Mount Abu
Mount Abu
Mount Abu
India
o Andhra Pradesh
o Arunachal Pradesh
o Assam
o Bihar
o Chhattisgarh
o Delhi
o Goa
o Gujarat
o Haryana
o Himachal Pradesh
o Jharkhand
o Karnataka
o Kerala
o Madhya Pradesh
o Maharashtra
o Manipur
o Meghalaya
o Mizoram
o Nagaland
o Orissa
o Punjab
o Rajasthan
o Sikkim
o Tamil Nadu
o Telangana
o Uttarakhand
o Uttar Pradesh
o West Bengal
o Andaman And Nicobar Islands
o Lakshadweep Islands
o Dadra & Nagar Haveli
o Daman and Diu
o Pondicherry
Wildlife Sanctuaries
o Dachigam National Park
o Jim Corbett National Park
o Sundarbans National Park
Hill Stations
Abroad
Travel Modes
Contact
Located near the Sirohi District, Mount Abu is the only hill station in the desert state of
Rajasthan. It lies in the Aravalli mountain range at an approximate elevation of around
1,220 meters above sea level, with its highest point being Guru Shikhar which is at a
height of 1,722 meters above sea level. Being the only hill station in Rajasthan, it has been
a popular retreat for the residents as a place away from the scorching desert heat. The
place also has a significant place in the Hindu mythology as it is mentioned as the place
where the Sage Vashistha retired. Today, the place is a great tourist destination, a hill
station with the distinctive blend of the flavors of Rajasthan. It totally deserves a visit. Here
is a list of 8 interesting places to visit in Mount Abu:
Located at a distance of just 2.5 kilometers from mount Abu, the Dilwara Jain temples
were built between the 11th and the 13th century. The feature that makes it a must visit is
the amazing and brilliant use of marble in the architecture. The ornamental carvings and the
flawless stone laying technique make it one among the most beautiful pilgrimage spots in
the world. The temple complex consists of 5 temples which are unique to the Jain culture in
India namely Vimal Vasahi, dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankara, Adinath; Luna Vasahi,
dedicated to the 22nd Jain Tirthankara, Neminatha; Pithalhar, dedicated to the first Jain
Tirthankar, Rishabha; Parshvanath, dedicated to the 23rd Jain Tirthankara, Parshva and
Mahavir Swami, dedicated to the last Jain Tirthankara, Mahavira. The lotus like engravings
on the ceilings and the different scenes from the Jain and Hindu mythology represented
through carved marble sculptures are sure to leave you awestruck. Image Credits Dreamz
2. Wildlife Sanctuary
The Forest located between the Aravalli mountain range was declared as a wildlife
sanctuary in 1980 and covers an area of approximately 288 sq kilometers. It is a sub
tropical forest which has an abundance of various species of flora and fauna. While there are
traces of past dwellings of the lion and the tiger, but as of now the prime feline predator
found here is the Leopard. As Im more of a nature hound and I like to explore the natural
beauty of every place that I travel, this was just the kinda place I was looking for in the
otherwise desert state of Rajasthan. The rare species found here are sambhar, common
langur, wild boar, bear, pangolin, common mongoose, jungle cat, wolf, hyena, jackal, Indian
fox, Indian hare, porcupine and hedgehog. These forests are also said to be the home to
around 250 species of birds but the most special one is the grey jungle fowl which is unique
to this area. Image Credits safari-partners
3. Nakki Lake
One of the most popular attractions in mount Abu, Nakki Lake is an ancient and sacred
lake. According to Hindu mythology the lake was dug out by the Gods by simply using their
nails to gain shelter from the Demon Bashkali, however many such mythological stories
exist leading to the creation of this lake. Nevertheless, the place is a great spot for picnic
with friends and family alike. The various trek spots near the lake sated my hunger for
some adventure and the boating trips were relaxing under the amazing weather I
experienced here. The lake is also famous as mahatma Gandhis ashes were immersed here
leading to the construction of Gandhi Ghat, which is also a popular monument located here.
There are plenty of hotels, restaurants and eateries located near the lake which offer some
great local food at really cheap prices. The fountains in the lake add to its natural beauty.
Image Credits Bee Dreams
4. Abu Road
Although this is a totally different town, situated near the Banas River, Abu road is a must
visit. It normally refers to a railway station which is located in a picturesque surrounding.
The weather is generally pleasant; however, to enjoy this place to its fullest, one must visit
it between November and December. The place is a home to several different temples which
are significant in the Hindu mythology and display an amazing work of Indian architecture.
The market places are great and being an Indian I felt relieved that it was sans the malls
and how they preserved the aesthetics of the Indian bazaars. The Banas River is also a
great picnic spot and can be enjoyed during mild rainfall. Many Indian tourists can find this
place as dull and boring, with not many things to offer, but for a lone traveler this place can
unleash a variety of surprises. Do not forget to taste the amazing and silky Rabri which is a
famous local sweet dish. Image Credits Utsav V
5. Achalgarh
The name refers to a fort and an ancient kingdom, which was originally built by the
Paramara Dynasty rulers. The fort was reconstructed in 1452 by Maharana Kumbha the
ruler of the Mewar kingdom and was renamed as Achalgarh or the immovable. The fort
however stands in ruins to this day, leaving behind many remnants which make this place a
tourist attraction. The main entrances are characterized by two towers carved out of grey
granite, which still stand as a memorial of this once pompous and majestic fort. The place is
located at an amazing location and is famous for its ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva
known as the Achaleshwar Mahadeva Temple. The temple is said to have a foot impression
of Lord Shiva himself and also has a brass Nandi and 3 sculptures of buffalos near the pond.
The fort walls and the amazing location give an amazing panoramic view of the
surroundings. Image Credits namitkul
6. Guru Shikar
As mentioned in the prologue, Guru Shikar is the highest point in mount Abu and forms
the highest point in the Aravalli mountain range. The place is perfect to get a panoramic
view of the whole region and is famous for its temple of Guru Dattatreya an incarnation of
the Hindu Deities Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva in one. While many wouldnt find much in this
place apart from the various temples and the amazing views, it was quiet natural to me to
take out my trusty paperback and get lost in the enticing plot amidst the enchanting
surroundings. Do not forget to pack food and beverages but preferably not any alcohol as
the place is considered as sacred. Image Credits mdrnprometheus
7. Trevors Tank
Trevors tank or Trevors crocodile park is a man made crocodile breeding spot located 5
kilometers away from mount Abu. While it was the last place I visited there, I found it to be
the most serene and relaxing. Though I still dont get the purpose of breeding crocodiles
here but the location and the lush green surroundings can almost make you forget the
purpose of its creation. The entrance to this place was amazing and gave me a fresh and
relaxing feel. Make sure you visit this place during mild winter months of November and
December. It is a great picnic spot which will only be enhanced by the good company of
your family or friends. The place also house various fauna like the black bear and obviously
the various crocodiles resting on the rocky shores. The birdwatchers and the shutterbugs
can get plenty of amazing shots. Interestingly, this place is like an Indian-ized version of
Rivendell. If theres one place you must experience in mount Abu, its got to be Trevors
tank. Image Credits priesty1969
8. Sher E Punjab
It is quiet rare that I dont mention a local eatery whenever I visit a place, and yes the place
you must visit for a pocket friendly but amazing dining experience is Sher E Punjab. The
restaurant/Dhaba is located in the main market, near the Sabzi mandi and it offers some
great recipes that cater to both vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. You can place
yourself outside or in the cleaner and more comfy room inside. The food is amazing with
non vegetarian recipes like Dhaba Gosht, Kadai Chicken, Chicken 65, butter chicken etc.
while Im not a big fan of the Punjabi recipes found in Rajasthan due to its perversion at the
hands of the locals. But this place was luckily unaffected by the local perversion and offered
some really great tasting recipes that were essentially, dirt cheap. I would totally
recommend a visit to this eatery for all the food enthusiasts. Image Credits ramk10
Mount Abu, being the only hill station in Rajasthan is frequented by tourists all year round.
It is a wonderful retreat for the sun scorched inhabitants and tourists from other states. The
lush green surroundings, the Rajasthani flavors and the immense amount of natural beauty
will
definitely
leave
a
mark.
Also
visit: http://www.transindiatravels.com/rajasthan/tourist-places-to-visit-inrajasthan to find out more about the heavenly land of Rajasthan.
Checkout other popular tourist destinations in Rajasthan:
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About Rohit
An architect by profession, Rohit Agarwal is a curious traveller, seeking out the minutest detail about the places
he travels to, and thats what one will find in his writings. His writings have appeared in various blogs, hes
currently trying to bring forth as many different places a traveller who shares the same level of curiosity like him
would like to visit through his writings.
Rohini Oberoi
Great blog!!Impressed by the detailing about each tourist destination.