Ranakpur Travel Guide
The pleasant window is about October to March , the cool Rajasthan winter; the summer is fiercely hot and the monsoon turns the hills green.
The best time to visit Ranakpur
The pleasant window is about October to March, the cool Rajasthan winter; the summer is fiercely hot and the monsoon turns the hills green.
- October to March for the cool seasonThe best time to visit Ranakpur is roughly October to March, the cool, pleasant Rajasthan winter, when the days are mild and sunny, ideal for exploring the great temple, combining it with Kumbhalgarh, and enjoying the wooded Aravalli valley in comfort. This is the classic and by far the most comfortable season for Ranakpur and for Rajasthan generally. For most travellers, these cool winter months are the clear choice for an unhurried visit to the temple.
- Winter light on the marbleIn the heart of winter, about December and January, Ranakpur days are pleasant and the mornings cool, and the low winter sun slants beautifully through the pillared halls, lighting the white marble carving, a wonderful time for the temple. The nights can be cold for Rajasthan, so carry a warm layer. This is a lovely, comfortable time to take in the astonishing craft of the temple at leisure, in the soft, clear light of the Rajasthan winter.
- Avoid the fierce summerThe summer, about April to June, is fiercely hot in this part of Rajasthan, making travel and sightseeing tiring, though the cool marble interior of the temple offers some relief. Unless you have a specific reason, it is best avoided. If you must come in summer, do your travelling and any outdoor sights such as Kumbhalgarh in the early morning and evening, drink plenty of water, and take refuge from the midday heat in the temple's shade.
- The green monsoonThe monsoon, about July to September, brings rain that turns the surrounding Aravalli hills lush and green, a beautiful and atmospheric time in the valley, with the temple set among fresh greenery. The rain is usually not heavy enough to spoil a visit, though it can make travel slower. For green hills, a fresh landscape and fewer crowds, the late monsoon into early autumn can be a rewarding, quieter time to see Ranakpur and its valley.
Ranakpur is at its best in the cool, pleasant months of about October to March, ideal for the temple and for combining it with Kumbhalgarh, though winter nights can be cold. Avoid the fierce summer of about April to June, when travel is tiring, though the cool marble temple offers relief. Note that the temple is usually open to non-Jain tourists only in the afternoon, so plan your visit around the current timings, and the monsoon brings lush green hills.
How to reach Ranakpur, in the Aravalli valley
Reach Ranakpur by road, about 90 km from Udaipur and 35 km from Kumbhalgarh, on the route between Udaipur and Jodhpur.
Ranakpur is most easily reached by road from Udaipur, about 90 km away and roughly a two to three hour drive through the Aravalli hills, making it a popular day trip or overnight from the lake city. A hired car or taxi is the usual way, and the scenic drive up into the hills is part of the pleasure. Many travellers combine Ranakpur with Kumbhalgarh, just 35 km away, on a single rewarding day out from Udaipur.
Ranakpur lies conveniently on the route between Udaipur and Jodhpur, about 160 km from Jodhpur, so many travellers visit it as a stop when driving between the two cities, breaking the journey with the great temple. This makes Ranakpur an easy and natural addition to a classic Rajasthan itinerary. A hired car for the Udaipur to Jodhpur leg, with a halt at Ranakpur and perhaps Kumbhalgarh, is a wonderful way to see this part of the state.
The nearest railway station is at Falna, about 35 km away, connected by train to major cities, with the temple reached from there by road. The nearest airport is at Udaipur, about 90 km away, with flights from Delhi, Mumbai and other cities. From the railway or airport, Ranakpur is reached by hired car or taxi. Most travellers arrive via Udaipur or on the Udaipur-Jodhpur road, driving the last stretch into the valley.
Ranakpur is a small temple village, and the great temple and its neighbours are easily seen on foot once you arrive. To combine it with Kumbhalgarh, just 35 km off, a hired car for the day is ideal, as public transport between the two is limited. For a family or group, a car with a driver for the Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh day, or the Udaipur-Jodhpur leg, gives the most freedom and comfort.
Ranakpur is most easily reached by road from Udaipur, about 90 km and two to three hours away, and lies on the Udaipur-Jodhpur road, about 160 km from Jodhpur. Its perfect partner is the great Kumbhalgarh fort, just 35 km off, and the two make one of Rajasthan's finest day trips or overnights. The nearest railway is Falna, the nearest airport Udaipur. Hire a car for the Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh day, and plan your temple visit around the afternoon tourist timings.
The marble temple, its pillars and its neighbours
The draws are the great Adinath temple and its 1,444 carved pillars, the four-faced shrine, and the nearby Surya and Parshvanath temples.
- The great Adinath templeThe supreme sight at Ranakpur is the great Chaumukha temple of Adinath, a vast white marble temple built in the fifteenth century in the ornate Maru-Gurjara style, one of the finest Jain temples in India. Four-faced, with the deity facing the four directions, it rises in a mass of domes, spires and pillared halls, its every surface carved. To step inside is to enter one of the most beautiful sacred spaces in the country, a wonder of devotion and craft.
- The forest of 1,444 pillarsThe temple's most famous glory is its forest of 1,444 marble pillars, no two carved alike, rising through twenty-nine halls beneath about eighty domes, so that the eye is led endlessly through a maze of columns and light. The carving, of pillars, ceilings, brackets and friezes, is astonishingly fine and intricate. To wander among these pillars, watching the light shift through them, is the central, unforgettable experience of a visit to Ranakpur, unmatched anywhere.
- The four-faced shrine and the carvingAt the heart of the temple stands the four-faced marble idol of Adinath, and all around, the marble is worked into an incredible density of detail, deities, dancers, patterns and scenes, with famous carved ceilings and a marble frieze said to be cut from a single block. Take time to look closely, for the wonder of Ranakpur is as much in the smallest carved detail as in the grand sweep of the halls, the work of master craftsmen.
- The Surya and Parshvanath templesAround the great temple stand other fine shrines, including the Surya, or Sun, temple with its carved sun-god and chariot, the Parshvanath or Suparshvanath temple, and the Amba temple, adding to the sacred ensemble of Ranakpur. These are often overlooked by hurried visitors but reward a look for their own fine carving and quieter atmosphere. Seeing them as well as the main temple gives a fuller sense of Ranakpur as a whole sacred complex in the hills.
Ranakpur is not a museum but a living Jain temple, held sacred and actively worshipped, so treat it with the reverence due to a place of faith. Behave quietly, follow the priests' and staff's guidance, do not disturb worshippers, and observe the rules on tourist timings, dress and leather described here. A visit made with that respect honours the Jain faith and the centuries of devotion behind the temple, and makes the wonder of the marble all the more moving.
The experiences that make Ranakpur
Wander the pillared halls, study the carving, see the neighbouring temples, and pair the visit with Kumbhalgarh.
- Wander the pillared hallsThe signature Ranakpur experience is simply to wander slowly through the forest of 1,444 marble pillars, letting the eye follow the endless columns, the shifting light and the carved ceilings, and pausing to take in the four-faced shrine at the centre. Give it unhurried time, ideally in the softer light of afternoon, and let the sheer scale and beauty of the marble work over you. It is one of the most serene and awe-inspiring spaces in all India.
- Study the carving up closeBeyond the grand sweep, Ranakpur rewards close looking: the individually carved pillars, the famous marble ceilings with their concentric patterns, the deities and dancers, the frieze said to be cut from a single block of marble. Take your time, perhaps with a guide, to appreciate the astonishing skill of the fifteenth-century craftsmen. For anyone who loves art and architecture, an unhurried study of Ranakpur's carving is one of the great pleasures of Rajasthan.
- See the neighbouring templesDo not rush away after the main temple; take time for the neighbouring Surya, Parshvanath and Amba temples in the complex, quieter and often overlooked, each with its own fine carving and atmosphere. Seeing these as well gives a fuller sense of Ranakpur as a whole sacred place, not a single monument. It is a small extra effort that deepens the visit and rewards those who linger a little longer at this remarkable temple site.
- Pair it with KumbhalgarhThe classic way to enjoy Ranakpur is to pair it with the mighty Kumbhalgarh fort, just 35 km away, with its enormous wall said to be second only to the Great Wall of China, on a single day out from Udaipur or an overnight in the hills. Fort and temple together, one of raw power and one of exquisite devotion, make one of the finest and most contrasting days in all Rajasthan, deep in the beautiful Aravalli hills.
The temple is usually open to non-Jain tourists only in the afternoon, roughly from midday to evening, with the mornings reserved for Jain worship, so plan your visit for the afternoon window and check the current timings before you go. This shapes a Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh day: many travellers see Kumbhalgarh in the morning and Ranakpur in the afternoon. Arriving in the tourist window, in the soft afternoon light on the marble, is also when the temple looks its most beautiful.
Where to stay, and how long to give it
Stay in a resort near Ranakpur or in Udaipur, and give Ranakpur a half day, or a night with Kumbhalgarh.
- Resorts near RanakpurThere are several hotels and resorts near Ranakpur, set in the wooded Aravalli valley, from comfortable retreats to simpler stays, ideal for those who want to slow down, see the temple in the quiet of afternoon and morning light, and combine it with Kumbhalgarh at leisure. Staying a night near Ranakpur, away from the cities, is a peaceful, scenic choice. Book ahead in the winter season, and enjoy the calm of the hills around the great temple.
- Udaipur as a baseMany travellers base in the lake city of Udaipur, about 90 km away, with its wide choice of hotels and its own great sights, and visit Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh on a day trip. This suits those wanting the comforts and attractions of Udaipur with the temple as an excursion. Udaipur is the most popular and convenient base for Ranakpur, and the drive out through the Aravalli hills to the temple and fort is a rewarding day from the city.
- A half day, or a night with KumbhalgarhRanakpur itself needs only about a half day, an hour or two in the great temple and its neighbours, so it is easily seen on a day trip. To enjoy it and Kumbhalgarh at a relaxed pace, though, stay a night near Ranakpur or Kumbhalgarh, seeing the fort one part of the day and the temple in the afternoon window. This unhurried overnight, deep in the hills, makes the most of two of Rajasthan's greatest sights together.
- Fit it into a Rajasthan tripRanakpur fits beautifully into a wider Rajasthan journey, especially on the classic Udaipur to Jodhpur route, paired with Kumbhalgarh, and within a circuit taking in Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and beyond. Weaving Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh into the drive between the great cities adds a supreme temple and a mighty fort, deep in the Aravallis, to a trip of lakes, palaces and desert, one of the richest legs of any Rajasthan itinerary.
The two easy ways to enjoy Ranakpur are a day trip from Udaipur, about 90 km away, seeing the temple and Kumbhalgarh together, or a relaxed night at a resort near Ranakpur or Kumbhalgarh, deep in the Aravalli hills, taking the fort and the temple at leisure. Ranakpur itself needs only a half day within the afternoon tourist window. Weave it into the classic Udaipur-Jodhpur route with Kumbhalgarh for one of the finest legs of a Rajasthan trip.
A gentle guide to the cost of a Ranakpur trip
Ranakpur is inexpensive to visit; the main costs are the transport to reach it and any stay you add, with the temple itself modest or free.
- Getting there is the main costThe temple itself is inexpensive to visit, so the main cost of a Ranakpur trip is the transport, a hired car or taxi from Udaipur, or the Udaipur-Jodhpur leg with a halt at Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh. The drive, and whatever you combine it with, more than the temple, sets the budget. A shared day trip or a car split between a group keeps the cost of reaching Ranakpur low and reasonable, for a rich day of temple and fort.
- The temple and a guideEntry to the temple is modest, sometimes with a small charge for cameras and audio guides, and photography inside is restricted in places, so check the rules. A local guide, worth it to understand the history, the symbolism and the finest carving, adds a small cost. Budget a little for any camera fee and a guide, and the wonder of Ranakpur is very affordable to enjoy in full, a fine-value heritage experience.
- Stays to suit the baseAccommodation costs depend on your base and style: Udaipur has a wide range from budget to luxury, while the resorts near Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh run from comfortable to simple. Choose a day trip from Udaipur to keep costs down, or an overnight in the hills for a more relaxed, scenic experience. Decide how much of the region you want to see and at what pace, and budget the stay accordingly around the temple and fort.
- Carry some cashCarry enough cash for the entry and camera fees, a guide, food and small buys, as Ranakpur is a rural temple village with limited card facilities, and cash is handy for the drive and roadside stops. Draw it in Udaipur or a larger town before you set out. As at many out-of-town heritage sites, a little cash in hand for the tickets, the guide and the everyday keeps a Ranakpur visit smooth and easy.
Practical tips: the timings, the dress code and the rules
A few facts help: come in the afternoon tourist window, dress modestly, leave leather outside, respect the worship, and photograph within the rules.
- Come in the afternoon tourist windowThe temple is usually open to non-Jain tourists only in the afternoon, roughly from midday, with the mornings reserved for Jain worship, so plan your visit for the afternoon window and check the current timings before you go, as they can change. This is why many travellers see Kumbhalgarh in the morning and Ranakpur in the afternoon. Arriving in the tourist window, rather than turning up in the morning to a closed door, is the first rule of a smooth Ranakpur visit.
- Dress modestly and leave leather outsideAs a living Jain shrine, Ranakpur has a dress and conduct code: dress modestly, covering shoulders and legs, and remove your shoes before entering. Crucially, leather items, belts, bags, wallets, shoes and camera straps, are not allowed inside the temple, in keeping with Jain principles of non-violence, so leave them outside or in your vehicle. Menstruating women are, by custom, asked not to enter. Respecting these rules is essential, and staff will guide you on the current requirements.
- Respect the worship and the quietRanakpur is actively worshipped, so behave with reverence: keep your voice low, do not disturb worshippers or rituals, do not touch the idols, and follow the guidance of the priests and staff. This is a place of deep devotion as well as great art, and a quiet, respectful manner honours both. Coming in a spirit of reverence rather than mere sightseeing makes the visit more moving, and keeps the peace of this sacred space for all.
- Photograph within the rulesPhotography is allowed in parts of Ranakpur, often with a ticket or fee, but is restricted or forbidden in the inner shrine and around the idols, and flash and tripods may not be permitted, so check the rules and follow them. Never photograph worshippers without asking, or intrude on rituals for a picture. The marble carving is wonderfully photogenic within the permitted areas, so respect the limits and you can still capture the beauty of the temple.
Three things shape a good Ranakpur visit: come in the afternoon tourist window (mornings are for Jain worship), so check the current timings; dress modestly, remove your shoes, and leave all leather items, belts, bags, straps, outside, as Jain rule forbids leather inside; and behave with reverence in this living, actively worshipped shrine. Photograph only within the permitted areas and rules. Respect these, and the wonder of the marble is yours to enjoy in peace.
Safety and comfort at Ranakpur
Ranakpur is very safe; the cares are the heat, the marble floors, the rural setting, and respecting the temple rules.
- A safe and peaceful placeRanakpur is a very safe, peaceful and welcoming place, a revered temple with staff, priests and other visitors around, and there is little to worry about beyond the ordinary. Solo travellers, including women, generally find it calm and easy with modest dress and normal precautions. The main things to mind are comfort and respect, the heat, the smooth floors and the temple rules, rather than any real safety concern at this serene and sacred site.
- Mind the heat and the driveThe main discomfort is the heat, fierce in summer, so carry and drink water, wear a hat and sunscreen for the journey and any outdoor sights such as Kumbhalgarh, though the marble temple interior stays cool. The Aravalli roads are winding, so travel by day with a careful driver and keep a buffer in your plans. With sensible care over the heat and the hill drive, a Ranakpur trip is comfortable as well as safe.
- Take care on the marble floorsInside the temple you walk barefoot on smooth marble, which can be slippery, and hot underfoot in summer sun where it is exposed, so tread carefully, especially with children and older visitors, and consider socks for hot or slippery patches. Watch your step around the many pillars, thresholds and steps of the complex. With a little care on the smooth floors, exploring the temple barefoot, as respect requires, is comfortable and safe.
- The rural setting and essentialsRanakpur is a small, rural temple village, so for any serious medical need the larger facilities are in Udaipur, about 90 km away, though basic help is available. Carry any personal medicines, water and a hat, and enough cash, as facilities are limited. With sensible care over the heat, the floors and the rural setting, and the bigger town of Udaipur within reach, Ranakpur is an easy, safe and deeply rewarding place to visit.
Ranakpur for every kind of traveller
Ranakpur suits pilgrims, art lovers, heritage travellers and families, with a little care over the timings, dress and heat.
- Jain pilgrims and devoteesFor Jain pilgrims and devotees, Ranakpur is one of the holiest and most magnificent temples in India, a supreme place of worship dedicated to Adinath, the first Tirthankara, and a deeply moving pilgrimage. Come to worship, to take in the sacred atmosphere, and to honour the devotion that built this marble wonder. For the faithful, Ranakpur is not merely a sight but a spiritual high point of any journey through Rajasthan, worth every effort to reach.
- Art and architecture loversFor lovers of art and architecture, Ranakpur is a supreme treasure, the 1,444 unique pillars, the carved ceilings, the Maru-Gurjara marble craft at its very finest, one of the great works of Indian architecture. Come with time and, ideally, a guide, to study the astonishing detail and skill. For anyone who loves stone carving, design and the heights of human craftsmanship, Ranakpur is one of the most rewarding buildings to be seen anywhere in the country.
- Heritage travellers and day trippersFor heritage travellers, Ranakpur combines perfectly with the mighty Kumbhalgarh fort just 35 km away, and with the cities of Udaipur and Jodhpur, for a rich taste of Mewar's history, art and power. As a day trip from Udaipur or a stop on the Udaipur-Jodhpur road, it is easy to include. For those exploring Rajasthan's forts, palaces and temples, Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh together are among the finest and most rewarding stops of all.
- Families and first-timersFor families and first-time visitors, Ranakpur is a safe, awe-inspiring and manageable sight, easily seen in a half day, with the wonder of the pillars and the beauty of the marble impressing all ages, though children should be kept quiet and respectful in the living shrine and watched on the smooth floors. Come in the cool season and the afternoon window, mind the dress and leather rules, and it is a wonderful, memorable stop for every kind of traveller.
A suggested plan around Ranakpur
A graded plan: Ranakpur with Kumbhalgarh, from Udaipur or on the Jodhpur road, over about one to two days.
- A day trip from UdaipurFor the classic plan, visit Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh on a day trip from Udaipur, about 90 km away: drive out in the morning, explore the mighty Kumbhalgarh fort and its great wall first, then reach Ranakpur in the afternoon for the temple in its tourist window and soft light, and return to Udaipur by evening. This pairs Rajasthan's greatest fort wall and one of its greatest temples in a single rich, rewarding day from the lake city.
- An overnight in the hillsFor a more relaxed plan, stay a night at a resort near Ranakpur or Kumbhalgarh, deep in the Aravalli hills: see Kumbhalgarh one part of the day and Ranakpur in the afternoon, with time to enjoy the temple, its neighbours and the quiet valley at leisure, and perhaps a fort light show or a hill walk. This unhurried overnight makes the most of two supreme sights and the beautiful hill setting, away from the bustle of the cities.
- On the Udaipur-Jodhpur roadIf you are travelling between Udaipur and Jodhpur, break the journey at Ranakpur, about 90 km from Udaipur and 160 km from Jodhpur, with a halt at Kumbhalgarh too if time allows. This turns a long drive into a rich day, taking in the temple and, ideally, the fort, on the way between the two great cities. It is one of the most rewarding ways to see this part of Rajasthan, weaving the sights into the road journey.
- Fit it into a Rajasthan circuitWeave Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh into a wider Rajasthan circuit through Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and beyond, adding a supreme temple and a mighty fort, deep in the Aravallis, to a journey of lakes, palaces and desert. Over about one to two days for Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh, plus onward travel, this Mewar hill region makes one of the finest and most varied legs of a full Rajasthan trip, rich in art, faith and history.
The real questions travellers ask about Ranakpur
Short, honest answers to the questions that come up again and again before a Ranakpur trip.
- How do I get there, and when to go?Reach Ranakpur by road, about 90 km and two to three hours from Udaipur, or on the Udaipur-Jodhpur road about 160 km from Jodhpur; the nearest railway is Falna, the nearest airport Udaipur. The best time is the cool season of about October to March, while the summer is fiercely hot. Crucially, the temple is usually open to tourists only in the afternoon, so plan your visit for that window and combine it with Kumbhalgarh, just 35 km away.
- What are the timings, dress code and rules?The temple is usually open to non-Jain tourists in the afternoon, roughly from midday, with mornings for worship, so check current timings. As a living Jain shrine, it has a dress code, cover shoulders and legs, remove shoes, and leave all leather items, belts, bags, straps, outside, as leather is forbidden within. Behave with reverence, do not disturb worship, and photograph only where permitted. Respecting these rules is essential to visiting Ranakpur properly.
- What is the history, and what to see?The great temple was built in the fifteenth century by the Jain merchant Dharna Shah under the patronage of Rana Kumbha of Mewar, whose name gives Ranakpur its name, and is dedicated to Adinath, the first Tirthankara. See the four-faced marble temple with its 1,444 unique carved pillars, twenty-nine halls and eighty domes, the carved ceilings and shrine, and the neighbouring Surya and Parshvanath temples. It is one of the finest Jain temples and marble works in all India.
- Can I combine it with Kumbhalgarh?Yes, and you should: the great Kumbhalgarh fort, with its enormous wall said to be second only to the Great Wall of China, is just 35 km from Ranakpur, and the two make one of Rajasthan's finest day trips or overnights. Many travellers see Kumbhalgarh in the morning and Ranakpur in the afternoon tourist window. Fort and temple together, power and devotion, deep in the Aravalli hills, are a superb and contrasting pair well worth planning around.
Planning Ranakpur from abroad
For overseas visitors, Ranakpur is a supreme Jain marble temple reached through Udaipur, best paired with Kumbhalgarh on a Rajasthan trip.
- Route in through UdaipurFrom abroad, fly into Delhi or Mumbai and on to Udaipur, then reach Ranakpur by road, about 90 km away, ideally combined with Kumbhalgarh, or visit it on the Udaipur-Jodhpur leg of a Rajasthan trip. No permit is needed. Allow a half day to a day for Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh within a longer journey. Udaipur is the natural gateway, and the drive out through the Aravalli hills to the great temple is a rewarding excursion from abroad.
- A supreme temple and craftFor an overseas visitor, Ranakpur is one of the artistic and spiritual high points of any Rajasthan trip, a supreme Jain marble temple of 1,444 unique pillars, deep in the beautiful Aravalli hills, and for those of Jain heritage a deeply meaningful pilgrimage. Combined with the mighty Kumbhalgarh fort nearby, it makes a superb, contrasting day of devotion and power. It is well worth building into a Rajasthan itinerary from abroad for its sheer beauty and significance.
- Come in the cool season, in the afternoonTime an overseas trip for the cool, pleasant months of about October to March, the ideal Rajasthan season, and avoid the fierce summer heat. Remember the temple is usually open to tourists only in the afternoon, so plan your visit for that window, seeing Kumbhalgarh in the morning. Carry water and sun protection for the journey and the fort. A little planning around the season and the timings makes for a smooth Ranakpur trip from abroad.
- Respect the dress and leather rulesOverseas visitors should know and respect Ranakpur's rules as a living Jain shrine: dress modestly, remove your shoes, and, importantly, leave all leather items, belts, bags, wallets, camera straps, outside, as leather is forbidden within. Behave with reverence, do not disturb worship, and photograph only where permitted. These rules matter deeply to the faith, and following them respectfully makes an overseas visitor welcome and the visit to this sacred marble wonder all the richer.
Money, connectivity and timing for overseas visitors
Carry some cash, expect fair connectivity, plan around the afternoon timings and cool season, and pair Ranakpur with Kumbhalgarh.
- Carry some cashCarry enough Indian rupees in cash for the entry and camera fees, a guide, food and small buys, as Ranakpur is a rural temple village with limited card facilities, and cash is handy for the drive and any roadside stops. Draw it in Udaipur before you set out. For an overseas visitor, a mix of cash for the everyday and a card for a resort or the bigger bills is the smoothest way to handle money around Ranakpur.
- Connectivity is reasonableMobile coverage is reasonable around Ranakpur and Udaipur, though it can be patchy in the deeper Aravalli hills, so download maps and details in advance and get an Indian prepaid SIM for the trip. Connectivity is far better here than in the remote mountains, so an overseas visitor can navigate and stay in touch fairly easily, though it is wise to plan the day, especially the temple timings, in advance rather than relying on a signal in the hills.
- Plan around the afternoon timingsFor an overseas visitor, the single most important logistical point is that the temple is usually open to tourists only in the afternoon, so plan your day around that window, typically seeing Kumbhalgarh in the morning and Ranakpur after midday, and check the current timings before you go. Combined with timing the trip for the cool October-to-March season, this planning ensures you actually get into the temple and see it at its best, in the soft afternoon light.
- Pair with Kumbhalgarh and RajasthanFor an overseas visitor, Ranakpur is best enjoyed with the mighty Kumbhalgarh fort nearby and as part of a wider Rajasthan circuit through Udaipur, Jodhpur and beyond. An operator or a self-drive itinerary can easily weave Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh into a rewarding journey of temples, forts, lakes and desert. Rather than a lone stop, treat the temple as one supreme jewel of a rich Mewar and Rajasthan trip, deep in the beautiful Aravalli hills.
Fourteen hundred pillars, and not one the same
In a quiet, wooded valley of the Aravalli hills, where the road runs between the lake city of Udaipur and the great fort of Kumbhalgarh, stands one of the most astonishing buildings in India: the Jain temple of Ranakpur, raised in white marble in the fifteenth century by a merchant named Dharna Shah, on land granted by the Mewar king Rana Kumbha, whose name the place still bears. From the outside it is a great pale mass of domes and spires; but step inside, barefoot, having left your shoes and your leather at the door, and you enter a forest made of stone. Fourteen hundred and forty-four marble pillars rise around you through twenty-nine halls and beneath some eighty domes, and it is said that no two of them are carved alike, so that wherever you look the columns lead the eye onward in shifting vistas, and the light falls through them, pale and cool, changing with the hours. At the centre sits the four-faced image of Adinath, the first of the Jain teachers, gazing calmly out in all four directions. Every surface, pillar and bracket and soaring ceiling, is worked into an incredible density of carving, flowers and dancers and gods and endless patterns, the labour of master craftsmen over many years. It is a place of living worship still, hushed and reverent, where pilgrims come to pray beneath the marble; but even the traveller who knows nothing of Jainism cannot walk among these pillars without a kind of awe. For Ranakpur is not only a temple. It is one of the high-water marks of what human hands, given faith and patience and a mountain of white marble, can make.
Planning a Ranakpur trip?
Our Rajasthan travel experts plan your full journey for you: route, hotels, darshan timings and transport. You get a free day-by-day plan and an exact quote on WhatsApp, usually within a few hours. No payment is needed to get your plan.