Located in the lush, verdant forests from the Aravali Mountains may be the picturesque hill station of Mount Abu standing around an altitude 1,219 m. Found in the district of Sirohi, within the state of Rajasthan in western India, Mount Abu has got the distinction to be the only real hill station in Rajasthan. With lakes, waterfalls and green coniferous forests, Mount Abu entices nature lovers using its heart stirring beauty.
Attractions
Gaumukh Temple: Gaumukh Temple includes a natural spring flowing via a carved cow’s head. The tank within this temple called Agni Kund is thought to be the website from the sacrificial fire produced by Sage Vashistha. Statues of Sage Vashishtha, Rama and Krishna are located here. One can observe the exquisitely carved hill temple of Arbuada came from here. Near by may be the superb marble statue of Nandi, the celestial bull.
Dilwara Jain Temple: You will find 5 marble temples within the Dilwara Jain Temple complex. The very first could well be the Vimal Vasahi Temple or Shri Adi Nathji Temple built-in the entire year 1031 and 2nd one may be the Lun Vasahi Temple or Shri Neminathji Temple built-in the entire year 1231. Another 3 temples would be the Pithalhar or Shri Rishabha Devji Temple, Khartar Vasahi Temple or Shri Parshva Nathji Temple and Shri Mahavir Swamiji Temple. These gorgeously carved temples focus on the Jain Tirthankaras.
The Vimal Vasahi Temple includes a statue of Rishabhdev within the central shrine along with a huge courtyard with 52 smaller shrines. Each one of the 52 smaller shrines includes a charming idol of the Thirthankara. You will find 48 delightfully carved pillars in the entrance towards the courtyard.
The Lun Vasahi Temple features the Hathishala or elephant cell with 10 elegantly carved marble elephants.
Adhar Devi Temple: Adhar Devi Temple is all about 3 km in the capital of scotland - Mount Abu and it is chiseled from a gigantic rock. It's reached climbing a flight ticket of 360 stairs.
Achaleshwar Mahadeva Temple: The Shiva Temple or Achaleshwar Mahadeva Temple in Achalgarh Fort built-in the entire year 1412 features what's thought to be the toe of Shiva. There's also a brass Nandi or even the celestial bull and three stone buffaloes waiting for a pond only at that temple. Several idols exquisitely carved from crystal stone are located only at that temple. The temple overlooks the gorgeous Mandakini lake.
Shri Raghunathji Temple: Shri Raghunathji Temple is near to the Nakki Lake. The temple houses a graceful picture of the deity.
Sunset Point: Situated about 1.5 km from Mount Abu Tourist office, Sunset Point because the name suggests offers spell binding views from the golden sundown.
Honeymoon Point: Located a couple of.5 km northwest of Mount Abu on Ganesh Road may be the Honeymoon Point (also known as Anadara Point) in an altitude of four,000 ft. It gives wonderful views from the green plains and valleys.
Gardens and Parks: Mount Abu hosts several pretty gardens such as the Ashok Vatika, Gandhi Park, Municipal Park, Shaitan Singh Park and Terrace Garden. The Brahma Kumaris Peace Park with picnic areas, swings, nature walks, a rock garden along with a rose garden is yet another beautiful spot to visit.
Museum and Memorial: Situated within Raj Bhawan, Museum and Memorial is split into 2 sections and it has a fascinating display of archaeological excavations from 8th to 12th centuries. Jain bronze carvings, miniature paintings, beautifully carved statues of Devdasis or dancers, brass works along with a diorama of the local tribal hut would be the other highlights of the museum.
Trevor’s Tank: Trevor’s Tank is known as honoring the British engineer who built it. Surrounded with densely forested hills, it's a bird watchers’ paradise. The hills really are a refuge for birds like pigeons, peacocks and partridges.
Guru Shikhar: Situated after a plateau far away of 15 km from Mount Abu in an altitude of just one,722 m, Guru Shikhar may be the highest reason for Rajasthan. A little temple focused on Shiva along with a temple of Dattatreya standing around the very best really are a must visit for that spiritually inclined.
Achalgarh Fort: The medieval monument of Achalgarh Fort can be found 8 km from Mount Abu town and was built-in the 14th century by Rana Kumbha of Mewar. The fort has enormous battlement walls offering stunning views from the surrounding countryside. Many magnificent Jain temples can be found inside the fort.
Off Gaumukh Road: There's a log hut built on the tree with some platforms for tent pegging. Kitchen facilities can also be found.
Aarna Village: Here you will discover a log hut on the mango tree along with a hut built at walk out.
Mount Abu Wild Life Sanctuary: Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary offers several types of flora like xenomorphic subtropical thorn forests, subtropical evergreen forest and bamboo forests. These forests feature 112 plant families with 449 genera and 820 species. The sanctuary has some rare plants like Dicliptera abuensis, Strobillanthes callosus, Ischaemum kingii, Convolvulus blatteri, Ceropegia odorata and Hydrilla polysperma. Several types of orchids, bryophytes and algae will also be found here.
The wildlife here includes leopards, sambhar, jungle cats, small Indian civets, wolves, hyenas, jackals, Indian foxes, common langurs, wild boars, pangolins, common mongooses, Indian hares, porcupines, sloth bears and hedgehogs.
With birds like babblers, barbets, bee eaters, cuckoos, bulbuls, buntings, cormorants, flowerpeckers, woodpeckers, kingfishers, kestrels, kites, lapwings, larks, minivets, munias and mynas, the sanctuary is really a bird lovers’ paradise. Other splendid birds found listed here are night jars, orioles, owlets, parakeets, partridges, pigeons, quails, flycatchers, rollers, shrikes, tits, vultures, warblers, herons, sunbirds, tailorbirds, water hens and peacocks.
Types of reptiles within the sanctuary include pythons, cobras, rat snakes, Russel’s vipers, Indian kraits, cat snakes, water snakes, crocodiles, starred tortoises, Indian mud or flap- shelled turtles, rock geckos, common garden lizards, monitor lizards and chameleons.
Jungle or Nature Trails: Mount Abu offers several stimulating jungle or nature trails for nature lovers. A number of them are Bailey’s Walk, Craig’s Walk, Palanpur Point, Tiger Trail, Trevor’s Tank, Arna Watch Tower, Salgaon Watch Tower, Walk to Village Cahndela, Walk to Gautam Rishi Ashram and Walk to Village Utroj. One can observe a number of birds, wildlife and flora from the region while trekking with these trails. You may also include mountain climbing and rappelling inside your trekking itinerary. Horse safaris can also be found.
Nakki Lake: About 50 % miles long along with a quarter mile wide, Nakki Lake is really a charming artificial lake with depths which range from 20 ft to 30 ft for the west. There's a toad shaped rock appropriately called Toad Rock on the hill close to the lake. Other rocks named after their shapes are Nun Rock, Nandi Rock and Camel Rock. Lake Nakki is common as an open-air picnic spot. One may have a pleasant boating experience of the river or ride a horse round the lake.
Summer Festival: Mount Abu celebrates the three day Summer Festival in May/June about the occasion of Budh Poornima. The festival begins with a ceremonial procession moving towards the Nakki Lake Chowk. The festival comes alive using the Rajasthani and Gujarati folk performances as well as an exhilarating display of fireworks. Skating Race, Skater’s Show, CRPF Band Show, Boat Race, Horse Race, Tug of War and Panihari Matka Race are the other highlights of the electrifying festival.
Winter Festival: The wintertime Festival is well known in Mount Abu each year over the last week of December. The festival can last for Three days. Classical and folk singing, folk dancing along with other cultural programs are organized in this festival. Aquatic sports and cricket matches will also be held. All of the Three days from the festival are marked by having an amazing display of fireworks.
Quick Facts
Location: Mount Abu is found in the Aravali Mountain Range in Sirohi District of Rajasthan State in Western India. To expect 58 km from Palanpur in Gujarat.
Altitude: Mount Abu is situated in an altitude of just one,219 m or 4,000 ft.
Climate: In summer, the conditions from 23.3 °C to 33.8 °C as well as in winter from - 8 °C to twenty.3 °C. Rain comes from July to mid September. The typical annual rainfall ranges from 153 cm to 177 cm. Light tropical cotton wear for summer and lightweight woolen wear for winter are recommended.
Best time for you to travel: Mid-March to June and Mid-September to December is the greatest time for you to visit Mount Abu.
Accommodation: Government accommodation, budget hotels and heritage hotels can be found. Types of Government accommodation include Dak Bungalows, circuit houses, forest guest houses, irrigation guest houses and CPWD rest houses.
Getting There
By Flight: The closest airport to Mount Abu is Udaipur with daily flights from Mumbai, Jaipur and Delhi. Another nearest airport is Ahmedabad.
By Train: The closest railway station to Mount Abu is Abu Road far away of 27 km southeast of Mount Abu. The Abu Road railway station has trains running into it from Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mumbai, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ajmer, Kotha, Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Ujjain, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Pune.
On reaching Mount Abu Road, one may take taxis or perhaps a jeep to achieve Mount Abu.
By Road: Mount Abu includes a good road network connecting to Delhi, Ajmer, Bundi, Jaipur, Abu Road, Achalgarh, Ahmedabad, Ranakpur and Udaipur. One may take a bus or car from all of these places to Mount Abu.
Mount Abu is 214 km from Ahmedabad, 835 km from Mumbai, 768 km from Delhi, 515 km from Jaipur, 182 km from Udaipur, 291 km from Jodhpur and 168 km from Ranakpur.
