5 Reasons to see the stunning Ranakpur Jain Temple

It is the most recommended that if you are heading to Udaipur from Jodhpur or vice versa, you take a halt at Kumbhalgarh and the Ranakpur Jain Temple in Rajasthan. As you might have read in my earlier posts, Kumbhalgarh was a definite must-visit on my list and Ranakpur was an option. While I really wanted to do it, we had left it open – in case, we run short of time, we skip it. My good luck and fate – we did manage to do the Ranakpur Jain temple and I am so glad we did – for it was one of the most stunning Jain temples that I have seen.

Ranakpur Jain Temple
Ranakpur Jain Temple

I myself, am a Jain and though am not overtly religious, have had my share of visiting several Jain temples. And trust me, when I say, that this was by far, one of the most beautiful temples I have been to, there has got to be something special here. My mom always, gushed about the famed Dilwara temples of Mount Abu and while I have not been there, I have always heard of it being the most beautiful. However, when I shared this visit with my mom, she admitted to the fact that the Ranakpur Jain Temple was equally beautiful and one of the most stunning Jain temples. Of course, some day when I head to the Dilwara temples, I will draw a comparison between the two but for now, let me share my 5 reasons as to makes this Jain temple at Ranakpur a must-visit place

1) History of the Ranakpur Jain Temple

The Ranakpur Jain Temple was built by a Jain businessman – Dharna Sah in the 15th century. Call it divine intervention through his dream or his subconscious wish, Dharna Sah was determined to build a temple dedicated to the first Tirthankara of Jainism – Lord Adinath. He got a grant from then ruler of Udaipur – Rana Kumbha, in return of a promise that the town and the temple would be named after the Rana. Hence, the name – Ranakpur.

Ranakpur Jain Temple
Ranakpur Jain Temple

Having got a plot of 48,000 sq feet, Dharna Sah shared his vision with several artists. His dream temple was in the form a celestial vehicle and the same matched with the plans of a sculptor called Depa. The temple took over 50 years to build and finally, what we see now is a beautiful timeless piece of beauty – a heritage that generations over the next 500 years have to cherish and enjoy.

It is said that the temple was invaded by the Mughals and later became a haven for the dacoits. It lay in disrepair for a while before it was rediscovered and renovated – only to be considered as a nominee for the new seven wonders of the world. In some listings, it is considered as one of the seven wonders of India.

2) The splendor of the marble architecture

Ranakpur Jain Temple
Ranakpur Jain Temple

The gorgeous white structure is three-storied marble wonder, which is a beautiful on the outside as it is within. What is amazing is sudden drop in temperature when you enter the temple. In the sweltering midday heat, not only the cool interiors but the unusual ones had us captivated. True to the vision of its creator- Dharna Sah, the temple is built like the Nalinigulm Vimana or the heavenly vehicle. The entire temple has been constructed in a unique manner – no matter which of the 4 doorways you use, you still end up in the main courtyard.

Inside the Ranakpur Jain Temple
Inside the Ranakpur Jain Temple

The temple is called Chaumukha temple – Chau – meaning Four and Mukha meaning faces. The name owing to the four faced idol of Lord Adinath here. This is to symbolize the Quest in life along the four dimensions – one of the key missions of Jainism. There are three other smaller sanctums in the temple, made such that they all face each other.

Inside the Ranakpur Jain Temple
Inside the Ranakpur Jain Temple

The beauty of the marble temple is such that temple takes on different shades during different day parts – each shade enhancing its beauty. The 29 halls within the temples, despite its 80 domes are filled with bright and natural light throughout the day. Open and yet not open, this temple is definitely, an architectural marvel.

One of the domes of the Ranakpur Jain Temple
One of the domes of the Ranakpur Jain Temple

3) Uncountable Pillars and Enticing Ceilings

Pillars of Ranakpur Jain Temple
Pillars of Ranakpur Jain Temple

They say there are 1444 pillars and yet, it is impossible to count them for each one is different from the other and none similar. Each pillar is a piece of art, with carvings so perfect that you cannot take your eyes off them. The crazy part is that each pillar gives you the same feeling and in the end, I got so frenzied that I did not know where to look. Here are some of the pillars.

Pillars at Ranakpur Jain Temple
Pillars at Ranakpur Jain Temple
Pillar at Ranakpur Jain Temple
Pillar at Ranakpur Jain Temple

When you follow the pillars from bottom to the top, you might just get a crick in your neck for when you have reached the top, you are bound to freeze. The intricately carved ceilings with mesmerizing details will just keep you on hold. Check this one out.

Ceiling at Ranakpur Jain Temple
Ceiling at Ranakpur Jain Temple
Ceiling with a sculpture of many bodies and one head, Ranakpur Jain temple
Ceiling with a sculpture of many bodies and one head, Ranakpur Jain temple

And the one below –  with the nymphs in different poses is my favorite. The unmistakable beauty of these divine creatures had me captivated that I actually sat down where I was to capture it in my memory.

Nymphs in various poses - ceiling art at Ranakpur Jain Temple
Nymphs in various poses – ceiling art at Ranakpur Jain Temple

Besides the pillars and ceilings, don’t miss out on the beautiful elephant – some say monolithic, but even it is not, the brilliance of it cannot be denied.

Marble Elephant at Ranakpur Jain Temple
Marble Elephant at Ranakpur Jain Temple

4) The scriptures in pictures at the Ranakpur Jain temple

Ranakpur Jain Temple
Ranakpur Jain Temple

For those who are not familiar with Jainism, just a quick note. Jainism is quite similar to Buddhism – it talks of inner peace, of non violence, tolerance and renunciation. The scriptures and teaching of Jainism talks of how the various preachers attained their nirvana and various stories from their lives is what is carved onto the ceilings and sculpted pillars of this temple.

Image Credits: By Acred99 under CC by SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Lord Parshwath at Ranakpur Jain Temple                       Image Credits: By Acred99 under CC by SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The most popular of them is this carving of a serpent that protected Lord Parshvanth. It is said before he attained Nirvana, he was a prince and one day while traveling, he happened to spot a Snake trapped in a few logs that were piled for a Yagna by an ascetic. Overcome with pity, he set the snake free, thus, upsetting the ascetic. Later in life, after the prince had left his worldly pleasure and was in a penance to find inner peace, the same ascetic with his divine powers summoned a storm to drown the prince. The same snake who had rescued him, was reborn as the Lord of Nagas and seeing this, rushed to protect his former savior by enveloping him and spreading his protective hood around him. Ever since then, Lord Parshwath has been depicted with this serpent. The carving of this story in Ranakpur is so beautiful and they say that you cannot find the ends of the snake in the carving. 🙂

5) The serenity of the Ranakpur Jain Temple

Like I had mentioned before, while I am not an overtly religious person, I have always loved the calm that I experience in the temples. At this Jain Temple in Ranakpur, for some reason, the calm was even more magnified. It was so evident that even the 108 kgs temple bells could not shatter the feeling.

Maybe it was the calm that was surrounded by the beauty, or maybe it was just the magic of the place. Whatever it was, it had me feeling at peace. It had me feeling that I was home and that all was well. For me, that is a reason enough to want to go back to the Jain Temple at Ranakpur. 🙂

Happy Pinning!

Ranakpur Jain Temple

Getting there:

  • Ranakpur is 165 kms from Jodhpur and just 90 kms from Udaipur. There are cabs and buses available to take you from these cities to Ranakpur and back. Udaipur would be the nearest airport to this place
  • Falna is the closest railway station, at a distance of 26 kms from Ranakpur.

Travel Tips:

  • The Ranakpur Jain temple is open to public only post 12 noon. It remains open till 5:00 pm everyday.
  • Entry is free but you need to pay a small donation for the cameras and cell phones. It is INR 100 for the cameras.
  • Bare shoulders and shorts are an absolute no-no in this temple. Scarves are available for a small donation fee at the ticket counter to cover the shoulders.
  • Leather articles – wallets, belts and shoes are not allowed inside the temple. There are lockers available on rent for the same. Alternatively, you can leave them behind in your car.
  • There are audio guides available at the Ranakpur Jain Temple.
  • The priests inside the temple are quite helpful and some of them take you on a small tour in exchange for a small donation to the temple. Some of them even speak French and other foreign languages.
  • There are a few other temples in the same premises and you can visit the same as well. However, the Chaumukha temple is the main Jain temple in Ranakpur
  • There are few restaurants in the small town. Alternatively, you can opt for a meal within the temple for INR 50. Only veg food is served here and they say it is delicious.
  • There are a few hotels and resorts around Ranakpur, in case, you wish to stay here overnight.
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90 thoughts on “5 Reasons to see the stunning Ranakpur Jain Temple”

  1. Wow!!! I love that its building materials give the temple a varied color throughout the day. It reminds me of the Cathedral at Reims in France.

    Reply
  2. The temple is really exquisite, I really love the Jain temples and their intricate marble design. I haven’t been to Ranakpur but have been to the Dilwara Temple in Mt. Abu, and they too are exquisite. Lovely post and some stunning photos.

    Reply
  3. As a kid I had been here but I don’t remember much. The pictures and the reasons you mentioned are good enough to force me and make a visit soon!

    Reply
  4. Except the beautiful carvings of the temples, my eyes got struck to the little girl in 2nd picture. I think she is your pretty daughter 🙂 trying to wear a dupatta as a saree, as all girls does 🙂 🙂

    Reply
  5. Ami such an detailed post and stunning pics! Though let me tell you, your mom isn’t wrong about Dilwara.
    Apparently when ranakpur temple was renovated it took inspiration from the dilwara temples especially the intricacies of marble work of Devrani Jethani temple and the elephant structures of Dilwala. The only point where Ranakpur gets more points from Dilwara is its temple tops. Architects had made the temple tops of Dilwala plain dome shaped to protect the temple from muslim invaders, while Ranakpur has very detailed temple tops.
    P.S Worst part – photography in Dilwala is strictly prohibited.

    Reply
    • Thank you. I have heard so much about Dilwara and am now raring to go there. I am sure is it amazing and though I am disappointed that there is no photography there, I still want to go there just for admiring its beauty. Cheers

      Reply
  6. Such an elaborate post. We have been to Dilwara and truly it is equally magnificent as Ranakpur Jain Temple. Great architecture and detailing !! What I like more about Ranakpur Jain Temple is that you can capture it’s beauty while in DIlwara photography is not allowed. Hope you visit Dilwara soon:)

    Reply
  7. I understand from your post that you are not an overly religious person and for that matter, neither am I. However, anyone can surely appreciate the wonder and beauty of this amazing temple. I am absolutely stunned by the level of art, beauty and sheer work it would have taken to create something as magnificent as this. This would have to be a destination in it’s own right and well worth visiting to appreciate it all first hand.

    Reply
  8. The details look amazing! We missed the Ranakpur temple on our last trip to Kumbhalgarh. Will surely visit the next time we go.

    Reply
  9. The Jain temple of Ranakpur is one of a kind. We visited here almost 1.5 years back. The memories are still as fresh as ever. The most amazing thing is each of the pillars being different from the other.

    Reply
  10. Those pillars and intricate details make me speechless! Great capture! I can only imagine what it must have felt seeing this up close.

    Reply
  11. Very impressive architecture and it should definitely be in the seven wonders list. The temple looks quite unique and huge. The intricate carvings on pillars, ceilings, sculptures everything left me stunned. Even I am not an overtly religious person, but still I want to see Ranakpur Temple it in closeup. Your pictures are amazing.

    Reply
  12. I always think temples would be the same esp in the parts near southeast asia but when I visited various temples in siem reap, I realized temples could still be very different amd unique. This temple too would look like another temple from The ones I saw in My travels but looking closely, the details are still worth seeing! It is indeed stunning!

    Reply
    • Am pretty sure you will find these very different from the Siam Reap one. For one, the style of architecture itself is very different. Thanks for stopping by Erica.

      Reply
  13. Super & Accurate description Ami !
    You may be aware & Agree that Jainism is much much older than Buddhism .. so its correct to say that “Buddhism is similar to jainism ” rather than ” jainism is similar to Buddhism ”
    Buddhism started around our last Tirthankar lord Mahavir & whereas there were 23 more Tirthankars before him ..

    Reply
  14. Ami..those are beautiful pics and i loved your descriptions. Was planning to go Mid march but am not sure wether it is the right time. Any suggestions from you ?
    Thanks

    Reply
  15. I simply loved your blog. I am planning to visit Ranakpur next month and of course I’ll visit the Jain Temple; your blog has all the information I needed for my visit to Ranakpur. Thanks a lot.

    Reply

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