Rajasthan Travel Destinations - Mount Abu
The lone hill station of Rajasthan, Mount Abu was once a part of the Chauhan kingdom, providing the Rajput kings of the region with a summer resort. In the later years, it was leased by Maharaja of Sirohi to the British. It was used as the headquarters of the resident to Rajputana (Rajasthan). Mount Abu also served as the relaxation place for the British, the royalties and semi royalties.
Consisting of British style bungalows and the holiday lodges of the royals, the city blends in the tribal communities living in the forests on the hills surrounding it. Rich in flora and fauna, these forests serve as further attractions of the city. The highest peak of the hills is Gurushikhar, housing a sanctuary with a rich wildlife. This splendid environment served as the abode of many saints and sages in the old times.
There are numerous legends associated with the city of Mount Abu in Rajasthan, India. It is believed that the mountains of Mt. Abu used to be visited by all the 330 million Hindu gods and goddesses. The great saint Vashishtha is also said to have lived here and performed a yagna to create four clans of fire to protect the earth from demons. The venue of yagna was near a natural spring, streaming from a cow head shaped rock. Another legend is that Saraswati, the divine stream, flooded a gorge in which the cow of Vashishtha fell, to help her float up. Afterwards, sage Vashishtha asked the youngest son of Himalaya to fill the gorge permanently to avoid any further mishap. Arbud, the mighty snake helped in the task and since then, the spot became famous as Mount Arbud. Afterwards, the name was changed to Mount Abu.
Mt. Abu travel and tourism is mainly famous for the Dilwara Jain temples. An architectural excellence, these temples are constructed of exquisitely carved marble stone. It is also believed that Mount Abu was paid a visit by Lord Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankar. There are also a number of Hindu temples in the city reliving the historical past of the city. Another popular destination of Mt. Abu is the Brahmkumari Ashram, a religious community center. Apart from the structural beauty, it is the natural magnificence consisting of weirdly shaped gigantic rocks, lovely lakes and cool climate that makes Mount Abu a unique place amidst the dry land of the Rajasthan.
Mount Abu Sanctuary:
The sanctuary located in Mount Abu was declared as a protected area in the year 1960 and ever since then this sanctuary which is spread over the gorgeous Aravalli range of mountains has been attracting not only domestic tourists but also tourists from overseas. Mount Abu is Rajasthan's only hill station and in the days of yore it used to be the summer retreat of Rajasthan's royalty.
More About Mount Abu Sanctuary
Gaumukh Temple: Gaumukh temple served as the venue for Sage Vashishtha's yagna. The temple has got its name from a nearby natural spring that surges through a carved cow's head. Forming the background of the temple is a sculpted hill temple of Arbuada (the mighty serpent). Close to it is a splendid marble image of Nandi, a celestial bull that Arbuada rescued.
Dilwara Jain Temple: Mt. Abu, Rajasthan sightseeing tour is incomplete without a visit to the famous Dilwara Jain temples. Built between 11th and 13th century AD, these temples are made up of carved marble. The temples are dedicated to the Jain Tirthankaras. There are five Dilwara temples in Mt. Abu. Out of these, the oldest one is Vimal Vasahi, dedicated to the first Tirthankara. All the Dilwara temples are a marvelous example of temple architecture.
Adhar Devi Temple: Adhar Devi temple is situated approximately 3 km to the north of Mount Abu. Reached by a flight of 360 stairs, the temple was carved out of a huge rock and is dedicated to Goddess Durga.
Shri Raghunathji Temple: Shri Raghunathji temple is located near Nakki Lake. Dedicated to Shri Raghunathji, it houses a gorgeous image of the deity placed by Shri Ramanand in 14th century A.D.
Sunset Point: Mount Abu also has a sunset point providing a magnificent view of the setting sun.
Honeymoon Point: You will get captivated by the sight of the lush plains and valleys from the Honeymoon Point, also known as Andra Point.
Gardens and Parks: There are a number of parks and gardens in Mt Abu providing you with natural beauty. Some of them are Shaitan Singh Park, Municipal Park, Terrace Garden, Ashok Vatika, Gandhi Park, etc.
Museum and Art Gallery: The museum and art gallery are located at the Raj Bhawan. A rich collection of archaeological excavations dating back to 8th-12th century A.D. is on display.
Nakki Talab: There is a legend associated with the Nakki Talab. It is believed that gods dug up this artificial lake using their fingernails ('nakh' means nail). There is also a Raghunath temple near the lake, dating back to the 14th century.
Climate
Mount Abu is the only hill station in the state of Rajasthan. Situated at an altitude of 1,219 meters above sea level, it experiences a moderate climate. In summers, Mount Abu weather is dry and sunny, but not too hot. The average temperature falls in the range of 33.8° C (max) to 5° C (min). The climatic conditions of Mt. Abu, Rajasthan in the winter season are mild and pleasant. The average temperature ranges around 28.3° C (max) to11.6 deg C (min). During monsoons, the climate of Mount Abu experiences moderate rainfall, in the range of 65-177 cm. The best time to visit Mt Abu is either in the months of Feb - June or in the months of Sept - Dec.
How to Reach Mount Abu
By Air: Udaipur is the nearest airport, which is 185 km away from Mount Abu. There are regular and direct flights to Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur from Udaipur. You can take taxis/buses from Udaipur to reach mount Abu.
By Rail: Abu Road, 28 km away, is the nearest railway station. The Mount Abu road railway station is well connected to Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Jaipur and Jodhpur.
By Road: Mount Abu is well connected by road with major cities of Rajasthan and India such as Delhi, Ajmer, Bundi and Udaipur. State roadways and private buses/taxis operate between Mount Abu and other cities/towns of Rajasthan and the neighboring areas.
