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.
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.
Achal
Garh (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.
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