The only hill station in Rajasthan, Mount
Abu sits astride a plateau at the far southwestern end of the Aravalli
hills. Built around a lake and surrounded by forested hills, it is an oasis
that draws huge crowds of tourists fleeing the scorching summer sun for
cooler climes. The Maharaja's of Rajasthan have over the centuries built
gorgeous summer palaces here and coupled with the ancient temples that dot
this hill retreat, they add an old world aura and a medieval charm to its
verdant landscape.
Coloured in mythology, this hill retreat is said to have derived its name
from Arbuda, a serpent who according to legend is said to have descended to
this spot to rescue Lord Shiva's bull, Nandi. Mount Abu is also a spiritual
retreat, a land of saints and sages, the most popular of these is sage
Vashishta, who is said to have conducted a huge yagna here out of which he
created the four Rajput clans. Many famous temples are also situated here
and amongst all of them the intricate Dilwara temples are the most stunning.
The scenic landscape, an array of coniferous trees, flowering shrubs, lovely
lakes and the cool climate is in such contrast to the arid environs of the
desert state of Rajasthan that Mount Abu becomes even more of a novelty.
Attractions
Dilwara Temples
These exquisitely carved Jain temples were built between the 11th and the
13th century AD. Dedicated to the Jain Tirthankaras, these five marble
temples showcase the highly developed aesthetic and artistic sensibilities
of craftsmen of the time.
Gaumukh Temple
Dedicated to Lord Rama, this temple is centered on a spring gushing from
the mouth of a marble cow. This temple is built on the spot where sage
Vashishta is said to have performed his Agnikul yagna.
Nakki Lake
At the heart of Mount Abu, is the shimmering blue Nakki Lake. According to
legend, the gods scraped this lake out of the ground using just their finger
nails. This charming attraction is a popular picnic spot and provides a
variety of boats for traversing the lake. Early mornings provide the best
views of the surrounding hills and also an opportunity to spot some exotic
birds by the shoreline.
Summer Festival
The Summer Festival is held every year in the month of Aashadh (June). As
the rest of Rajasthan burns to a crisp, Mount Abu sits cool and pretty. It
is perhaps the only town in Rajasthan that celebrates the coming of summer
and what a celebration it is, the entire city is decked up, colourful
processions fill the streets, performers sing and dance everywhere and
festivity reigns in the air for the entire three days that the festival
carries on.
Wildlife Sanctuary
Mount Abu also has a wildlife sanctuary. Situated 8 kms from the town, the
sanctuary is spread over 288 sq kms. In summers this park with its champa,
mango, jasmine and khajur trees is laden with fruits and blossoms, housing
more than 250 species of birds and also leopards, chinkaras, sloth bears,
wild boars and langurs.
Guru Shikhar
Situated 15 kms away from the town, it is the highest peak of this hill
station. 1722 mts above sea level, it allows a bird's eye view of the
idyllic surroundings of Mt. Abu. A small shaivite shrine and an ancient
temple of Dattatreya at the summit are worth a dekko.
Climate
Mount Abu has a temperate climate. In summer temperatures can go as high as
34 degrees centigrade. Minimum summer temperatures remain at a pleasant 23
degrees. Winters in Mount Abu are balmy at a cool 28 degrees with minimum
temperatures of 11 degrees centigrade. However, it rains fairly heavily in
the monsoon (65-177cm). So the very best times to visit are between February
and June or any time after the rains between September and December.
Lightweight clothes are adequate for the summer months in Mount Abu but
winters (November-January) require a warm jacket or sweater.
Getting There
Air - The nearest airport to Mount Abu is Maharana Pratap
Udaipur Airport, Dabok (Udaipur), 185 km away. One can hire a taxi to get to
Mount Abu.
Rail - The nearest railhead to Mount Abu is at Abu Road
(29-km) situated on Mumbai-Ahmedabad-Ajmer-Jaipur-Delhi route. From Abu
Road, one can take a taxi, jeep or bus to Mount Abu.
Road - Mount Abu is well connected by surface network.
Ahmedabad is 222-km via Palanpur. Jodhpur is 235-km via Sirohi and Pali.
Udaipur is 156-km via Pidwara. (Journey on this route is advisable only
during the day). Jaipur is 509-km via Pali-Ajmer. Mount Abu is well
connected to all the major towns in northern and western India.
