Mount Abu

If you perceive Rajasthan to be all about arid lands, high velocity winds and dry weather, then coming to Mount Abu will definitely surprise you. A hill station in the golden deserts is a rare combination to see. Its pleasant climate, winding roads of the Aravallis beautifully laid out with pine trees, sparkling lakes and waterfalls has been attracting visitors since the time of the Rajputs and the Britishers and is still continuing as a favorite summer retreat for the locals as well as the tourists.

Mt Abu is considered to have mythological relevance too as the name of the place is believed to be derived from a serpent named Arbuda, who once saved Nandi, Lord Shiva's bull, from falling into a crevice. Its historical link is derived from the fact that the Rajput fire clans namely the Chauhans, Solankis, Pramaras and Pratiharas were said to be created here, from a fire pit of the priests.

Orientation:
As the highest range of Aravallis, Mt Abu crowns the deserts of Rajasthan on its south. It is located in the Sirohi district, along a 1220 m high plateau, 27 km from the train station on Abu Road. The nearest city to Mt Abu is Udaipur and the best attraction of the place is the mesmerizing Nakki Lake.

Information:
You can get your traveler cheques and currency exchanged at Bank of Baroda, located here. State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur has its ATM near Hotel Samrat International. Opposite the main bus stand and below the ticket reservation office, you will find the Tourist Reception Centre. It is closed on Sundays and on 2nd Saturdays of the month.

Sights:
Nakki Lake:
Famous for leisurely strolls, picnics, short treks and boating, the picturesque Nakki Lake is a star attraction of Mt Abu. The lake is believed to be created by a God using his nails (nakh). The lake is considered to be holy and so you will find many people taking a dip here. The site has brilliant views of surrounding hills, gardens and weird rock formations like the toad rock, that seems to be a toad ready to take a jump into the lake.

Tourists who come here also offer their prayers in the Raghunath Temple situated here. Besides the temple, there are also exquisite mansions and palaces built around the lake by the royal families. At the corners of the lake, you will find scores of shops, cafes, vendors and ice cream parlors that will add more fun to your picnics.

Viewpoints:
Mt. Abu is gifted with many brilliant views and these can be best witnessed from the Guru Shikhar, which is one of the topmost points of the Sirohi district, at an altitude of 1722 m. Atri Rishi Temple is situated here, which offers amazing views of the whole valley. Another famous tourist attraction of Mt Abu is the sunset point, which is thronged with curious people in the evenings who come to witness the crimson sundown. Other good viewpoints of Mt Abu are Honeymoon Point, The Crags, Shanti Shikhar and The Summer Palace.

Dilwara Temples:
A famous Jain pilgrimage site and a prime tourist attraction of Mt Abu, Dilwara Temples are a collection of marble temples built between 11th and 13th century AD. The most prominent of these is the 11th century Vimal Vasahi, devoted to first Jain Tirthankar, Shri Adinathji. These temples feature intricately carved pillars and entrance courtyards. Other famous temples of Dilwara include Luna Vasahi, Bhimashah Pittalhar, Mahaveerswami and Khartar Vasahi.

Brahma Kumaris Spiritual University & Museum:
The University has 4500 branches in 70 countries and is headquartered in Mt. Abu. Its main teachings are based upon the belief that all religions lead to God and thus the principles of every religion should be studied. The main aim of the University is to establish universal peace through spiritual knowledge, yoga and meditation. There are free tours to the university and free courses available here.

Activities:
The best options available in Mount Abu are roller skating, horse riding and trekking. There are several hotels, including Shri Ganesh Hotel, that arrange short treks to the hills. You can hire a pony to ride around the town, for as little as Rs 50 per hour.

Sleeping:
There are many hotels and guest houses available in and around Mt Abu. If you are coming during Diwali or New Year, you need to reserve your room in advance. Most of these hotels are lined up along the main road to Nakki Lake. Shri Ganeh Hotel, Hotel Lake View and Hotel Vrindawan are some of the good budget hotels here. The Mid-range and to-end hotels include Hotel Sunset Inn, Hotel Sheraton, Palace Hotel and Cama Rajputana Club Resort.

Shopping:
For some shopping expedition in Mt Abu you can land up at Rajasthali Bhavan Road, where you will find Rajasthali emporium offering crafts of Rajasthan. You can also try out the Khadi Shop located here to buy some woven stuff. For colorful stalls and vibrant shops, you can move to the Nakki Lake area.

Getting There & Away:
Road: Buses are available from the main bus stand to Abu Road and to Mt Abu from 9 am to 6 pm. Deluxe buses from RSTC are also available that will take you from Mt Abu to Jaipur, Ajmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Ahmadabad. Many hotels in the town also provide services to hire a jeep or a taxi for you, to travel around the town.

Rail: You can also catch a train to Mumbai or Delhi from Abu Road, the rail head of Mt Abu. Delhi Mail to Jaipur and Delhi, Tawi Express to Jodhpur and Ahmadabad Mail leave from Abu Road Station.

Getting Around:
There are buses available from the main bus stand that will take you to the various sites of Mt Abu. You can also take shared taxis or jeeps. Baba Garis or porter-pulled carriages are also available.