Mount
Abu at a height of 1,200 metres above sea level is Rajasthan's only hill
station. The 22 km long hill station has among its principal attractions
a cool climate, the famous Dilwara group of temples, some old palaces
like the Bikaner Palace and the Nakki Lake.
It is also one of
the major pilgrimage sites of India for both Hindu as well as Jain
religions. Besides the temples and sites of historical importance,
Mt.Abu is also rich in natural scenic beauties. Mount Abu was once a
part of the Chauhan kingdom. It was later leased to the British by the
then Maharaja of Sirohi for use as the headquarters of the resident to
Rajputana (another name for Rajasthan). During the British rule in
India, it was the favourite summer destination of the British who came
here to escape the dusty, dry heat of the plains. Mount Abu was also the
home of many saints and sages in ancient times. Legend has it that all
the three hundred and thirty million gods and goddesses of the Hindu
pantheon used to visit this holy mountain. This place is held in
reverence by Jains since Lord Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankara
(spiritual leader), visited Mt.Abu and blessed the city.
Today
Mount Abu is a relaxing town good enough to wander around the lake,
bazaars and nature trails. It also has the headquarters of the Prajapita
BrahmaKumari Spiritual University. There are several viewpoints to
appreciate the nature, the most important being the Sunset point. The
290 square kilometers Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary is nearby which has
bears and panthers as prominent animals. The Sanctuary also encompasses
Guru Shikhar, the highest peak of the Aravali ranges. The Achalgarh fort
and Adhar Devi temple are other attractions worth seeing.
Places
to see
- Dilwara Temples
At a very short distance of 5 km lie
these wonderfully carved Jain temples dating back to the 11th and
13th centuries A.D. Rated as among the finest of Indian temples,
it
is recommended that any visitor to Rajasthan include them on his
itinerary. The marble architecture here is comparable with the best.
- Nakki Lake
In the heart of the town, at one end of
the Mall, is the serene Nakki Lake, which has an interesting
history. It is believed that the gods formed the lakebed by digging
it with their fingernails (nakh); hence the name, Nakki Lake.
Picturesquely set, with the hills rising all around it, the lake has
several islets to which you can hire boats. An interesting facet of
the lake are the many rock formations around it. They have been
named Toad Rock, Nun Rock, Nandi Rock and Camel Rock because of
their resemblance to these figures. 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.
- Vimala - Vasahi Temple
This is the oldest temple in
the complex, built in 1030 A.D. by Vimala Shah, a minister in the
Government of Gujarat, to atone for his earthly sins. He dedicated
it to Adinath, the first of the Jain tirthankaras, and the central
shrine has an image of Adinath. The massive work involved in the
temple took fourteen years to complete. The temple has been designed
in an austere fashion on the outside but the ornateness strikes you
immediately as you enter through the gateway.
- Neminath Temple
This was built in 1230 A.D. by two
brothers, Vastupal and Tejpal, who dedicated it to Neminath, the
22nd tirthankara. It is told that gold and silver, equivalent in
weight to that of the marble was given to the workers who worked on
or sculpted the temple. Built in the Solanki style of architecture,
the temple has a wonderful lotus flower piece hanging from the
central dome in the porch. Shaped like a collection of half-open
lotuses it is so exquisitely carved it has a translucent quality.
- Gaumukh Temple
Located about 2 Kms from Mount Abu,
this is the site of the ancient agnikunda , where legend has it that
sage Vashistha performed the great fire sacrifice. The temple
contains an image of Vasistha along with images of Lord Rama and
Lord Krishna, both of whom are considered to be incarnations of
Vishnu, the Preserver of the Hindu trinity. The name Gomukh
literally means cow's mouth, referring to a spring here which flows
through the mouth of a marble cow. The spring water is believed to
have sacred, purifying properties.
How to ReachThe nearest railway station is
Abu Road, 27 km away, on the Delhi-Ahmedabad rail route
The
bus-stand is adjacent to it, and buses are available from here, as well
as from Mt Abu to all major towns in Rajasthan.
