Mount Abu - India HillTop Trips - Splendid hills and Majestic retreats

Mount Abu is the highest peak in the Aravalli Range of Rajasthan state in western India. It is located in Sirohi district. The mountain forms a distinct rocky plateau 22 km long by 9 km wide. The highest peak on the mountain is Guru Shikhar, at 1722 meters above sea level. It is referred to as 'an oasis in the desert', as its heights are home to rivers, lakes, waterfalls and evergreen forests.

Hill Resort | Elevation | Travel | Season | Tourist places | Accommodation | Location | Mount Abu Map

The Hill Resort

Mount Abu situated at a average height of 1,219 mts above sea level is the oasis in the deserted land of Rajasthan and posses the honor of being the only hill-station in Rajasthan. Mount Abu is a home to lakes, waterfalls and green forests. The hill retreat, has a very cool and soothing climate. Abu with its word-class tourist facilities with hotels ranging from budget class to three stars and heritage provides a great holiday escape and honeymoon attraction. Sight seeing includes Nakki Lake (Boating), Gurushikhar, Brahmakumari's Ashram, Dilwara Jain Temple, Gaumukh and other view points.

The population size of Mount Abu is 15,600. Mount Abu benefits from lower temperatures and cooling breezes. During The main part of the town is around Nakki Talao. The shops and restaurants are clustered in a compact centre. There is attractive countryside to explore as it is well wooded with flowering trees with numerous orchids during the monsoon and a good variety of bird-life. Mount Abu is a picturesque hill-station which green oasis in the barren desertscape thats Rajasthan. Situated at the southern tip of the Aravali range the hill retreat owes its cool climate to its rich flora As the anticipation of the approaching destination heightens one doesn't mind the shaking bus quite that much and as you turn the final curve into the city, greeted by large hoardings of different hotels, all promising better deals than the other, Rajasthan's little jewel puts its best foot forward. The shops on both sides of the road are glitteringly alive, as late as 10 p.m. on a winter night and the residents of Mount Abu mob you in welcome. Well not exactly the residents it turns out, they are all touts for hotels but they make you feel welcome. In case it is a winter trip that you are planning, one can just arrive in Abu, at any time of the night or day, employ a wheelbarrow, which will take your luggage all over Abu for few rupees while you check out a place to stay. This is, in fact the best time to visit if the cold does not bother you too much (it is usually warmer than a Delhi winter). All hotels are available at half rates and the best of rooms can be yours for a rate that suits your budget.

Abu in summer is definitely a retreat from the heat of the plains. A summer visit requires careful planning, and rooms should be booked at least two months in advance. Everything, from hotels to restaurants, to transport is at double the rates, and beware of the new monster - the Marti's, in every color which cover the landscape and race pugnaciously around the hills. Yet, the little township is well prepared to handle tourists. Tourist buses show you around the places of interest twice a day and the bus guide provides a background, history and of course his own interpretations on everything you visit. Information is also available from a tourist guide office, but even without guidance there are certain places that simply cannot be missed on a visit to Abu.

The road to paradise has never been easy and this one is no exception. Bumping along an uneven road, hitting your head against the smooth roof of a deluxe bus you need to close your eyes and revive the temptations of your destination. Conjure up the lushness of Mount Abu, which all tourist guides announce is 'the paradise of Rajasthan'.

The little pamphlet gushes that Mount Abu, the only hill station in Rajasthan, offers you the best of all possible worlds, with more scenic beauty, more architecture and archaeology in the form of the famous Dilwara caves, the chief center for the Brahmakumaris and a generous peppering of temples which shows that the place is exceptionally favored by the gods. Abu has been an important place of penance for the sages.

Among all Hill Stations in India, leaving apart a few of the genre, Mount Abu is one Hill Station in India which is located in the middle of a land which is a rarified desert for all practical purposes. Mount Abu is placed on the boundary between Rajasthan and Gujarat with a natural mandate to serve as a Hill Station for the relatively dry and arid western part of the country. The ride up to the Mount from the foothill town of Abu -Road serves as an apt reminder of the fact that one is fast approaching a charming Hill Station in India, almost an oasis amidst the desert. Tours to Mount Abu Rajasthan so commonly characterized as the land of chivalry and bravery, is also home to the largest Desert of India, The Thar Desert. This sandy tract of land adjoining Pakistan boasts of Udaipur, the city of lakes and Mount Abu, our prime concern here among other Hill Stations in India, the snow capped beauties of Himalayas and their sylvan surroundings. It is in more senses than one an Oasis amidst the Desert.

shopping

There are numerous stalls selling trinkets and ready-made clothing. Rajasthan Emporium is near State Bank of India, Raj Bhavan road, opposite bus stand. Other good places to shop are Saurashtra Emporium and Khadi Gramudyog.

Cuisine

Apart from the sight seeing, which in itself is delightful, Abu is a gourmet's paradise. Its cosmopolitan cuisine offers a wide variety of food - Maharashtrian dishes, Gujarati, Rajasthani, south Indian, Punjabi, Chinese or Continental. Abu shopkeepers and restaurant owners take special pride in keeping their shops shining clean, and also make a special effort to please their customer's. It's good plea to try out a different restaurant, and a different meal everyday, but one should not leave Abu without trying the pao bhaji, at Hot Spot, a fast food restaurant, and the Rajasthani thali at the Jodhpur Bhojnalaya.

Where to eat

Number of eateries and restaurant are available serving different delicacies and cuisine.

Tourist Information

Tourist office under the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation is available at the city area from where one can easily get the information easily.

Elevation

Mount Abu - 1,219 mts.

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Location Details

Mt Abu is the only hill station of Rajasthan. Spread all along a 2 km long plateau, Mt Abu is situated at an altitude of 1220 m above the sea level and is the highest point on the Aravalli Ranges. Mount Abu is Rajasthan's only hill station. It is 187 km away from Ahmedabad in Gujarat.

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How to Reach There and Distances

Air

Nearest airport is Udaipur, 185 km and Ahmedabad is also near by which is 220 km. Both the airports are well connected with other cities in India.

Rail

Abu Road is the nearest railhead, 27 km away and there are many direct buses to Mount Abu from here. Abu Road is connected with Agra, Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Ahmedabad by rail services.

Road

Mount Abu has good road network and well connected with other cities of Rajasthan. Abu Road 29 km, Udaipur 185 km, Jodhpur 264 km, Ranakpur 130 km, Kumbhalgarh 130 km, Ahmedabad 221 km.

Extensive bus services are available from Mount Abu. It is often quicker to take a bus rather than go to Abu Road and then take a train. Private bus companies runs daily services to Udaipur, Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

Local Transport

Buses ply regularly from Mount Abu to Dilwara and Acgalgarg, Taxis are easily available for any destination. A unique form of transport is the baby pram.

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Best Season to Visit/Weather

Mount Abu is can be visited from October to June. summer maximum temperature varies between 27-28 degree Celsius, while in winter maximum temperature stays around 22 degree and minimum dips to 10 degree.

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Tourist places near Mount Abu

Abu's interesting places to visit

The Dilwara Jain temples for instance, have been compared to the Taj Mahal for their sheer elegance and beauty in marble. Built between the 11th and 13th century, these temples are all the more exceptional because the marble to build these was brought all the way from Makrana and the best workmen and craftsmen employed to ensure the finest quality of sculpture.

Intricate carvings decorate each portion of these temples, which are dedicated to the Jain Tirthankaras. Millions of rupees were spent on the carvings, architecture and d�cor of the temples and the workmen were rewarded in silver and gold equivalent to the amount of marble brought in.

The Jain temple Of the five temples - Vimal Vasahi, Lun Vasahi, Shri Risha Lhdeo, Shri Parshvanath and Shri Mahavir Swami, the first two are the most famous. One estimate states that a sum of Rs. 1.2 billion was spent on Lun Vasahi itself. This temple was built by two brothers - Vastupal and Tejpal, ministers in the court of Raja Varadnawarkar, a ruler of Gujarat. They belonged to Neminath Bhagwan, the 22nd Tirthankara.

Outside the main doors of this temple, there are two statues called Devrani's and Jethani's goklas respectively, and are backed by stories of competitive jealousy of the two wives of these brothers. Another striking feature of the temple is the marble dome in the porch, which is made up of a cluster of half open lotuses, which appear to be almost transparent.

The Vimal Vasahi temple is older and is also known to be the first Jain temple and is dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankara. Built in 1031, by Bhim Deva, the first Solanki ruler of Gujarat, the temple is constructed in pure marble, with plain exteriors. However, its interiors are richly sculpted and house some fine examples of the accomplishment of artist in those times.

Residents of the area will tell you that a visit to Abu cannot be complete without obtaining the blessings of Arbuda Devi, the goddess after whom Abu is said to have been named. Arbuda Devi is stationed some 200 steps above the road, in a series of caves on top of a mountain. Along with Arbuda Devi are the statues of her three attendants.

Abu's highest peak Guru Shikhar, the highest peak of Mount Abu, is also perhaps the most beautiful. There is certain serenity about the temple built atop this peak. The temple might just have stepped out of a fairy tale, with only a small portion in pink jutting out of an otherwise plain white chalk building.

Inside is a shrine of Datta-traya, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Outside the temple, a little distance from its door is a huge brass bell, which stands sentinel overlooking the lush greenness of Mount Abu. A costume photographer displays dresses and invites tourists to pose with temple as a backdrop.

Another temple worth visiting is the Brahmakhadd, a Shiva temple with a difference. Here the deity is not the traditional lingam but a pit into which Lord Shiva is said to have put his foot. Legend has it that the spot goes deep into the earth until it touches water. Outside this temple there is a statue of Goddess Parvati, and a large statue of Nandi, which still bears marks of destruction, wrought by invading armies.

Nakki, the lake

In the heart of the town, at one end of the Mall is Nakki Lake, which has an interesting history. It is said that it was drawn by the finger nails (nakk) of a sage, Balam Rasia, in response to the demands of the stepmother of the girl he wished to marry. The girl, a princess, and a daughter of the then King of Abu, was also in love with the sage, but because of the evil stepmother the affair ended in tragedy, and has been immortalized in a temple of the Kunwari Kanya, alongside which stands a statue of her lover.

The lake too, has survived to tell the tale. Picturesquely set, with the hills rising all around it, the lake has several islets to which you can hire boats. An interesting facet is the many rock formations around the lake. They have been named Toad Rock, Nun Rock, Nandi Rock and Camel Rock because of their resemblance to these figures. The road appears to be looking broodingly down towards the lake, as if contemplating jumping in. Nun Rock is a large smooth rock, as it supposedly looks a woman with a veil. The climb up to these rocks, through the wooded forests is a beautiful one, with each of the rocks on the way making unique formations, fissures and shapes.

There are rumors that you might run into a bear on your way up, but the climb is well worth the risk! And one can take courage from the fact that none of the travelers in the last few years have encountered the animal.

Abu's some other sites to see

Like all other hill stations, Abu too, has its horse rides, honeymoon and sunset points. Sunset point here is definitely worthy a visit. An entire hill has been carved into several layers, top to bottom and as the sun begins to lower itself in the sky, and the entire hill is crowded with people covered in the golden glow of the setting sun.

Delawra Temple

These are temples of significance to the Jain pilgrims. The Temples in this Hill Station in India, boast of immense architectural beauty and finesse among all other Hill Stations in India. Delwara is a key Indian Archeological site, nestled in the rocky and sylvan surroundings of Mount Abu. These marvel of carvings built between 11th and 13th century A.D. are dedicated to the Jain tirthankars The most ancient of the holy abodes is the Vimal Vashi Temple, which is dedicated to the first Tirthankar, constructed by Vimal Shah, a Gujrati merchant.

Dilwara Temples Dazzling Wealth

5 km from town centre and set in beautiful surroundings of mango trees and wooded hills, the temples are renowned for superb marble carvings. The whole temple is unalloyed,uncompromising pure,white marble-floors,columns,traceried ceiling walls,sculptures.

Observing the statutory eulogy to the Vimala family (the finaciers of the temple) you are ushered into mandapa where you see nothing but marble,more marble and even more pristine marble.Eight ornamentally carved pillars hokd up a cel\iling which does not seem to need them,as it appears to be like a finely meshed network of milk-white stone suspended in the air. Temples are open from 12 pm to 6 pm. The complex of 5 principal temples is surrounded by a high wall. There is rest-house for pilgrims on the approach road. The temple complex comprises of Adinatha temple, Risah Deo temple, Luna Vasihi or Neminatha temple and the fifth temple is for Digambar Jains.

Adhar Devi

This temple, 3 km from town, is a 15th century Durga temple carved out of a rock and approached by 220 steps. There are good views from here.

Art Museum and Gallery

It has small collection which includes some textiles and stone sculptures (9-10th centuries). It is closed on Fridays and entry is free.

Brahma Kumaris Spiritual University & Museum

The institute runs yoga and meditation courses with the Spiritual Museum near the horse stand. It's open daily from 8 am to 8 pm.

Nakki Lake

The main part of the town is situated around Nakki Talao (lake). It is sacred to Hindus, which was, in legend, scooped out by fingernails (nakki) by gods attempting to escape the wrath of a demon. There are boats for hire and a pleasant walk around the lake past the Raghunath temple. The Toad Rock is here too. The other rock formations are known as Nandi and Camel rock respectively.

Sunset Point and Honeymoon Point

Sunset point and Honeymoon point give superb views across the plains to the west. They both can be reached by a pleasant walk from bus stand, about 2 km away. The route to Honeymoon Point goes past the Nakki Lake.

Myth About Mount Abu-An Oasis amidst the Desert

This peculiar hill resort bejeweled by the city center Nakki Lake, is one place amongst the Hill Stations in India which has a lot of legend attached to it. Arbuda, the hill serpent descended from the hills to act as a savior for Lord Shiva's Bull, Nandi. Then Mount Abu amongst the Hill Stations in India of India is also blessed with the historically important Delwara Temples and other archeological remains of note.

Around the City

Aravallis Hills: Part one of the world's oldest mountain ranges, it is possible to make day treks to nearby spots from Mount Abu.

Achalgarh

11 km from Mount Abu has superb views. The Achaleshwar Temple (9th century) is believed to have Siva's toe-print, a brass Nandi and a deep hole claimed to reach into the netherworld. A path leads up to a group of carved Jain temples. The whole site is quite picturesque.

Guru Shikhar

It is situated at an altitude of 1,720 m and is 15 km from Mount Abu. It is the highest peak in the area and there is a road almost to the top. To get to the small Vishnu temple, one need to climb 300 steps or hire a palanquin. Good views especially at dawn. Taxis are available from Mount Abu.

Gaumukh

8 km south-east, on the Mount Abu - Abu Road. A small stream flows from the mouth of a marble cow. There is also a Nandi bull, and the tank is believed to be the site of Vasishtha's fire from which the 4 great Rajput clans were created. An image of the sage is flanked by ones of Rama and Krishna.

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