Introduction
of Mount Abu
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Mount
Abu is the only hill retreat in Rajasthan which nestles at the
height of 3500 feet on the highest peak of the Aravalis. It is the
Rajasthan's most popular summer resort. At the heart of the town is
Nakki Lake that according to legend, was gouged out by a divine
finger nail. Around it's still expense are the hills, somewhat
dry in summer and lush green in the rains. In summers the
maximum temperature is about 33.8 degree Celsius and in winters
it remains at zero degree Celsius. Sometimes it even drops below
freezing point. |
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The
history of Mount Abu is as diverse as the city itself. Earlier
Mount Abu was part of the Chauhan kingdom of Rajasthan and
served as a summer resort for the Rajput kings of the region.
After that, it was leased by the British government from the
Maharaja of Sirohi to use it as the headquarters. During the
British rule in India, it was the favorite summer destination of
the British, who came here to escape the dusty, dry heat of the
plains. It also served as a sanatorium for the troops.
In
the olden days Mount Abu was the home of various saints and
sages. According to legends, all the gods and goddesses of the
Hindu Mythology used to visit this holy mountain. It is also the |
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where the great saint Vashishth lived and performed a
yagna for the purification of the ancient fighting caste, the
Kshatriyas. From this mystical fire rose the mighty Rajputs who
later dominated the history of Rajasthan. |
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origin of Mount Abu goes back several centuries. Once Nandini,
the cow belonging to the venerable sage Vashishtha, was trapped
in a deep gorge and could not get herself free. When all efforts
failed, the sage appealed to Lord Shiva for assistance. The
Lord Shiva sent Saraswati, the divine stream, to help flood the
gorge so that the cow could float up. Once
his cow was free, Vashishtha approached the great Himalaya and
asked him to fill the gorge permanently to avoid further
mishaps. The youngest son of Himalaya, with the assistance of
Arbud, the mighty snake filled the gorge. The place came to be
called Mount Arbud and was later reduced to its present name -
Mount Abu. |
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Tourist
Attraction in Mount Abu
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Mount
Abu is a hill station with various delightful spots. The Nakki
lake is picturesquely lake set amidst hills and is believed to
have been carved out by the gods with their nails. It is a
popular spot for boating and the only artificial lake in India
which is about 1200 meters above sea level. The surrounding
hills have several areas of interest like the spectacular Sunset
Point, Toad’s Rock, and the beautifully sculpted hill temple
of Gaumukh and famous Dilwara Jain Temples. The Dilwara temples
are a unique and outstanding example of Jain temple
architecture. These temples were built between 11th and 13th
century AD and are famous for their exquisite carvings in the
marble.
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How
to get here |
By
Air:
Udaipur
is the nearest airport.
By
Rail:
A
good network of trains connect Mount Abu with various
cities of Rajasthan and India.
By
Road:
Mount
Abu is connected by road to various cities in
Rajasthan and as well as to various other cities of
India.
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Map
of Mount
Abu |
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Mount
Abu Tour
3
Days / 2 Nights
Udaipur
- Ranakpur - Mount Abu - Udaipur
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Day 1: Udaipur - Ranakpur - Mount Abu (about 225 km)
In the morning arrive at Udaipur airport or railway station. Upon arrival in Udaipur you will be met by our representative and drive to Mount Abu. Enroute we will visit Ranakpur. Ranakpur is known for its superbly carved marble Jain Temples. An enormous basement of this temple covers 48,000 square feet. There are four subsidiary shrines, twenty four pillared halls. The Ranakpur Jain Temples were built during the 15th century. We have a break in Ranakpur and later proceed further to Mount Abu. Mount Abu is the only hill station in Rajasthan nestling in the bosom of the picturesque Aravali mountains. Arrive in Mount Abu by the evening. Rest of the day at leisure.
Day 2: Mount Abu
Mount Abu is a famous hill station and pilgrimage place in Rajasthan. Today we have sightseeing in Mount Abu. In our sightseeing we visit the Dilwara Jain temples. Dilwara Jain Temples were constructed between 11th and 13th centuries. After visiting the Jain Temples we will visit Vimal Vasahi, the oldest temple, built in 1031 AD. Vimal Vasahi is an outstanding example of Jain temple architecture and famous for its superb carvings in marble. In the afternoon we will have a walk to the focal point of the town, Nakki Lake. This artificial lake is ringed by hills and overhung by the enormous Toad Rock. We will walk through the Bazaar up to Sunset Point from where the best mountain view can be
savored and we enjoy the sunset as the sun gradually drowns itself in the azure sky between two mountain peaks.
Day 3: Mount Abu -
Udaipur (about 185 km)
After having breakfast drive
to Udaipur. Transfer to the airport or railway station for your onwards
journey.
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Inclusions:
Standard
Rooms on twin sharing basis.
Breakfast in the Hotel.
One
Dinner will be with a presentation of Indian music and
dance in Jaipur.
Elephant ride in Amber (Jaipur).
Driver allowances.
Toll Tax and Parking.
Hotel Transfer at all places.
Vehicle Insurance included.
Petrol/Gas cost included.
All Transfers and departures by Indo Vacations
representative.
All
Transfers and Sightseeing throughout the tour by an individual
air-conditioned
vehicle
(car/Jeep etc.) with driver (reliable, experienced and
English speaking - have
a look at the references on our website from all over the world).
Exclusions:
Any
Kind
of Personal Expenses such as Tips, Laundry, Telephone
Bills and Alcoholic
beverages.
Entrance/administrative
fees.
Camera
fees (still or movie).
Unspecified
meal etc.
International
or Domestic Flights.
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always look forward for any changes in the
itinerary as wished by you for your individual
trip |
Major
Tourist Attractions in
Mount Abu |
Nakki
Lake
The
picturesque landscape with the steep rock surfaces,
tranquil lake and pleasant climate make Mount Abu an ideal
tourist destination. The Nakki Lake is a major attraction
of Mount Abu. It is a pretty lake which is surrounded by
the wooded hills. Nakki Lake is the focal point of the
town of Mount Abu. Nakki means Fingernails. According to
legend, this lake was clawed out of the earth by the
fingernails of the Gods. Boating is a popular pastime
here, and a walk along the bank is quite pleasant.
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Dilwara
Jain Temples
The famous Dilwara Jain temples are located about 2.5
km away from Mount Abu. The Dilwara Jain temples were
dedicated to the Jain tirthankars and also served as
storehouses of illustrated manuscripts and treatises. The
temples at Mount Abu were constructed between 800 AD and
1200 AD. Vimala Shah, Vastu Pala and Teja Pala contributed
a lot towards the development of Jain art and
architecture. The Jain temples at Mount Abu are built in
the Nagara style of temple architecture. The first temple
of this group can be dated back to 1032 CE, the period in
which Brihadeshwar temple at Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu was
built.
The Dilwara temples have been described as a dream in
marble. According to the inscription, Mount Abu was
basically a seat of Saivism and Jainism made its
appearance only in 11th century. The first Jain temple of
Dilwara, the Vimala Vasahi was built in 1032 A D by Vimala
Shah. |
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Vimala Vashi
temple
The Vimal Vashi temple is the earliest and most important
temple among various temples situated here. The Vimal Vashi temple
was built in 1032 AD and is dedicated to the first Jain
Tirthankara, Adinath. The temple was constructed by Vimal Shah,
minister of a local Rajput ruler, Raja Bim Deo. It stands in an
open courtyard surrounded by 58 cells or kulikas, which contain
small icons of the image in the main shrine. In the main shrine is
the gold-brass caste image of Adinath placed in the Gudh Mandap.
The length of the temple is 98 feet and the width is 42 feet. The
main shrine and the front of the cells are surrounded by elaborate
columns. The temple is carved out of white marble. The ceiling is
decorated with engraved designs of lotus-buds, petals, flowers and
scenes from Jain and Hindu mythology. |
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Luna
Vashi or the Teja Pala Temple
The Luna Vashi
temple is dedicated to the 22nd Tirthankara, Shri Nemi Nathji. It
resembles the architectural plan of the Vimal Vashi temple
although it was built 200 years after that temple. The two brothers,
Vastu Pala and Tej Pala, both ministers of a local ruler, built
this magnificent temple in 1230 AD. The temple is the among the last
few monuments built in the Solanki style. The striking feature of the
Tejapala temple is its dome which stands on 8 pillars. From this dome
hangs a big ornamental pendant with elaborate carving. From the
ceiling this pendant looks like a cluster of half open lotuses.
According to the local legend, the two brothers, before becoming
minister, went on a pilgrimage with huge wealth, which they decided to
bury it under a tree. While digging, they found more gold. Anupama
Devi, wife of Teja Pala advised them to build temples at Satrunjaya
and Girnar with their wealth. When they were ministers they heard
about the holiness of Mount Abu and decided to build a temple there
dedicated to Shri Neminath to commemorate their dead brother Luna.
Amother major attraction in this temple is the principal cell known as
Grabagriha, which when lighted reveals the massive idol of Neminath.
There are 39 cells each of which contains one or more images. The
ceiling in front of the
cell is profusely ornamented. The relief in the porticos of the cell
portrays important scenes from the life of Neminath. Another main
attraction is the Hathishala or the elephant cell which features 10
beautiful marble elephants. These elephants are neatly polished and
realistically modeled. Earlier these elephants carried the idols
representing the family of Vastu Pala. Behind the elephants are the 10
slabs bearing a figure of male and female. |
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Pittalhar
Temple
The Pittalhar temple
was built by Bhima Shah, a minister of Sultan Begada of Ahmedabad.
This temple is also known as Shri Rishabh Deoji temple. The temple has
a massive metal statue of the Rishab Dev Adinath, cast in five metals.
The main metal used in making this statue is 'Pital' (brass) and so
this temple is known as "Pittalhar Temple". This temple
consist of Garbhagriha, Gudh Mandap and Navchowki.
Parshavanath
Temple
The Parshavanath temple is dedicated to Lord Parshavnath. Mandlik
and his family built this temple in 1458-59 AD. This temple is also
known as the Khartar Vashi temple. The temple consists of a three
storeyed building, which is the tallest of all the shrines at Dilwara.
On the ground floor, all the four faces of the sanctum have four big
mandaps. The outer walls of the sanctum are carved with beautiful
sculptures of Dikpals, Vidhyadevis, Yakshinis, Shalabhanjikas and
other decorative sculptures in grey sandstone.
Mahaveer Swami
Temple
The Mahaveer Swami temple is a small structure constructed in 1582
AD. It is dedicated to the 24th Jain Tirthankara Lord Mahaveer. On the
upper walls of the temple are the pictures of Lord Mahaveer.
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Other
Attractions |
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Todd's
Rock : From Nakki Lake you can see the strange rock formation
called "Todd's Rock". This rock formation is sculpted by the
forces of nature.
Sunset Point : There are many view points around the town. The
most famous view point is the Sunset Point. Sunset point is situated
on the banks of the Nakki Lake in the southwestern part. From here you
can view the sunset spectacularly between two rocky peaks with the
lovely view of the surrounding hills. There is a spectacular sight at
the time of sunset when all the hills shine with the golden glow.
Sunset point is the right place to view the spectacular sunset. |
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Mount
Abu Sanctuary |
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Mount
Abu Sanctuary is situated at the highest point of Aravallis, the Guru
Shikhar in Mount Abu. This sanctuary is located on the fringes of the
town of Mount Abu and thickly forested. The slopes of the hills
provide some of the state's most interesting topography, especially in
the summers. This sanctuary covers an area of 289 square km. This
sanctuary was established in 1960 and provides shelter to the common
Langur, Chinkara, Wild boar, Sambhar, Leopard and the grey Jungle
Fowl. |
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Festival in Mount Abu |
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Summer
Festival (June)
Summer Festival is
organised in the month of June in Mount Abu, the only hill station of
Rajasthan. This is the only festival which is celebrated in the
summers. Folk dances and cultural programmes presented by the Bhil
tribes of the region presents a general atmosphere of gaiety in this
tiny hill resort so that the tourists can relax and enjoy themselves. |
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