Set amidst green, wooded
hills, Mount Abu is Rajasthan's only hillstation, and the perfect
destination for those who like sleepy, relaxed holidays. Small,
quiet and deliciously cool, Mt Abu usually inundated by weekend
crowds, Gujarati honeymooners and pilgrims- but finding a little bit
of solitude amidst the crowd is never a problem.
Mount Abu is also well known for the famous Dilwara temples and many more archaeological remains. There are interesting treks and picnic spots, romantic royal retreats of the various erstwhile families of bygone Rajputana and some relics of the Raj period. The scenic landscapes include gigantic blocks of rocks in weird shapes, an array of coniferous trees, flowering shrubs, lovely lakes and the cool climate much in contrast to the arid environs of the state |
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Prime Attractions of Mount Abu
Dilwara Temples
This complex consisting of five marble Jain temples is one of the finest in Rajasthan, worth braving the queues and ferocious guards. These beautifully carved temples built between 11th & 13th century AD 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 AD (by Vimal Shah- a merchant and representative of the then Gujarat ruler), it is a superb example of temple architecture.
Gaumukh Temple
Dedicated to Rama, this small temple (the cow¿s mouth) is centred on a spring gushing from the mouth of a marble cow. In the Hindu creation myth, the world is formed by a cow, licking salt; the source of the Ganges has the same name. This is said to be the site of the ancient 'agnikund' fire rituals. It is 4 kms south of Mount Abu. Open, free access, down 700 very steep steps.
Govt. Museum - Mount Abu
The museum was set up in 1962 within the premises of Raj Bhawan to preserve the archaeological wealth of the region.
Mandakini Kund
The watersupply for Achalgarh fort and a sculpture of Parmar Daravarsh are situated close to the Achaleswar Mahadev temple.
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.
Summer Festival
The Summer Festival is held every year in the month of Aashadh (June). The steep rocks, tranquil lakes, picturesque locations and the pleasant climate of Mount Abu make it an ideal location for the festival.
View Points
Several points around the edge of the plateau offer spectacular views across the plains. The best are Honeymoon Point (Anadra Point) and Sunset Point, where hundred of people gather to watch the sunset every evening in a carnival atmosphere of pony rides and souvenir sellers. Baylay¿s Walk is a pleasant 5 km route from Nakki Lake to Sunset Point. Honeymoon Point, 2.5 kms northwest on Ganesh Road; Sunset Point, 2 km southwest on Sunset Point Road. Open, free access.
| Getting to Mount abu |
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Abu Road is the nearest railhead, an hour's drive from Mt Abu and connected to Delhi and Ahmedabad by good super-fast and express trains. The closest airports are at Udaipur (185 km) and Ahmedabad (about 250 km) from Mountt Abu. The easiest access is by road from any city in Rajasthan or Ahmedabad (in Gujarat) via the city of Udaipur.
| Best time to visit |
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Mt Abu has fairly temperate climate even though summer temperatures range between 23 °C and 34°C. Winters are balmy at a cool 28°C with minimum temperatures of 11°C. It rains fairly heavily in the monsoon (65-177 cm) so the very best times to visit are between February and June or any time after the rains between September and December. Lightweight clothes will do very well for the summers but winters (November-January) will require a warm jacket or sweater.
| accomodation |
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Accommodation options abound in Mount Abu, with choices ranging from upmarket deluxe resorts to reasonably priced RTDC hotels and tourist bungalows. Reservations for the latter can be made through the many RTDC offices across India.Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation Ltd., Jaipur Phone : 91 (0141) 2202761, 2203531, 2202586
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