Mount Abu is one of the
popular jain pilgrimage sites. The road to paradise has never been
easy and this one is no exception. Bumping along an uneven road, hitting
your head against the smooth roof of a deluxe bus you need to close your
eyes and revive the temptations of your destination.
Conjure up the
lushness of Mount Abu, which all tourist guides announce is 'the paradise of
Rajasthan'. The little pamphlet gushes that Mount Abu, the only hill station
in Rajasthan, offers you the best of all possible worlds, with more
scenic beauty, more architecture and archaeology in the form of the famous
Dilwara caves, the chief center for the Brahmakumaris and a generous
peppering of temples which shows that the place is exceptionally favored by
the gods. Abu has been an important place of penance for the sages.
As
the anticipation of the approaching destination heightens one doesn't mind
the shaking bus quite that much and as you turn the final curve into the
city, greeted by large hoardings of different hotels, all promising better
deals than the other, Rajasthan's little jewel puts its best foot forward.
The shops on both sides of the road are glitteringly alive, as late as 10
p.m. on a winter night and the residents of Mount Abu mob you in welcome.
Well not exactly the residents it turns out, they are all touts for hotels
but they make you feel welcome. In case it is a winter trip that you are
planning, one can just arrive in Abu, at any time of the night or day,
employ a wheelbarrow, which will take your luggage all over Abu for few
rupees while you check out a place to stay.
This is, in fact the
best time to visit if the cold does not bother you too much (it is usually
warmer than a Delhi winter). All hotels are available at half rates and the
best of rooms can be yours for a rate that suits your budget.
Abu
in summer is definitely a retreat from the heat of the plains. A
summer visit requires careful planning, and rooms should be booked at least
two months in advance. Everything, from hotels to restaurants, to transport
is at double the rates, and beware of the new monster - the Marti's, in
every color which cover the landscape and race pugnaciously around the
hills. Yet, the little township is well prepared to handle tourists. Tourist
buses show you around the places of interest twice a day and the bus guide
provides a background, history and of course his own interpretations on
everything you visit. Information is also available from a tourist guide
office, but even without guidance there are certain places that simply
cannot be missed on a visit to Abu.
| » Major
Attractions of Mount Abu |
Dilwara
Jain Temples : The Dilwara Jain temples for instance, have been
compared to the Taj Mahal for their sheer elegance and beauty in marble.
Built between the 11th and 13th century, these temples are all the more
exceptional because the marble to build these was brought all the way from
Makrana and the best workmen and craftsmen employed to ensure the finest
quality of sculpture.
Intricate carvings decorate each portion of
these temples, which are dedicated to the Jain Tirthankaras. Millions of
rupees were spent on the carvings, architecture and décor of the
temples and the workmen were rewarded in silver and gold equivalent to the
amount of marble brought in.
Nakki Lake : In the
heart of the town, at one end of the Mall is Nakki Lake, which has an
interesting history. It is said that it was drawn by the finger nails (nakk)
of a sage, Balam Rasia, in response to the demands of the stepmother of the
girl he wished to marry. The girl, a princess, and a daughter of the then
King of Abu, was also in love with the sage, but because of the evil
stepmother the affair ended in tragedy, and has been immortalized in a
temple of the Kunwari Kanya, alongside which stands a statue of her lover.
The
lake too, has survived to tell the tale. Picturesquely set, with the hills
rising all around it, the lake has several islets to which you can hire
boats. An interesting facet is the many rock formations around the lake.
They have been named Toad Rock, Nun Rock, Nandi Rock and Camel Rock because
of their resemblance to these figures. The road appears to be looking
broodingly down towards the lake, as if contemplating jumping in. Nun Rock
is a large smooth rock, as it supposedly looks a woman with a veil. The
climb up to these rocks, through the wooded forests is a beautiful one, with
each of the rocks on the way making unique formations, fissures and shapes.
Gaumukh Temple : A natural spring flowing
through a sculpted cow’s head gives the shrine its name.The famous ‘yagna’
of sage Vashishtha was performed here. A beautifully sculpted hill temple of
Arbuada-the mighty serpent stands against the beautiful backdrop. Nearby is
the magnificent marble image of Nandi, the celestial bull rescued by
Arbuada.
Adhar Devi Temple : The temple of
Durga built in a natural cleft in the rocks having 365 steps is also
situated at a very panoramic view point in the hilly resort. The doors to
the entrance are very low and one has to stoop down to get through the
opening gates of the temple.
Brahmakumari Spiritual
University & Museum : The Spiritual University teaches that all
religions are equal and each and every form of respect to the god leads to
him only and not elsewhere. The University preaches peace through imparting
spiritual knowledge and yoga meditation. Having over 4500 branches, the
University is headquartered at Mt Abu and the white clad Brahma Kumaris can
be seen moving here and there.
| » Places to
Stay in Mount Abu |
A number of options, according to the budget allocation of the
tourists, are available in Abu. The accommodation level ranges from a highly
luxurious hotel to a dormitory. But rooms should be booked well in advance
if willing to visit this exotic hill station during summer.
Curios in marble, sandalwood and sandstone can be bought from the
shops around Nakki Lake. Kota saris, bangles and linen with Sanganeri prints
are also available. For Rajasthani Handicrafts there is Rajasthali,
Rajasthan Government Handicrafts Emporium and Khadi Bhandar.
Air : Nearest airports are Udaipur and
Ahmedabad.
Rail : The nearest railway station
is Abu Road (29-km) situated on Mumbai-Ahmedabad-Ajmer-Jaipur-Delhi route.
From Abu Road one can take a taxi, jeep or bus to Mount Abu.
Road : Mount Abu is linked with Udaipur and Ahmedabad by
road. We would provide you all India tourist permit vehicles for the local
transportations and also for the intercity drives too.
Mount
Abu Tours
