Mount. Abu - Verdant Oasis in the Hills

Mount. Abu tours

Apart from natural beauty, it is a famous pilgrimage centre graced with numerous grand temples with imprints of saints and sages. Formerly a summer retreat for the erstwhile rulers, it continues to attract waves of tourists today.

The city begins with a long hair-pin windy ride that will take you past rock formations in strangest shapes. Legend has it that the city was named after Arbuada, the powerful serpent who rescued Nandi, the sacred bull of Lord Shiva, from a chasm. Mount Abu comes alive during the Summer Festival in June with colourful and zesty performances by folk dancers and singers, and exciting boat races and roller skating competitions.

Attractions
Dilwara Jain Temples: A symbol of Mount Abu. This is a popular pilgrimage centre dating back to the 11th-13th centuries. An enchanting structure in marble its boasts extraordinary architecture and marvellous marble stone carvings, causing some experts to claim that it is architecturally superior to the Taj Mahal. It is dedicated to the Jain Tirthankaras. Architecturally, the most superb is the Vimal Vasahi temple built in 1031 and is the oldest of the lot.

Gaumukh Temple: Famous for its natural spring that flows from a sculpted head of a cow. A religious significant place because it is here that the sage Vashishtha performed his yagna. Another interest is the sculpted hill temple of Arbuada and the marble image of Nandi.

Nakki Lake: Claimed to have been dug by gods with their nails, it is considered a holy lake. Besides this, it has the distinction of being the only Indian artificial lake situated at a height of 1200 m. The area is busy with most of the hotels here. In the evening, people come for walks and boating and to the market located at a walking distance.

AchalGarh Fort (8 km): Perched atop a mountain, it offers a commanding view of the city. It is famous for its Jain temples most popular being Achaleswar Mahadev Temple (1412 A.D.)

Guru Shikhar (15 km): The highest peak in the city and the Aravalli at an altitude of 1722 m. Apart from the fantastic view it offers, there is a small Shaivite shrine and a temple of Dattatreya.

Adhar Devi Temple: Chiselled out of a huge rock, it contains many beautiful statues. A prominent pilgrimage centre, it is entered by climbing a flight of 360 stairs.

Museum and Art Gallery: It displays several interesting archaeological excavations from 8th-12th century apart from several Jain bronze carvings and brassworks. It is located at the Raj Bhawan.

Area : 25 sqm. Altitude : 1219mts Climate : [ Summer : 33.8 degree C - 23.3 degree C, Winter : 28.3 degree C 11.6 degree C ], Rainfall : 65-177cms, Best Season : feb-jun-sep-dec, Clothing : Summer-light tropical/Winter light woollen, Languages : English, Hindi, Gugarati