Mount Abu is generally referred to as “An oasis in the desert”.Because whenever we think of Rajasthan, sand or forts strike us. But trust me, Rajasthan is beyond this-the desert has many lakes, rivers, mountains, flora, and fauna. And Mount Abu is one such beauty with delicately styled temples and incarnation of nature. The drive from Chittorgargh fort to Mount Abu is approx 5hrs (267Km). Hence we started early, around 9 am. The weather was hot even in March. The roads were smooth, with a clear blue sky & scorching sun. We did not take many halts; only one break was taken for tea & restroom.
By the time we reached Mount Abu, it was 2 pm, & it was super crowded because of the Holi long weekend. Significant tourists were from Gujarat since it’s in the closest proximity. Mount Abu is 1220 meters from sea level and encloses a serene and beautiful lake. Mount Abu is placed at the pinnacle of a granite table peak on the Aravalli ranges. Hence thick populated green forests surround it with a relaxed and fragrant ambience with rich flora.
We visited Delwara Temples and a few more points upon reaching Mount Abu before checking in. The afternoon was hot, & I did not get any vibe of a hill station. Known for its marvellous marble stone carvings and extraordinary architecture, Dilwara is one of the finest Jain temples. We parked the car & walked up to the temple. Majorly these temples have an opulent entranceway. The simplicity in architecture reflects Jain values like honesty and frugality. The decorative detail spreading over the minutely carved ceilings, doorways, pillars, and panels is remarkable.
They were built between the 11th to 13th century AD and according to the construction style of Māru-Gurjara architecture. The earliest temples were built by Bhima Shah and supposedly designed or financed by Vastupala, the Jain minister of Dholka. As I walked around the temple, I was astonished by the ornamental details of marble stone carvings which were phenomenal and unmatched.
There are five famous Dilwara Temples, among other Jain temples. The Vimal Vasahi was first constructed by 1031, followed by the Luna Vasahi temple by 1230. And the others temples were built at intervals between 1459 and 1582. The two oldest and largest temples have large amounts of intricate carving. Even by the style standards, they were reaching a peak in the Lureachedple. Also, the minutely carved ceilings and the pillars are just impressive.
Amazingly these temples were constructed when no transport or roads were available. At 1200+ Mtrs in Mount Abu, vast blocks of marble stones were transported on elephant backs. It was transported from Arasoori Hills at Ambaji to this remote hilly region of Mount Abu. The interior of Dilwara temple is extraordinary work of human craftsmanship.
It took around 1.5hrs to complete the tour of the temple. After our Dilwara Temple visit, we checked in to our hotel- Lake Inn. A beautiful British Colonial-style villa along the shores of Nakki Lake. I just loved the ambience & peaceful surroundings of our hotel. I sat on the balcony overlooking the Nakki lake and toad rock. Mom ordered coffee & snacks so that we could relax for a while.
Later we walked up to Toad rock which was 1km away from our hotel. It is a mammoth rock structure in Mount Abu hanging over the calm and relaxed Nakki Lake. One of the best beautiful rock formations could be reached by climbing about 100-125 steps to get to the top. It is worthwhile as Nakki lake’s view and surfing area are breathtaking. I spent some time sitting there & clicked a few photographs before heading toward the Sunset point.
Boy, it was super crowded, and the ticket counter was overflowing with people standing over each other.I succeeded in getting two tickets after yelling multiple times & pushing everyone around me. I had to walk 1.5Km to reach the actual point, which was overcrowded already. Somehow I managed a place to stand so I could visualize the sunset & capturevisualisemy camera. The sky turned orange as the sun started behind the Aravalli Hill Ranges.
Its eye-catching view of the sunset is set behind Mount Abu’s forest ranges. One of the spectacular panoramic views of the mountain ranges with colourful sky and the sun on the horizon. The climate started to change as the cool breeze began to flow; I sat there enjoying the breeze & sky changing its colours.
We returned to our hotel and ordered our dinner. The food was delicious; we ate at the rooftop restaurant. Post our feed, and we took a walk around Nakki lake. Well, there is a bit of history behind the lake. It is believed that Rasia Balam dug out Nakki lake overnight with his Nails (Nakh). He did this to complete King’s challenge to marry King’s daughter. The twinkling lights around the lake were mesmerizing as we walked along mesmerising
As the cloThe crowded to tick midnight, the crowd began to disperse, but still, there were people like me sitting by the lake and enjoying a cone of ice and the cool climate.Later, we returned to our hotel & hit our bed for a peaceful sleep.
The next day was an early rise, and we requested our hotel to pack our breakfast since we would check out by 8 am. They obliged us, which was an excellent service. Post our check out; directly after our appraisal; we drove straight is one of the Shaktipeth where Goddess Sati’s lower body parts fell- hence known as Adhar/ Abuda Devi. A myth states that Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshan Chakra to separate Sati’s corpse body from Lord Shiva. The chakra chopped off the parts of Sati’s dead body and freed Shiva from his deep mourning. When Lord Shiva wandered across the universe, carrying the dead body of his consort. Later the places where the severed parts of the body of Sati fell became Shakti Peeths.
It is believed that Arbuda Devi is the incarnation of Katyayani Devi and is dedicated to the Goddess Durga.I climbed approx 370 or 380 stairs to reach the temple as the cave temple is located inside a rocky cleave. The climb to the temple was around 45 min, where first I offered my prayers to Bhairav dev. Then moved further to the inner; she also had to crawl into a narrow cave. I submitted my prayers & offering to Goddess and sought her blessing before crawling out of the cave.
A beautiful rock-cut teTempleonstructed out of one giant solid piece of rock.Many legends are associated with the temple; like Arbuda Mountains is a mountain range described in the epic Mahabharata. The mountain is associated with the travels of Arjuna during his twelve-year pilgrimage. On the other hand, few historians believe that Parmar rulers originated at Mount Abu from ‘Agnikund’, why Arbuda Devi is still the Ancestral Goddess of Parmar Kshatriyas.
Whatever the legends, the scenic beauty that matches the temple stands is pretty breathtaking. The entire Mount Abu town is visible from the top. At the Adhar Devi temple’s footstep, which is considered a sacred well- Doodh Baori with milk coloured water. The local milk-coloured well is a form of Kamadhenu (Holy Cow)and thinks the water in the well has many miraculous powers well is also the primary source of water for the temple water sourcing!
Our next destination was Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple and Achalgarh fort. We were earlier known as Akalgarh fort, which is among the 32 forts bug the period of rule of the Paramara dynasty rulers. However, it was renovated by Maharana Kumbha in 1452 and named Achalgarh.
We reached the spot and hired a jeep to get to the top of the hill. We had to walk to explore the ruins of the fort. Well, I started to climb the stairs again, and climbing the stairs again, and we first came across the Jain mandir, r towards the top for 30min more to see the ruins of the fort with a semicircular arch.
The fort was renovated to watch the movements of enemies and have a watch over the surrounding places by Maharana Kumbha. There is a Chandi Devi temple, the ancestral Goddess of Sisodia Rajput.
After the exciting adventure that lasted for an hour, we drove down. It was time to visit Lord Shiva, famously known as Achaleswar Mahadev. Achal is a Sanskrit word meaning immovable, as Lord Shiva’s feet’ thumb is worshipped in this temple. I offered my prayer and took a round of the temple. It’s in the renovation process, as most temples are dilapidated.
The temple has a massive statue of Nandi at the entrance made of Panch Dhatu. According to popular local legend, the figure of Nandi protects the temple from the invasion of Muslim invaders. Many stories are associated with the temple, like Mount Abu is, also known as Ardhakashi,d it is hinged on the thumb of Lord Shiva. That was something fascinating folklore to know.
After our visit to have our brunch, & we drove towards Guru Shikhar. On the way, we stopped at Trevor’s Tank- the last stretch of the road which leads to the tank is unpaved. Lush green mountains surround the place, and the entry fee is Rs 30 only. I stopped to click only Rs 30tures as we ran out of time and hranGuru Shikhar before leaving for Gurgaon.
At last, we reached the highest point of the Aravalli range (5650 feet). However, I had to climb 200 steps again to reach the peak, another 40-45min climb. But the upgrade was worth it as I got an eye-catching panoramic view of the surrounding sylvan region.
The cool climate and serene environments make the peak more alluring. I visited a small temple dedicated to Guru Dattatreya, the incarnation of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Since I did not have much time, I clicked a few pictures before bidding goodbye to Mount Abu.
How to Reach
By Air:
The nearest airport is Udaipur, approximately 210 km away from the city. At the airport, hire taxis or Hire taxis or opt for bus services from Udaipur to reach Mount Abu at the airport.
By Rail:
Abu Road railway station is a well-connected railway station with Delhi, Mumbai & other railheads. You need to hire private cabs or take a shared taxi from the station to reach the city.
By Road:
Mount Abu is well-connected via road Jaipur, Udaipur, Delhi and Jaisalmer. Buses, private cabs, and shared taxis ply from these places. However, you can either book a private cab or a shared taxi. One can drive to Mount Abu too.
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