preserved in near perfect condition. One must see it to appreciate this hidden jewel of Rajasthan. Around 5.00 PM, we left Ranakpur and drove back to Udaipur. If you want to stay overnight in this serene valley then there are options available for overnight accommodation.