Mount Abu Overview
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Mount Abu
Summarise the city :
Cool escape in the desert State
Cool escape in the desert State
Best time to visit (High & peak months) :
February to June and September to December
Experiences :
Hills, lake and temple architecture
City calling code :
+91-2974
Recommended no. of days for a tourist :
1-2 days
Best buys :
Nothing very Specific
Essentials to be carried along :
Woolens for winters (Oct-Feb), cotton wears otherwise, sun blocks, cameras and binoculars
All about the city :
For its salubrious clime, Mount Abu is often referred to as ‘An Oasis in the desert state of Rajasthan’. It is a little unassuming hill station; but then considering the topography of the entire region it gives a feel of a gentle breeze in the midst of gusty hot winds all around. For the unawares, this is the only hill station of the North Western India.
By the folklores, Mt. Abu was also the home of many saints and sages in ancient times. Rishi Vashishth performed a yagna (fire sacrifice) at this place to create the four Agnikul Rajput clans to protect the earth from the demons. According to the legends, all the three hundred and thirty million gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon used to visit this holy mountain. Now, how far this legend holds good cannot be ascertained, but one thing is definite that this mountain has always been frequented by royalties and the common man alike to escape the heat and dust of the nearby plains. The British in India used it as a sanatorium for their troops and as HQ for the British resident.
Mount Abu, as a hill station, is nondescript and may not be very fascinating for a normal tourist but for those with an eye for architecture, once visited, it is sure to remain etched in their memories for ever. The Dilwara temple are reason enough to prompt the art aficionados to visit Mount Abu just for marveling at the marbles of this architectural wonder.
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Mount Abu Tourist attractions
| Name (suggested time required to see the place) | Description | Entrance charges (if any) for Foreigner | Close Day (if any) | Open / Close time |
| Dilwara temples (1 – 1.5 hrs) | Something, in India, that can give Taj Mahal a run for its money is the Dilwara temples of Mount Abu. Interestingly these are built out of the same marble from Makarana as the Taj. If Taj is untouched for its overwhelming symmetry, these Jain temples are incomparable for the copious carvings. The first grade marble is carved so intricately, in the pattern of human, animal and floral figures that at places it becomes translucent. It is said that at the end of each day’s work the craftsmen were paid in gold weighing equivalent to the marble dust collected, thus inspiring them to carve even finer. In sharp contrast to its fine interior, the exterior is very plain and uninteresting. It was probably to ward off the evil designs of the Muslim invaders in India who would raze to ground any temple that caught their attention. This 11th – 13th century complex is a composition of 5 temples. Of which the Vimal Vasahi and Luna Vasahi are the most impressive ones. The former was built by Vimal Shah, Prime Minister of the Solanki rulers of Gujarat. The main shrine is dedicated to first Jain Tirthankar (enlightened beings who become spiritual guide for others) Adinath while the rest 52 carved niches have other tirthankars. In front of it, in a pavilion, there are statues of elephants marching in procession to the temple entrance. Luna Vasahi was built a century later by two brothers and is dedicated to the 22nd Tirthankar Neminath. Photography and leather articles are not allowed inside the temple. | No entrance charges | none | For followers of Jainism: Sunrise to Sunset For non Jains: noon – 6 pm |
| Nakki Lake | The major crowd puller in Mount Abu is the Nakki lake. By the legend, it is called so because it was dug by a God using only his nakh i.e. nails. For the very obvious reason, majority of the shops and food joints are located in the vicinity of the lake. Look for the curious rock formations around the lake – the most popular being the Toad Rock that gives an impression of a toad that is about to jump into the lake. Listening to the ringing bells from the temples around the lake makes boating a very pleasurable experience. | |||
| View Points | Like any other hill station, Mount Abu too has several strategic points that offer the best views of the town and surrounding area viz. the Sunset point and the Honeymoon point. | |||
| Gaumukh temple | About 4 km below Mount Abu, just off the main highway is the historic Gaumukh temple. It is named so as a natural spring flows out from the mouth of a cow made in marble. It is said to be the place where sage Vashishth performed a yagna that created the four major Rajput clans. |
Getting there
| Air | Rail | Road |
| Udaipur, 185 km (4.5 hrs) from Mount Abu is the nearest airport from this hill town. One can find regular flights for Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Mumbai | Abu Road, the rail head for Mount Abu is located on the broad gauge line between Delhi and Mumbai via Ahmedabad. Mount Abu is 27 km (45-60 min) Uphill from this place. Direct trains run to various destinations including Ajmer, Jodhpur, Jaipur and Ahmedabad. | Mount Abu is 505 km from Jaipur, 326 km from Jodhpur and 185 km from Udaipur and 250 km from Ahmedabad. |
Mount Abu Excursions
| Excursion (distance in kms / time taken) | Write up on the excursion |
| Guru Shikhar (15 km/ 35-40 min) | Guru Shikhar is the highest peak of the Aravalli mountain range i.e. of the state of Rajasthan. One can drive up to the summit to pay a visit to the Atri Rishi temple and soak in the panoramic views all around. |
| Mount Abu Wildlife sanctuary (5.5 km/ 20 min) Open: 8 am – 5 pm | It is the oldest region of the Aravalli range. The sanctuary is about 7 km deep and only 300 m wide and is located on a large plateau. It is home to rich flora and fauna that includes panthers, sambhars, foxes, sloth bear, wild boar etc. Besides the sanctuary encompasses beautiful view points. |
| Achalgarh fort (8 km/ 25-30 min) | With its strong battlements, the Achalgarh fort stands imposingly in the neighborhood of Mount Abu on a peak of Aravalli mountain range. It was commissioned by the same Rana Kumbha who built many other magnificent forts in Rajasthan. The Achaleshwar temple there is said to be built around the toe imprint of Lord Shiva. The massive 4 tons Nandi bull (vehicle of Lord Shiva) made up of panchdhatu (five metals) is another attraction. |
Other FAQ's/ General Information about Mount abu
| Question | | | Answer | |
| Can we experience snowfall in Mount Abu? | The temperature in Mount Abu does not fall much. It remains pleasant. But the hill town will disappoint those looking to experience snowfall. | |||
Suggested tour programs with mount abu
| Tour Name | No. Of days | Destinations Covered & Highlights |
| Honeymoon Tour in Rajasthan | 08 days - 07 nights | Neemrana - Jaipur - Devigarh - Udaipur - Mount Abu - Udaipur |
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