Mount Abu is one of the
popular jain pilgrimage sites. The road to paradise has never been
easy and this one is no exception. Bumping along an uneven road, hitting
your head against the smooth roof of a deluxe bus you need to close your
eyes and revive the temptations of your destination. Conjure up the lushness
of Mount Abu, which all tourist guides announce is 'the paradise of
Rajasthan'.
The little pamphlet gushes that Mount Abu, the only
hill station in Rajasthan, offers you the best of all possible worlds, with
more scenic beauty, more architecture and archaeology in the form of the
famous Dilwara caves, the chief center for the Brahmakumaris and a generous
peppering of temples which shows that the place is exceptionally favored by
the gods. Abu has been an important place of penance for the sages.
As the anticipation of the approaching destination heightens one doesn't
mind the shaking bus quite that much and as you turn the final curve into
the city, greeted by large hoardings of different hotels, all promising
better deals than the other, Rajasthan's little jewel puts its best foot
forward.
The shops on both sides of the road are glitteringly
alive, as late as 10 p.m. on a winter night and the residents of Mount Abu
mob you in welcome. Well not exactly the residents it turns out, they are
all touts for hotels but they make you feel welcome. In case it is a winter
trip that you are planning, one can just arrive in Abu, at any time of the
night or day, employ a wheelbarrow, which will take your luggage all over
Abu for few rupees while you check out a place to stay.
This is,
in fact the best time to visit if the cold does not bother you too much (it
is usually warmer than a Delhi winter). All hotels are available at half
rates and the best of rooms can be yours for a rate that suits your budget.
Abu in summer is definitely a retreat from the heat of
the plains. A summer visit requires careful planning, and rooms
should be booked at least two months in advance. Everything, from hotels to
restaurants, to transport is at double the rates, and beware of the new
monster - the Marti's, in every color which cover the landscape and race
pugnaciously around the hills. Yet, the little township is well prepared to
handle tourists. Tourist buses show you around the places of interest twice
a day and the bus guide provides a background, history and of course his own
interpretations on everything you visit. Information is also available from
a tourist guide office, but even without guidance there are certain places
that simply cannot be missed on a visit to Abu.
| » Major Attractions of Mount Abu |
|
Nakki Lake : In the heart of the town, at
one end of the Mall is Nakki Lake, which has an interesting history. It is
said that it was drawn by the finger nails (nakk) of a sage, Balam Rasia, in
response to the demands of the stepmother of the girl he wished to marry.
The girl, a princess, and a daughter of the then King of Abu, was also in
love with the sage, but because of the evil stepmother the affair ended in
tragedy, and has been immortalized in a temple of the Kunwari Kanya,
alongside which stands a statue of her lover.
The
lake too, has survived to tell the tale. Picturesquely set, with the hills
rising all around it, the lake has several islets to which you can hire
boats. An interesting facet is the many rock formations around the lake.
They have been named Toad Rock, Nun Rock, Nandi Rock and Camel Rock because
of their resemblance to these figures. The road appears to be looking
broodingly down towards the lake, as if contemplating jumping in. Nun Rock
is a large smooth rock, as it supposedly looks a woman with a veil. The
climb up to these rocks, through the wooded forests is a beautiful one, with
each of the rocks on the way making unique formations, fissures and shapes.
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 Temples : The Dilwara
Jain temples for instance, have been compared to the Taj Mahal for their
sheer elegance and beauty in marble. Built between the 11th and 13th
century, these temples are all the more exceptional because the marble to
build these was brought all the way from Makrana and the best workmen and
craftsmen employed to ensure the finest quality of sculpture. Intricate
carvings decorate each portion of these temples, which are dedicated to the
Jain Tirthankaras. Millions of rupees were spent on the carvings,
architecture and décor of the temples and the workmen were rewarded
in silver and gold equivalent to the amount of marble brought in.
| » 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 : Nearest airports are Udaipur and
Ahmedabad.
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 : Mount Abu is linked with Udaipur and Ahmedabad by
road. We would provide you all India tourist permit vehicles for the local
transportations and also for the intercity drives too.
Local Transport : Unmetered taxis are available for local
transportation within the city.
| » General Information |
|
»
Area : 25
sq. kms.
»
Altitude :
1219 metres
»
Climate
: Summer : Max. - 33.8°C Min. - 23.3°C
Winter
: Max. - 28.3°C Min. - 11.6°C
Rainfall
: 62 cms.
»
Clothing
: Summer - Light Tropical
Winter:
Woolen
»
Languages :
Rajasthani, Hindi, English
Mount
Abu Tour Packages | Hotels
in Mount Abu
Hotels
in Mount Abu
