About Mount Abu
A hill station in Rajasthan, it was the favorite summer destination of the
British, who came to Mount Abu to escape the dusty, dry heat of the plains.
The city is also considered holy according to Hindu and Jain Mythologies and
Lord Mahavir is said to have visited the place. The history of Mount Abu
dates back to 11th -13th century AD. Mount Abu is a pleasant hill station
set amidst the lush forested hills. It is like a green oasis in the
otherwise barren desert of Rajasthan. It is situated in the Aravali range.
The hill has its cool climate with rich flora covering the entire hillside
that includes coniferous trees and flowering shrubs.
The summer festival in the first month of June lets Mount Abu see the
cultural and folklore traditions from all around Rajasthan.
Gaumukh Temple- Gaumukh means cow head, the temple got its name from
the natural spring that surges through a carved cow’s head. The temple
is quite popular among devotees and background of it has the vast hill
temple of Arbuada.
Dilwara Jain Temple- Dilwara Jain temples are the signature
attraction of Mount Abu. The carved marble temple was built between 11th and
13th century AD. The temple is revered by Jains as it is dedicated to Jain
Tirthankaras. Among the five Dilwara Temples, the oldest one is Vimal
Vasahi, dedicated to first Tirthankara. Splendid architecture of Dilwara
temples make it a popular tourist visitng place.
Adhar Devi Temple- The temple is located 3 km away from Mount Abu
and perched on the top that can be reached by a flight of 360 steps. The
temple is dedicated to goddess Durga and made up of huge rock.
Sunset Point- The hilly area from provides a glorious view of sunset
in between two mountain peaks, the place is often crowded with people.
Honeymoon Point- Honeymoon point name comes from the natural beauty
of the place. Captivating lush green palins and valleys and serene ambiance
is perfect for any newly wed couple. The place is alos called as Andra
Point.
Gardens And Parks – Mount Abu is not only known for temples but
also exotic parks and gardens. Some of the renowned one are Shaitan Singh
Park, Municipal Park, Terrace Garden, Ashok Vihar, Gandhi Park.
Museum And Art Gallery- The museum is famous for its ancient
archaeological excavations of 8th and 12th AD. It is located at the Raj
Bhawan.
Gangaur Festival (March- April)- The festival is dedicated to
goddess Parvati and specially for young maids and married women. Long
procession are taken out with with much fanfare. The festival has special
significance for Garasia tribes, inhabitants of the Sirohi-Mt. Abu region.
They celebrate the festival over one month. On the festival days tribal
youth get to chance to meet freely with tribal girl and choose their life
partner and marry by run away. A strange custom but indeed romantic, a must
see festival in Mount Abu.
Not To Overlook – Excursions From Mount Abu
Guru Shikhar- The place is 15 km from Mount Abu and meaning of the
place is saint’s pinnacle. The place is in the highest altitude of the
Aravali mountains at 1772 meters above sea level. The place is revered among
the locals as they strongly believe small Shaivite shrine, the saint
Dattatreya, a saint whose footprints are carved inside the shrine. One of
the attraction is a big bell, which is suspended by a wooden frame having a
Gujrati inscription dating back to 1411 AD.
Achalgarh – Achalgarh is a majestic fort located 10 km from
Mount Abu. the fort was built in the 14th century by Rana Kumbha of Mewar.
Apart from fort temple of Achaleswar Mahadev and Kantinath Jain temple are
noteworthy.
Trevor’s Tank – It is very to Mount Abu about 3 km from
the city. The place is named after British engineer and famous among bird
lovers. The place is located in the midst of picturesque valley of Aravali
ranges. Most common birds can be seen here are pheasants,peacocks and
partridges.
Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary – One of the oldest wildlife
sanctuaries in India, the place has a rich biodiversity. The park is in the
lap of Aravali ranges and specially attractive for its floral variations.
Among wild animals, panther is the apex predator. Once it was a ground of
lions and tigers but now only wild boar, langoors, pangolin, hedgehog and
other animals remain surviving here.
Location : Mount Abu is situated in the southwest end of Rajasthan
at an altitude of 1219 meters. It is 326 km from Jodhpur and 185 km from
Udaipur. Gujarat, another important state, is near Mount Abu.
Best Season : Throughout the Year
Climate : The maximum temperature during summers could be
33degree Celsius while the minimum could be 23 degree Celsius. In winter the
maximum and minimum temperatures are 28 and 11 degree Celsius respectively.
By Air : Mount Abu doesn’t have any airport. The
nearest airport is Udaipur, which is 185 km from Mount Abu.
By Rail : The nearest railway station is in the Abu road,
which is 28 km from Mount Abu.
By Road : Mount Abu is well linked with major cities of
India.
Related Storie(s)
Udaipur-The Heart of Rajasthan-
By Kitu Bhardwaj
Sariska- The Tiger Reserve-
By Albeena Abbas
