MOUNT ABU

GENERAL INFORMATION

Area		25 Sq km.
Altitude		1219 Meters
Best season		March-June, September-November
Languages		English, Hindi, Gujrati
Climate	Max	Min
Summer	33.8°c	23.3°c
Winter	28.3°c	11.6°c
Clothing	Summer	Winter
	Light tropical	Woollen

In the southern limit of the Aravalli range lies this heavenly Mountain called Mount Abu. The town shows up a desert spring and is encompassed by woods rich in vegetation. The drive through the Abu Road neglects an arid area that views the gathering of gigantic rocks with smooth surfaces and peculiar shapes, both molded by high-speed winds.

Abu marks a charming atmosphere all round the year on account of the elevation of this level, 1220 meters, and plentiful vegetation. It is a commended spot of Jain and Rajput journey. Abu as per legend gets its name from Arbuda the active serpent who saved Nandi the holy bull of Shiva from a gorge, in this way Abu remains for the child of Himalayas.

How the lake at Mt Abu got its name is another story of a hobby. It is trusted that the divine beings shaped the lakebed by burrowing it with their fingernails-nakh-henceforth Nakki Lake.

Numerous significant soothsayers and sages had their retreats on Mt Abu, the most well known among them being wise Vashishta. To recover mankind, he performed an enchantment fire custom or ‘Yagya’, from which were conceived the Agnikula groups of Solankis, Parmars, Chauhans, and Pratihars. The characteristic spring close to which this unbelievable occasion happened is arranged just beneath Abu and it rises up out of rock-formed cow’s head consequently the name, Gaumukh.

TOURIST PLACES

DILWARA JAIN TEMPLES

One of the most famous and beautiful Jain temples in the world, the Dilwara Jain Temple is situated in Abu. The stone carvings and architecture  are noteworthy. The interiors of the temple showcase the grandeur of human craftsmanship and architectural brilliance. These temples built between 11th-13th centuries are widely renowned for their rich and intricate carvings in white marble. But, the masterpieces of temple architecture are the Jain temples of Dilwara. On the order of King Bhimdev in 1031 A.D, the Vimalvashi Temple was built by the commander Vimalshah. Building it was an excruciating process as it took around 1,500 workers, several years to build. Out of the forty-eight pillars, sixteen pillars have the images of female figures in graceful dancing poses. Another beautiful piece of architecture is the rang mandap. The images that can be seen are of Lakshmi and Saraswati, as well as scenes from the princely courts of Takshashila and Ayodhya. Navchauki is a stage divided into nine parts. The artistic roots are adorned with various Goddesses and Elephants. The image of the Jain Tirthankara Neminath is situated in the Lunvasahi temple. Sculptures in stone, beautiful pillars, elaborate carvings and dome shaped roofs give a surreal and majestic look to the temple. There are sixteen images of the Goddess of knowledge, Saraswati. Also carved are glimpses from Lord Krishnas life. The footsteps of Dada Sahab and the are worth a mention. Apart from these, the temples dedicated to Parsvanath, Rishabhdev and Lord Mahavir are also classic examples of art.

NAKKI LAKE

The “Heart of Mount Abu”, Nakki Lake is an important place of tourist interest here. It is the only artificial lake in India that is situated at a high altitude of 1220 meters above sea level. Within walking distance from the town centre, amidst the mountains, gardens and rock formations makes it all the more interesting.

HOW TO GET THERE

By Air – Udaipur 185 Km is the nearest airport. Taxies and buses are available to reach Mount Abu.

By Rail – Abu road 29 Km is the closest railhead which is linked with Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Delhi and Jodhpur by train. Taxis, jeeps and buses can be hired for onward journey to Mount Abu.

By Road – Good network of bus services. Key connections are