Hill Stations of India - a unique way of spending your
holidays in India. The picturesque
Hill stations are
popular as resorts among both Indian and foreign visitors, providing a
relaxing and salubrious retreat from the heat and dust of the plains.
A pleasant retreat set amidst the
lush forested hills, Mt. Abu is a green oasis in the barren desertscape
that's Rajasthan. Situated at the southern tip of the Aravali range the hill
retreat owes its cool climate to its rich flora covering the entire hillside
that includes coniferous trees and flowering shrubs. The road leading to
Mount Abu is a curved one characterized by arid region dotted with huge
rocks in weird shapes and high velocity winds.
The
only hill station in Rajasthan, Mount Abu is more than just a summer
retreat. Its stunning array of exquisite Dilwara Jain Temples,
dating back 11th- 13th centuries, make it a popular pilgrimage centre. ‘Abu’
according to a legend stands for the son of Himalayan, deriving its name
from Arbuada, the powerful serpent who rescued Nandi, the sacred bull of
Lord Shiva, from a chasm.
Mount Abu has been home to
many sages and saints. Most famous of them was Sage Vashishtha who
is believed to have created four agnikula Rajput clans from a fire-pit by
performing a ‘yagna’ or fire sacrifice, to protect the earth from
the demons. The Yagna was performed besides a natural spring situated below
Abu, emerging from a rock shaped like a cow’s head and hence the site
was called Gaumukh.
 Major
Attractions of Mount Abu |
 |
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.
Dilwara
Jain Temple : These beautifully carved temples built between 11th and
13th century A.D. are sheer elegance in marble, dedicated to the jain
Tirthankaras. The Vimal Vasahi temple is the oldest of these dedicated to
the first Tirthankara. Built in 1031 A.D. (by Vimal Shah-a merchant and
representative of then Gujarat ruler), it is a superb example of temple
architecture.
Museum and Art Gallery : Located
at the Raj Bhawan, it was a collection of archaeological excavations dating
back to 8th-12th century A.D. It also has Jain bronze carvings,brassworks
etc. for viewing.
Nakki Talav : This holiday
centre of Mount Abu, is virtually in the heart of the town. This sparkling
blue artificial lake is said to have been gauged from the earth by the gods,
using their fingernails ('nakh' means nail). Nearby is the 14th century
Raghunath Temple.On the western edge of the town centre, Nakki Lake Road
circles the entire lake. Rowing boats are available for hire from the jetty
by Gandhi Park.
| Shopping
in Mount Abu |
|
Curios in marble, sandalwood and sandstone can be bought from
the shops around Nakki Lake. Kota saris, bangles and linen with Sanganeri
prints are also available. For Rajasthani Handicrafts there is Rajasthali,
Rajasthan Government Handicrafts Emporium and Khadi Bhandar.
| How
to Get there |
|
Air : The nearest airport to Mount Abu is
Maharana Pratap Udaipur Airport, Dabok (Udaipur) 207 km. One can hire a taxi
to get to Mount Abu.
Rail : The nearest
railway station is 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 : 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. It is connected to all the major
towns in northern and western India
Destinations
