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Location: Situated in the southwest end of Rajasthan, Mount Abu is located on a 1220 m-high plateau, bordering the states of Gujarat.
Nearest Airport / Railway Station:Udaipur Airport serves as the nearest airport to Mount Abu, while Abu Road is the nearest railway station to Mount Abu.
Highlights:Dilwara Temples, Nakki Lake, Gaumukh Temple, Museum & Art Gallery.
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| Mount Abu is a good place to wander around at leisure and savor the various tourist attractions of the place. Dilwara Jain Temples
A centre of Jain pilgrimage, The Dilwara Temples built during the period of the 11th - 13th century are an amazing fusion of simple elegance and architectural brilliance. These marble temples, comprising five in number, are surrounded by mango trees and wooded hills, which further lend a charming ambience to the temples. The five temples are Vimal Vasahi Temple, Luna Vasahi Temple, Pithalhar Temple, Khartat Vasahi Temple and Mahaveer Swami Temple. The amount of ornamental detail spread over these structures in the minutely carved decoration of ceilings, doorways, pillars, panels and niches is simply marvelous.
Gaumukh Temple
The Gaumukh Temple has a sculpted cow's head after which the temple has been named. From the mouth of the marble cow flows a gentle stream. The temple shrine also houses a marble figure of the bull Nandi. According to lore, the temple has been built on the site of the sacrificial fire made by sage Vashistha, from which four of the great Rajput clans of Rajasthan had emerged. The temple also has an image of the sage along with Lord Rama and Lord Krishna.
Nakki Lake
Nakki Lake derives its name from the legend that the gods formed the lakebed by digging it with their nails (nakh), hence the name. Situated in the center of the city, the lake is surrounded by a beautiful crop of hills and bizarre rock formations. Some of these rock formations have been given names such as the Toad Rock, Nun Rock, Nandi Rock because of their resemblance to these figures. In the past, several kings of Rajasthan used to build their summer palaces around Nakki Lake. Tourists can still see the former summer palace of Maharaja of Jaipur that is perched right above the hill and provides scenic views of the water.
Museum and Art Gallery
The museum houses a grand collection of archaeological excavations that belong to the period 8th-12th century A.D. The museum and the gallery showcase marble sculptures, Jain bronze carvings and other cultural displays. |
The history of Mount Abu is wrapped up in legends. According to one, Mount Abu derives its name from Mount Arbud when the youngest son of Himalaya, along with the assistance of a snake called Arbud flooded the gorge in the area with water to save Shiva's revered bull. Closer to history, it can be safely said that the region of Mount Abu was once under the control of Chauhans and served as the summer retreat for the Rajput Kings. The British too favored this region and made it their impromptu getaway from the heat and dust of Rajasthan.
