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Mount Abu City
Tour Guide |
Mount Abu is the highest peak in the Aravalli
Range of Rajasthan state in western India. It is
located in Sirohi district. The mountain forms a
distinct rocky plateau 22km long by 9 km wide.
The highest peak on the mountain is Guru Shikhar,
at 1722 meters above sea level. It is referred
to as 'an oasis in the desert', as its heights
are home to rivers, lakes, waterfalls and
evergreen forests. |
History
In the Puranas, the region has been referred to as
Arbudaranya, ("forest of Arbhu") and 'Abu' is a
dimunitive of this ancient name. It is believed that
sage Vasishtha retired to the southern spur at Mount
Abu after following his differences with sage
Vishvamitra.
Tourist attractions
The town of Mount Abu, the only hill station in
Rajasthan, is located at an elevation of 1220
meters. It has been a popular retreat from the heat
of Rajasthan and neighboring Gujarat for centuries.
The Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary was established in
1960 and covers 290 kmē of the mountain.
Mount Abu is home to a number of Jain temples. The
Dilwara Temples are a complex of temples, carved of
white marble, that were built between the 11th and
13th centuries AD. The oldest of these is the Vimal
Vasahi temple, built in 1031 AD by Vimal Shah and
dedicated to the first of the Jain Tirthankaras. The
Lun Vasahi Temple were built in 1231 AD by the
brothers Vastupal and Tejpal, who belonged to the
Porwal Jain community. They were ministers of Raja
Vir Dhawal, a local ruler of Gujarat.
The Achalgarh fort, built in the 14th century by
Rana Kumbha of Mewar, stands nearby. It encloses
several beautiful Jain temples, including the
Achaleswar Mahadev Temple (1412) and the Kantinath
Temple (1513).
Nakki Lake is another popular visitor attraction of
Mount Abu. There is the Toad Rock on a hill near the
lake. Raghunath Temple and Maharaja Jaipur Palace
are also on hills near Nakki Lake.
The mountain is also home to several Hindu temples,
including the Adhar Devi Temple, carved out of solid
rock; the Shri Raghunathji Temple; and a shrine and
temple to Dattatreya built atop the Guru Shikhar
peak. The world headquarters of the Brahma Kumari
order of lady renunciates is also located here, as
is the World Spiritual University of the same
denomination. There is also believed to be a
footprint of Vishnu on top of Mount Abu. The Durga
temple, Ambika Mata Temple lies in a cleft of rock
in Jagat, just outside of Mount Abu.
Transportation
The nearest railway station is at Abu Road, in the
lowlands 27 km southeast of Mount Abu town. The
station is on the main Indian Railways line between
Delhi and Ahmedabad. |
