Home - Rajasthan Tour Guide - Tour to Mount Abu
Tour to Mount Abu
General Information
Area: 25 sq. km.Altitude: 1220 meters
In Summer: Max. 33.3 degree centigrade and Min 23.3 degree centigrade
In Winter: Max. 23.3 degree centigrade and Min. 11.6 degree centigrade
Rainfall: 153 to 177 cms.
Best Season: February - June, September-December
Language: English, Hindi, and Gujarati
The barren, isolated land of Rajasthan holds a surprise for you which gets unveiled when you visit Mount Abu. Mount Abu is the only hill station in Rajasthan and the highest peak of the Aravali Mountains. Mount Abu is Rajasthan's only hill retreat, situated 1200 meters above sea level. Interestingly, Mount Abu finds a reference in ancient epics of Hindus as the abode for sadhus to meditate. The natural milieu and the man made elegance fuse into one another making Mount Abu a place worth visiting. The hill station is ornamented with scenic beauty, remarkable architectural wonders and the amazing archaeological finds too. A Tour to Mount Abu includes a visit to different places of tourist interest, which comprises mainly of the temples and palaces and the picturesque lakes and vivacious bazaars. The temples date back to the 11th and 13th centuries AD. The marbles that compose the building have been brought from Makrana. It is believed that the Makrana marbles are of exceptional quality. The temples are wonderful constructions that would surely leave you flabbergast.
» Mount AbuHistory
The history of Mount Abu is as diverse as the city itself. It was once a part of the Chauhan kingdom of Rajasthan and served as a summer resort for the Rajput kings of the region. After that, the British government leased it.
According to another legend, once sage Vashishth's cow Nandini was trapped in a deep gorge and could not free herself. The sage appealed to Lord Shiva for assistance. The Lord sent Saraswati, the divine stream, to help flood the gorge so that the cow could float up. Vashishth then decided to ensure that such mishaps did not occur in future. He asked the youngest son of Himalaya, the king of mountains to fill the chasm permanently. This he did with the assistance of Arbud, the mighty snake. This spot came to be known as Mount Arbud and was later changed to its present form - Mount Abu. This place is held in reverence by Jains as well since Jain scriptures record that Lord Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankar (spiritual leader), also visited Mount Abu and blessed the city.
» Tourist Attractions in Mt. Abu
Dilwara Jain Temples: Constructed between 13th and 14th centuries, the Dilwara Jain temples are an architectural masterpiece amd excellent craftsmanship. The oldest one among them is the Vimal Vasahi temple, dedicated to the first Tirthankara of Jainism and built in 1031A.D. while The Lun Vasahi temple was built in 1231A.D. The central shrine holds an image of Rishabhdev and an expansive courtyard with 52 small shrines, each housing a gorgeous statue of the Jain Tirthankaras with 48 exquisitely carved pillars forming the entryway to the courtyard.
Nakki Lake:
The Nakki Lake is a small lake, quaintly placed amidst swirling range of hills. The lake is speckled with several islets approachable by a boat. Of particular interest are strange rock formations around the lake. Notable is the Toad Rock which looks like a real toad about to jump Especially into the lake. Others are Nun Rock and Nandi Rock etc. Set in the heart of the town, the lake gets its name from the legend that it was scooped out by the gods with their fingernails or 'Nakh'. It is the only artificial lake in India that is 1200 mts. above sea level.Gaumukh Temple: A natural spring flowing through a sculpted cow's head gives the shrine its name. The famous yagna' of Sage Vashishtha was performed here. A beautifully sculpted hill temple of Arbuada - the mighty serpent, stands against the beautiful backdrop. Nearby is the magnificent marble image of Nandi, the celestial bull rescued by Arbuada.
Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary: Located in the Aravali range of mountains, which incidentally is one of the oldest mountain ranges in the country, the Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary was formed in the year 1960. The sanctuary is characterized with a lot of altitudinal variation. At the foothills, it is merely 300 m whereas it reaches a height of 1722 m at Guru Shikhar, the tallest peak in the Aravalis. The 19 km long and 5-8 km broad plateau that the sanctuary spreads out into at the top is truly enchanting. Craggy rocks with large cavities, a result of the weathering effects of wind and water are common in the Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary.
» Fort & Palaces in Mount Abu
The Forts and Palaces in Mount Abu constitute some of the major tourist attractions in Mount Abu. Similarly as other forts and palaces in other parts of Rajasthan, they too epitomize the splendor of the royal epoch. The arresting forts and the wonderful palaces enthrall the tourists to such an extent that they simply stand wonder-struck. These impressive structures impeccably symbolize the dexterity of the architects. Even with the passage of time, the forts and palaces stand firm preserving the reminiscence of yester years. The Achalgarh Fort with the marvelously chiseled Jain Temples within its precincts is a daunting structure. It is located atop a hill, is fortified by enormous walls and proffers remarkable vistas of the environs. Adjacent to it lays the Achleshwar Mahadev Temple which is best known for its Nandi and other sculpted idols.
» Fairs & Festivals in Mount AbuSummer Festival: The summer festival in Rajasthan is a unique occasion for the hill resort, as people from different parts of the country assemble to escape the sizzling heat of the plains and revivify their debilitated energies. Tourists are entreated to one of the most glamorous festival, which they cherish throughout their lives. Folk dances and an atmosphere of joviality deck up this tiny hill resort. The tourists have ample time to relax and enjoy to their heart’s content.
Winter Festival: The Winter Festival is celebrated every year during the last week of December. The festival rejoices in the affection and exuberance of the people of hill station, who give the tourists a cordial and warm welcome. The three days of colorful festival is organized by the Rajasthan Tourism and Municipal Board, Mt. Abu.
» How to Reach Mount Abu
By Air: Udaipur 185 km is nearest airport. Taxi and buses are available to reach Mount Abu.
By Train: Abu road 29 km is the closest railhead. Taxis, Jeeps and buses can be hired for onward journey to Mount Abu. Some important train connections are: Gujarat Mail (Mumbai-Abu Road-Delhi Sarai Rohilla); Aravali Express (Ahmedabad-Abu Road-Marwar); Ahmedabad Mail (Delhi Sarai Rohilla-Abu Road); Surya Nagri Express (Jodhpur-Abu Road-Ahmedabad); Ranakpur Express (Ahmedabad-Abu Road-Jodhpur).
By Road: Good network of bus services, Key connections are: Ahmedabad 221 km, Jodhpur 264 km via Sirohi Sanderao.