Ranakpur itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Ranakpur

1. 01

   Day 1: Temple afternoon

   If you are driving from Udaipur, leave by about 8.30 am so you arrive around noon, when non-Jain visitors are commonly admitted; confirm the current hours before you go. Have a plain lunch at the temple trust's bhojanshala if it is open to visitors, or at a hotel in the valley. Spend about two hours at the Chaumukha temple, then 30 to 45 minutes at the Parshvanath and Neminath shrines. If time and energy allow, finish with the Sun temple before the drive back.

Plan 02

2 days in Ranakpur

1. 01

   Day 1: Arrival and the temple

   Arrive in the morning, check in at your hotel and rest. Visit the main Jain temple in the early afternoon, then the neighbouring shrines. Return to the hotel for the evening and an early dinner.

2. 02

   Day 2: Kumbhalgarh or Ghanerao

   After a slow breakfast, drive to Kumbhalgarh for a half day at the fort, or to Ghanerao for the Muchhal Mahavir temple. Confirm drive times with your driver, and aim to be back at Ranakpur or on the road to Udaipur by late afternoon.

Plan 03

3 days in Ranakpur

1. 01

   Day 1: Arrival and rest

   Settle in, take an orchard or valley walk, and keep the first day free. Walk or drive to the temple area in the late afternoon to get your bearings, without going inside.

2. 02

   Day 2: The temples

   Spend the afternoon at the Chaumukha temple, then the Parshvanath and Neminath shrines and the Sun temple. Have lunch at the bhojanshala or your hotel.

3. 03

   Day 3: Fort and village temples

   Make a day trip to Kumbhalgarh Fort, with Muchhal Mahavir at Ghanerao on the way if time permits. Take a vehicle to the upper gates and rest at viewpoints.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Kumbhalgarh Fort (day trip)	Half to full day including travel	Demanding	October to March, early in the day

   Pace: Kumbhalgarh Fort (day trip) involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.

   With parents at Kumbhalgarh Fort (day trip): The fort involves long, uneven ramps and steps, and the palace at the top is a steep climb. A car or jeep reduces the effort, but older travellers should treat it as partial: see the lower gates and viewpoints and rest in the shade.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Ranakpur trip for parents and children

• Visit the temple in the early afternoon, when non-Jain visitors are commonly admitted and the marble is not at its coldest or hottest.
• Wear socks you can remove easily, since footwear stays outside the temple and the courtyard floor is cold or hot depending on season.
• Ask your driver to drop you as close to the entrance as possible, and agree a pick-up time so you do not wait in the sun.
• Treat the drive from Udaipur as part of the day. Break the journey, and consider staying overnight instead of two long road legs.
• Take a small cushion or folding seat if you need regular rests; seating inside is limited.
• Do one or two shrines properly rather than all of them in a hurry.

Ranakpur with elderly parents: the full guide →