MOUNT ABU

MOUNT ABU

This hill station of Rajasthan is situated at the South end of ARABALLI Hill Range and covered with green forest. It was the summer capital of Maharajas.

LANDSCAPE:

This valley is extended through 22x5 km and is 1219m high.

WEATHER:

Summer temperature is 33.3C – 28.3C and the Winter temperature is 28.3C – 11.6C. Rainfall is 153 – 177cm.

PLACES OF INTEREST:

DILWARA Temple, BIMAL BASAHI, Luna BASAHI, ACHALGARH, Sunset Point, Honeymoon Point, NAKKI Lake, Gandhi VATIKA, MADHUBAN, Om SHANTI BHAWAN etc.

DILWARA TEMPLE

Time : 12noon – 6pm, Entry fee : Rs.20, Camera, leather objects,smoking and umbrella are strictly prohibited here. This Jain dilwara was made of white marble stone brought from Ambaji which is 23km to the South of Abu Road. There are Adinath, Neminath, Mahaveer, Rishavdev and Pareshnath temples in this dilwara.

VIMAL BASAHI

Foundation : By Vimal Shah, the cabinet member of 1st Solanki rular of Gujarat, Veem Dev in 1031.

This 140x90 foot Vimal Basahi was made by 1500 artists and1200 wagers during 14 years at the cost of 18crores and 53lacs. It is heard that the artistswere remunerated with a quantity of silver same as the quantity of curved stones. This White marble made well sculptured temple was made in Solanki style. Attraction : Curve of troop of elephants who are going to visit lord, Curve fruits and animals in octave dome, sculpture of 48 pillars, balcony and ceiling, 52 chambers of god, Statue of goddess Amba and Pareshnath.

LUNA BASAHI

Foundation : In 1231 by Vastupal and Tejpal brothers, who was the cabinet member of Veer Dhawala, The king of Gujarat. Cost : 12crores and 53lacs, Shrine : 22nd Jain Tirthankar Neminath. Attraction : Decoration of pillars, stone curved fringes, dancing gesture of ceiling, entrance, chains lively lotus which look like natural ones, curves of royal procession and Jain stories, 16 statues of Vidyadevi, statue of 360 Jain monks including 72 Tirthankars. Its beauty was lessen by Mughal soldiers in 1311 and it was reformed in 1321.

VEEMA SAHI

Foundation : 1468, Attraction : Statue of Tirthankar Rishavnath weighting 4.5 metric tons and made of five metals, statue of Ld. Genesha beside the entrance, four faced lord in Pareshnath. The temple is incomplete and looks shabby from outside. But the inside is very beautiful.

GURUSIKHAR

Height : 1772m. It is the highest pick of Aravally ranges. There is a temple of Bramha – Vishnu – Maheshwar above it. After 300 steps to the temple there is foot print of Guru Datratreay. A binocular is also there to view Mt. Abu. Duli is available to climb.

ACHALGARH FORT

This fort on Aravally hills was made in 9th century. It was the capital of Chauhans but it has been turned into ruins. Achaleswar temple is below the fort. The shrine is Ld. Shiv in thumb shape and there are also stone curved Goddess Parvati and Ld. Ganesha, brass statue of Nandi.

Other Attraction of the Fort : Temple of Vishnu in ten incurnations, temple of Chamunda Devi, curve of three demons disguised as buffalos, curve of king Adipal who is throwing arrows, 14 metal statue in Jain temple (1513), Statue of Tirthankar weighting 572 quintals etc. Rumor is that the three demons used to eat the ghee from Ghee – ka -- Kund in every night.

TEMPLE OF ARBUDA DEVI

The city is named Abu after the name of goddess Arbuda Devi. 360 steps were made on the hill cutting stones and the entrance is so narrow that one has to enter into it by crawling. Duli is available. Doodh Bawri is below the temple. Rumor says that gods used to get milk from here.

KODRA DAM

This dam provides water requirement of the city.

GAUMUKH

It is 6km away from Kodra Dam and has 1000 steps to go above where water is coming out from the mouth of a cow made of marble stone. The marble statue of Nandi, the vehicle of Ld. Shiva, Vashist aashram, Hanuman Temple and sacrificial pit Vashist are also there.

SUNSET POINT

Pleasing view of sunset at the end of Aravally hill attracts the tourists.

HONEYMOON POINT

Natural beauty and nice sunset are the attraction of Honeymoon Point. It is also called Ganesha Point for a Ganesha Temple. Camel is available. Horse : Rs.35, Sledge car : Rs.20.

NAKKI LAKE

This artificial lake is surrounded by hills and there are a few islands in the lake. The hills are Toad rock, Nun rock, Nandi rock, Camels rock etc. Rumor is that on advice of Ld. Bramha the race of god came here to save themselves from the torture demons in the heaven and to start a havan or sacrifice for which they dug this lake with their nails to provide water in havan. That is why it is called Nakki Lake.

GANDHI VATIKA

The residue of Gandhiji was immersed in Nakki Lake. The park adjacent to the lake is named after Gandhi. Temple of Raghunathji or Ld. Rama was established here by Ramanand Swami in 14th century. His foot print is in the temple.

MADHUBAN

In Madhuban, there are Om Shanti Bhawan of Bramha Kumari World Spiritual Universuty, museum and Om Peace Park. There are arrangements for learning the lesson of meditation in a pillar less large meditation hall for 3500 students together. Time : 8am – 8pm.

ZOO

Area : 328 sq km, Attraction : Cheetah, Chinkara, Langoor, Peacock, more than 250 species of birds, Pig etc.