Mount Abu

Mount Abu

Mount Abu, known in the Jain tradition as Arbudagiri, is a hill station located in the Aravalli range in the Sirohi district of the Rajasthan state of western India. Here, the mountain forms a rocky plateau 22 km long and 9 km wide. It is called an 'oasis in the desert' because it has rivers, lakes, waterfalls and evergreen forests at high altitudes. There are also many Jain and Hindu temples here.

History

The ancient name of Mount Abu is Arbuda. In the Puranas, this area is called Arbudaaranya ("Forest of Arbuda") and 'Abu' is a short form of this ancient name. It is believed that Sage Vasishtha moved to the southern part of Mount Abu after a disagreement with Sage Vishwamitra. There is another historical legend according to which a serpent named "Arbuda" saved the life of Nandi (Bull of Lord Shiva). This incident took place on the mountain which is currently known as Mount Abu and hence after that incident the mountain was named "Arbudaaranya", which gradually became Abu.

Tourism

Rajasthan's only hill station, Mount Abu, is located at an altitude of 1,220 metres (4,003 ft). It has been a popular refuge from the heat of Rajasthan and neighbouring Gujarat for centuries. 

Adhar Devi Temple, Situated in a cave, The Adhar Devi Temple is one of the popular religious themed tourist destinations in the Mount Abu region. It is situated three kilometers north of the main town of Mount Abu. The Adhar Devi Temple is reached by climbing up 365 stairs carved into the mountain. The temple itself is located inside a rocky cleave and is reached by crawling through a small opening into the cave. The Adhar Devi Temple is dedicated to the Goddess Durga. It got its name because the legend has it that "Adhar" of the Mataji (Goddess deity) fell here also it was believed that the image of the goddess could be found there hanging in mid air. As well as being a popular tourist destination, the Adhar Devi Temple is also a common destination for many religion pilgrimages The Adhar Devi temple receives most pilgrims during the 9 days of the holy Navratri season. The Adhar Devi temple contains many beautiful statues, and those that make the effort to climb the stairs are rewarded with many picturesque views of the surrounding mountains and forests. The climb up to the Adhar Devi temple can be a difficult one so it is recommended that you wear appropriate clothing and footwear. You should not be turned off by this walk as the scenic views surrounding the temple and the wondrous beauty inside make this climb worth the effort.

Guru Shikhar, a peak of the Arbuda Mountains in Sirohi district of Rajasthan, is the highest point in the Aravalli range, Rajasthan and western India. It stands at an elevation of 1,722 m (5,650 ft). It is 75 km from the district headquarters Sirohi town and 15 km from Mount Abu and from there a road leads almost to the top of the mountain. It is named Guru-Shikhar or 'Peak of the Guru' after Dattatreya, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and has a cave on the summit containing a temple dedicated to him, as well as a temple dedicated to his mother, Anasuya, wife of sage Atri, nearby. Near the temple is the Mount Abu Observatory operated by the Physical Research Laboratory. The observatory also houses a 1.2 m infrared telescope and several astronomy experiments.

Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple, is a Shiva temple located just outside the Achalgarh Fort in Abu Road tehsil of Sirohi district in the western Indian state of Rajasthan. The temple is believed to have been built in the 9th century CE by the Parmar dynasty, who are also credited with building the original structure of the Achalgarh Fort. It was later rebuilt and renovated by Maharana Kumbha in 1452 CE and named as Achalgarh.

Achalgarh Fort,  is a fort located about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) north of Mount Abu, a hill station in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The fort was originally built by the rulers of the Parmar dynasty and was later rebuilt, renovated and renamed Achalgarh by Maharana Kumbha in 1452 AD. The fort was one of the 32 forts built during his reign. The fort is now in a dilapidated state. The first gate of the fort is known as Hanumanpol, which was the entrance to the lower fort. It has two towers made of large blocks of brown granite. The second gate of the fort after some climbing is Champapol, which was the entrance to the inner fort. There are some features of historical and religious importance in and around the fort. Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple is just outside the fort The fort has Jain temples, which were built in 1513.

Nakki Lake, according to Hindu mythology, is considered to be an extremely ancient sacred lake. It is called Nakh Lake because it is believed to have been dug with nails (Nakh). One story is that the gods dug it for protection from the demon Bashkali. Another story is about Rasiya Balam, a craftsman of the Dilwara Jain Temple, who dug this lake. The king had announced that whoever would dig the lake in one night would have the right to marry his daughter. But later, his queen refused and Rasiya Balam could not marry the princess. The temple of Rasiya Balam and Kunwari Kanya (princess) is located behind the Dilwara Jain Temple.

Delwada Jain Temple are a group of ?v?t?mbara Jain temples located about 2+1?2 kilometres from the Mount Abu settlement in Sirohi District, Rajasthan's only hill station. The earliest were built by Vimal Shah , a Jain minister of Solanki king of Gurjaratra , Bhima I and additions to the temples were made by Vastupala, Jain minister of Vaghelas of Gurjaratra. they date between the 11th and 16th centuries, forming some of the most famous monuments in the style of Solanki architecture, famous for their use of a very pure white marble and intricate marble carvings. They are managed by Seth Shri Kalyanji Anandji Pedhi, Sirohi and are a pilgrimage place for Jains, and a significant general tourist attraction. The Dilwara temples are regarded as the most impressive among Jain temples in Rajasthan.

Toad rock, A toadlike rock formation distinguishes this rocky lookout point with Nakki Lake views.

Sunset Point (Mount Abu), Picturesque observation spot popular for sunset views, mountaintop scenery & hikes.

 Map ( Click on the photo, the map will open )