Ranakpur Tourism: Hotels, Reviews, Packages, Photos, Maps, Experience, Itinerary

Nestled amidst the dense forested valleys of the Aravalli Hills, in the Pali district of Rajasthan, the small town of Ranakpur is one of the five major holy sites for the Jain community. It is situated approximately 96 km from Udaipur, on the picturesque Udaipur-Jodhpur highway, and is predominantly known for its spectacular temples and their exquisite architecture. Historically, Ranakpur is believed to have been named after the Rajput monarch Rana Khumba, who ruled in this region during the 15^th century AD. It was he who authorised the construction of the temples on the request of his minister, Dharana Shah. According to legend, Dharana had a vision of the Nalinigulma Viman, a beautiful heavenly flying vehicle, in his dreams one night, and decided to build a grand temple that would resemble this striking aircraft. Rana Khumba granted his minister the land for the temples and also advised him to construct a township around the structure.