Introduction to city Mount Abu - In Rajasthan
Perched at an altitude of 1,220 metres above sea level, Mt. Abu is
Rajasthan’s only hill station. It is around 180 km away from Jodhpur,
the second biggest city of Rajasthan, and 509 km away from Jaipur, the
state capital. 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.
Mt. 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.
Mt. 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.
Sightseeing
: Places to visit in destination - Mount Abu
Mt. Abu is the highest point between the Nilgiris in the south and the
Himalayas in the north. The location and weather of Mount Abu has given
this charming little hill station a wide variety of vegetation. On the
drive up to Mount Abu, the flowering trees and shrubs make it seem like a
huge garden. A meandering stream nearby and tall pine trees make for
excellent natural scenery and gives the place an almost ethereal aura.
Besides being a popular hill station, this cool and cosy city is also
famous for its temples. The first to come to mind are the Dilwara
Temples, which are the finest examples of Jain art and architecture.
The plain marbles of the exteriors do not prepare the visitor for the
richly embellished interiors. Episodes from different Jain legends are
intricately carved in marble and so lifelike and delicate are the
sculptures that it is difficult to believe they are indeed carved out of
stone. Mount Abu is indeed the pivot of the Jain world.
DILWARA JAIN TEMPLES - Mount Abu
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Dilwara is a historical pageant of many years and many stones,
much sweat and much love, a legend in marble. A sacred pilgrimage of
the Jains, the five legendary marble temples of Dilwara are an
overwhelming blend of simple beauty and exquisite elegance—no
other temple in Rajasthan can come close to these in terms of
architectural perfection. It would be very difficult to exaggerate
the beauty of these temples. When travellers in the past recorded
their impressions of these temples it was with a sense of awe. The
amount of ornamental detail spread over these structures in the
minutely carved decoration of ceilings, doorways, pillars, panels
and niches is simply marvellous, while the crisp translucent
shell-like treatment of the marble surpasses anything seen
elsewhere, and some of the designs are just dreams of beauty.
Dilwara is a historical pageant of many years and many stones, much
sweat and much love, a legend in marble. A sacred pilgrimage of the
Jains, the five legendary marble temples of Dilwara are an
overwhelming blend of simple beauty and exquisite elegance—no
other temple in Rajasthan can come close to these in terms of
architectural perfection. It would be very difficult to exaggerate
the beauty of these temples. When travellers in the past recorded
their impressions of these temples it was with a sense of awe. The
amount of ornamental detail spread over these structures in the
minutely carved decoration of ceilings, doorways, pillars, panels
and niches is simply marvellous, while the crisp translucent
shell-like treatment of the marble surpasses anything seen
elsewhere, and some of the designs are just dreams of beauty.
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NAKKI LAKE - Mount Abu
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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.
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VIEWPOINTS - Mount Abu
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Like all other hill stations, Mt. Abu too has its horse rides,
honeymoon and sunset points. The Sunset Point here is definitely
worth a visit. An entire hill has been carved into several layers,
top to bottom, and as the sun begins to lower itself in the sky, the
hill is crowded with people covered in the golden glow of the
setting sun. There\’s also a Honeymoon Point that gives a good
glimpse of the sunset and the plains as well. A few kilometres from
the lake and on the western side of the Adhar Devi temple, there
lies the Shanti Shikhar (the peak of peace), which offers a
panoramic view of the valley.
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Excursions
: Places nearby city - Mount Abu
Mt. Abu offers some good day-treks to nearby places. Achalgarh (11
km) offers superb views of the surroundings. The famous Achaleshwar
temple here is believed to have Shiva’s toeprint. Guru Shikhar (15
km), set at an altitude of 1,720 metres, is the region’s highest peak
and offers good views especially at dawn.
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