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A pleasant retreat set amidst the lush forested
hills, Mt. Abu is a green
oasis in the barren desertscape thats Rajasthan. Situated at the southern
tip of the Aravali range the hill retreat owes its cool climate to its
rich flora covering the entire hillside that includes coniferous trees and
flowering shrubs. The road leading to Mount Abu is a curved one
characterized by arid region dotted with huge rocks in weird shapes and
high velocity winds. The only hill station in Rajasthan, Mount Abu is more
than just a summer retreat. Its stunning array of exquisite Dilwara Jain
Temples, dating back 11th- 13th centuries, make it a
popular pilgrimage centre. ‘Abu’ according to a legend.stands for the son
of Himalayan, deriving its name from Arbuada,the powerful serpent who
rescued Nandi, the sacred bull of Lord Shiva, from a chasm.
Mount Abu has been home to many sages and
saints. Most famous of them was Sage Vashishtha who is believed to have
created four agnikula Rajput clans from a fire-pit by performing a ‘yagna’
or fire sacrifice, to protect the earth from the demons.
The Yagna was performed besides a natural
spring situated below Abu, emerging from a rock shaped like a cow’s head
and hence the site was called Gaumukh.
PRIME SITES
- 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.
- Delwara Jain Temple :
These
beautifully carved temples built between 11th and
13th century A.D. are sheer elegance in marble, dedicated to
the jain Tirthankaras. The Vimal Vasahi temple is the oldest of these
dedicated to the first Tirthankara. Built in 1031 A.D. (by Vimal Shah-a
merchant and representative of then Gujarat ruler), it is a superb example
of temple architecture.The central shrine has an image of Rishabhdev and
large courtyard with 52 small shrines,each housing a beautiful statue of
thirthankaras with 48 elegantly carved pillars form the entrance to the
courtyard.
The Lun Vasahi Temple, dedicated to the 22nd
Tirthankaras-Neminath, was built in 1231 A.D. by two brothers-Vastupal and
Tejpal,Ministers of Raja Vir Dhawal, a ruler of Gujarat-belonging to the
Porwal Jain community.With door casings, pillars,architraves,and
sculptures on porticos,the temple is a fine specimen of
craftsmanship
- Adhar Devi Temple :
The temple is chiselled out of
a huge rock reached by a flight of 360 stairs. A favourite tourist
spot.
- Sunset Point :
Spectacular
sight of the setting sun when the hills are covered in the golden glow can
be viewed from here.
- Honeymoon Point :
Also known as
Andra Point, it offers an enchanting view of the verdant plains and
valleys. The place looks most beautiful during the dusk hours.
- Shri Raghunathji Temple :
Situated near the ‘Nakki’ lake is the temple dedicated to Shri Raghunathji
with a beautiful image of the deity that was placed here in
14th century A.D. by Shri Ramanand the famous Hindu
preacher.
- Gardens and Parks :
Beautifully
laid parks and gardens are interspersed throughout the hilly paradise.
Ashok Vatika,Gandhi park, Municipal Park,Shaitan Singh Park and Terrace
Garden are some of the noteworthy gardens.
- Museum and Art Gallery :
Located at the Raj Bhawan, it was a collection of archaeological
excavations dating back to 8th-12th century A.D. It
also has Jain bronze carvings,brassworks etc. for viewing.
EXCURSIONS
- Trevor’s Tank (5 km) :
Named
after the British engineer who constructed it, Trevor’s Tank is a delight
for birdwatchers with densely wooded hills that are a haven to pigeons,
peacocks and partridges.
- Achalgarh (8 km) :
An
impressive fort with some beautiful jain temples enclosed within. Among
the noteworthy temples are Achaleswar Mahadev Temple (1412 A.D.) and
Kantinath Jain Temple (1513 A.D.) . The latter has gold plated image.
Mandakini Kund and a sculpture of Parmar Dharavarsh are situated close to
the Achaleswar Mahadev Temple. The Fort was built in the 14th
century A.D. by Rana Kumbha and is approachable by a motorable
road.
- Guru Shikhar (15 km) :
The
highest peak on the mount (1722 mts. Above the sea level) allows a bird’s
eye view of the sylvan surroundings of Mt. Abu.
A small Shaivite shrine and a temple of
Dattatreya standing on the shikhar are worth a visit.
GENERAL
INFORMATION
- Area : 25 sq. km.
- Altitude : 1219
mts.
- Climate : Mean Max. Mean Min.
- Summer : 33.8 degree C 23.3
degree C
- Winter : 28.3 degree C 11.6 degree C
- Rainfall : 65-177
cms.
- Best Season : Feb-June , Sept. Dec.
- Clothing : Summer light
tropical
- Winter light woollen
- Languages : English, Hindi,
Gujarati.
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