Apleasant retreat set amidst the lush forested hills, Mount. Abu is a green
oasis in the barren desertscape that's 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 that is
characrerised by arid region dotted with huge rocks in weird shapes and high
velocity winds. 'Abu' according to a legend, stands for the son of Himalaya,
deriving its name from Arbuada, the powerful serpent who rescued Nandi, the
sacred bull of Lord Shiva, from a chasm. Mount Abu has been home to many
sages and saints. Most famous of them was Sage Vashishtha who is believed to
have created four agni kula Rajput clans from a fire-pit by performing a
Lagna' orfire sacrifice, to protect the earth from the demons.
The Yagna was performed besides a natural spring situated below Abu,
emerging from a rock shaped like a cow's head and hence the site was called
Gaumukh. 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 to the 11th-13th centuries, make it a popular pilgrimage centre.
The Padam Purana relates the story of how Mount Abu came into existance.
Once the Nandini, the cow of the venerable sage Vashishtha, was trapped in a
deep chasm and could not free herself. The sage appealed to Lord Shiva for
assistance. Saraswati, the divine stream, flooded the pit and the cow
floated up. Vashishta then approached the great Himalaya and asked him to
fill the deep gorge permanently to avoid further mishaps. The youngest son
of Himalaya, with the assistance of Arbud, the mighty snake, did the
needful. The place came to be called Mount Arbud and was later reduced to
its present form.
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Hisory of Mount Abu:-
The history of Mount Abu is as diverse as the city itself. It was once a
part of the Chauhan kingdom of Rajasthan and served as a summer resort for
the Rajput kings of the region. After that Mount Abu was leased by the
British government from the then Maharaja of Sirohi for use as the
headquarter of the resident to Rajputana (another name for Rajasthan).
During the British rule in India, it used to be the favorite summer
destination of the British who came here to escape the dusty, dry heat of
the plains particularly Rajasthan. It also served as a sanatorium for the
troops. The small huts and cottages made by the British here tell the story
of those times even today.
Mount Abu used to be the home of many saints and sages in the old 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. It is also
the place where the great saint Vashishth lived and performed a yagna
(sacrificial worship on a fire pit) to create four Agnikula (four clans of
fire) to protect the earth from demons. The yagna was supposed to have been
performed near a natural spring, which emerged from a rock shaped like a
cow's head.
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According to another legend, once sage Vashishth's cow Nandini was trapped
in a deep gorge and could not free herself. The sage appealed to Lord Shiva
for assistance. The Lord sent Saraswati, the divine stream, to help flood
the gorge so that the cow could float up. Vashishth then decided to ensure
that such mishaps would not occur in future and asked the youngest son of
Himalaya, the king of mountains to fill the chasm permanently. This he did
with the assistance of Arbud, the mighty snake. This spot came to be known
as Mount Arbud and was later changed to its present form-Mount Abu.
This place is held in reverence by Jains as well since Jain scriptures
record that Lord Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankar (spiritual leader), also
visited Mount Abu and blessed the city.
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Places to See:-
Dilwara Temple
These remarkable Jain temples are Mount Abu's main attraction and among the
finest examples includes two temples in which the art of carving marble
reached unsurpassed heights. The older of the temples is the ' Vimal Vasahi
', built in 1031 and dedicated to the first tirthankar, Adinath. In the
front of the temple stands the ' House of Elephants ', with figures of
elephants marching in procession to the temple entrance. The later ' Tejpal
temple ' is dedicated to Neminath, the 22nd tirthankar, and was built in
1230 by the brothers Tejpal and Vastupal. The carving is so fine that, in
places, the marble becomes almost transparent.
Kesar Bhawan Palace
Kesar Bhawan Palace is one of the oldest places in Mount Abu, built in
1868. The Kesar Bhawan was used as a guest house for visiting dignitories.
For 100 years now several Maharajas and royal guests from the west have been
entertained in Kesar Bhawan. Built to suit the climatic conditions of Mount
Abu which has an average rainfall of 150 inches annually, the palace has
closed corridor running around the building providing it protection from
rain. Each bedroom has its own private balcony which provide a panoramic
view of the surrrounding hills and valleys.
Sunrise Palace
Situated on one of the highest points in Mount Abu is the summer palace of
the Maharaja of Bharatpur. Now it is called the Sunrise Palace, provides a
breathtaking panoramic view of lush green Aravallis surrounding it. The 80
years old palace has a fairy tale charm to it and is build like a typical
british-style mansion. It has large spacious rooms, which have been done
tastefully and provides all possible comforts to the guests. It is popular
with honeymooners as well as those looking for a peaceful holiday.
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Vimala Vashi Temple
It is the oldest temple, built in 1030 by Vimala Shah, a minister of
Solanki ruler of Gujarat. The temple is said to have involved a work force
of 2700 men, and taken total fourteen years to complete. Made of white
marble, it is an outstanding example of Jain temple architecture.
Jain Community
The fine specimen of workmanship , as seen in its carvings and pillars,
this temple is dedicated to Neminath - the twenty second Jain thirthankara.
A lot of inspiration and encouragement went into the construction of this
temple. Built in the ' Solanki ' style of architecture, this temple has a
breaktaking marble pendant hanging like a shandelier from the central dome
of the porch.
Luna Vashi Temple
Built in 1232 by two wealthy brothers. Its carved ornamentation is even
richer, denser and more delicate. In some places, the marble carving is so
fine. The doorways of the temples are framed by ornate pediments and
plasters; the columns are magnificiently carved.
Nakki Lake
Nakki Lake is virtually in the heart of Mount Abu and is a big attraction
with tourists. The lake takes its name from the legend that it was scooped
out by a god, using only his nails, or nakh. It's a pleasant stroll around
the lake - look for the strange rock formations. On the lake there is a
dilapidated concrete boat-shaped snack bar.
Gomukh Temple
Down on the Abu road side of Mount Abu, a small stream flows from the mouth
of a marble cow, giving the shrine its name. There is also a marble figure
of Nandi, Shiva's vehicle. The tank here, ' Agni Kund ', is said to be the
site of the sacrificial fire made by the sage Vasishta, from which four of
the great Rajput clans were born, An image of Vasishta is flanked by figures
of Rama and Krishna.Gomukh Temple contains images of Lord Rama and Lord
Krishna.
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Connaught House
Connaught House in Mount Abu was the official summer residence of Sir
Donald Field, Chief Minister of the Jodhpur and now it is available to
tourists and holiday makers. Connaught House is in a very good condition.
New rooms have been added to the old cottages. The location of the cottage
gives it a complete privacy and allow the tourist to enjoy a quiet and
peaceful holiday. The main market place and the famous Nakki Lake are with
walking distance.
Achalgarh Fort
This fort was built by the warrior King Rana Kumbha, who conquered Mount
Abu from its Chauhan rulers. It lies 5 miles from Mount Abu. Nearby there
are several ancient temples. Of these, the most interesting is the 15th
century temple of Lord Shiva.
Guru Shikar
The peak of Guru Shikhar, the highest point in Rajasthan, lies about 2
miles beyond Achalgarh. It commands a bird eye view of Abu and the
surrounding areas. Temples located in this area are the ' Mira temple ' and
' Chaumundi temple '.
Adhar Devi Temple
Three kilometres north of town, some 365 steps lead to this ' Durga temple
' built in a natural cleft in the rock. You have to stoop to get through the
low entrance to the temple. There are fine views over Mount Abu from up
here. This temple is one of the favourite tourist spots of Mount Abu. It is
believed that the image of the goddess was originally hanging in mid-air,
hence the name is ' Adhar Devi '.
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