HILL OF WISDOM. Review on Mount Abu

India ,as I always says in my each review , is the land of of natural beauties,mountains and orsom places , Mount Abu is one of them, crowning at the highest peak of the Aravali hills, Mount Abu is the only hill station of Rajasthan and one of the prettiest hill stations in the country. Mount Abu was dedicated to Lord Shiva before it became a Jain Pilgrimage Centre. The biggest draw for Mount Abu is the Dilwara Jain Temple for its carvings. The hill boasts of a rich vegetation and thick forest. It stands out like an oasis in arid environs.

This "Hill of Wisdom" and a true " Olympus of Rajasthan" stands on an independent hillock, which is separated from the main Aravali ranges by a deep gorge.

When ascending the mountain, one cannot, but be impressed with the grandeur and the scenic beauty, the gigantic blocks of rocks, towering along the crest of the hill, are especially striking, in some cases so weather- worn, that they present most fanciful and weird shapes, while in others appear so slightly balanced as to be in danger of rolling down.

It is not only one of the prettiest hill stations in the country, but a major Rajput and Jain pilgrimage centre. The legend goes that a 'yagna' was performed here and four Agnikula or fireborn Rajput clans- the Chauhans, Parmaras, Pratiharas and Solankiswere created out of fire. Till 11th century, Mount Abu was an important Vaishnav and Shiva pilgrimage center, but now it has gained importance as a Jain pilgrim center

The hill boasts of rich vegetation and thick forest, it stands out as an oasis in the arid environs, it is pleasant climate picturesque setting invite thousands of tourists for pleasure trips and relaxation

Air:Nearest airports are Udaipur and Ahmedabad.

Rail: Nearest railhead is Abu Road- 27 km.

Road:214- km, Bombay- 835 km, Delhi- 768 km, Jaipur- 515 km, Udaipur- 182 km, Jodhpur- 291 km, Ranakpur-168 km

Places of interest

Adhar Devi Temple

Dilwara Jain Temple -- Mount Abu was an important Vaishnava and Shaivite pilgrim center up to the 11th century. Today, it is recognized the world over for it's magnificent Jain temples. No visit to Abu can be complete without a trip to the famed Dilwara temples. These temples are the greatest draw of Abu, apart from its salubrious clime. Half hidden by mango groves their sober exterior belies the wealth of their interior ornamentation. Wondrously carved in marble, the Dilwara temples enshrine various Jain tirthankaras, saints. Built between the 11th and 13th century, are famous for their superb carvings in marble.

Gaumukh -- Many sages and sheers had their retreats on Mt. Abu, the most famous being sage Vashistha. To regenerate the human race, he performed a yagya or magic fire from which were born the agnikula clans of Chauhan, Solankis, Pannars and Pratihars. A natural spring that flows that through a sculpted cow's head, gives the shrine its name.

Nakki Lake -- The lake is picturesquely set amidst hills and is believed to have been carved out by the Gods with their nails. It is popular spot for boating and the only artificial lake in India that is 1200 mts. above sea level. The surrounding hills have several area of interest.

Toad Rock -- Overhanging the Nakki Lake, so called because of its likeness to gigantic toad about to leap into the water

Red Temple

Shri Raghunathji Temple

Sunset Point-- It provides a lovely view of the setting sun, South-West of Nakki lake, where the sun gradually drowns itself in the azure sky between two mountain peaks, steps lead up to high terrace which offers an awe inspiring view of the setting sun.

Excursions:

Ambaji- 50 km

Achalgarh- 11 km-- Medieval monument of Mt Abu, is the Achalgadh fort commissioned by Rana Kumbha, who was responsible for dozens of gigantic fortresses in southern Rajasthan, with massive battlemented walls and a situation on a mountain peak offering great views. A steeply winding path leads up to the 15th century fortress and the temples within the fortified walls, great for a view of the countryside.

Guru Shikar- 15 km-- The highest peak on the mount (1722 mts above the sea level) allows a bird eye view of the sylvan surroundings of Mount Abu.A small shrine and a temple of Dattatreya standing on the shikhar are worth a visit.

Ranakpur -168 km

Mount Abu Widlife sanctuary -- The sanctuary comprises the oldest mountain ranges - The Aravali. It was declared as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1960. Apart from having several sightseeing places this sanctuary is a draw for nature lovers as it has great potential for Eco-tourism, in shape this sanctuary is long and narrow but the top spreads out into a picturesque plateau which is about 19 km. is length and 5-8 km. in breadth. Attitudinally it varies from 300m. at the foot Mil to 1722 m. at Gurushikhar, the highest peak of the Aravali Ranges. The rocks are igneous and due the weathering effect of wind and water, large cavities are common the rocks. This feature is typical of Aravali and particularly of Mt, Abu. Toad Rock in Mount Abu is one such example.

So I must say that one should visit this beautiful surroundings of India once in a life ,to explore more and more about India.You will find my review more of information as I want the people ,who plan for that place,should not find any difficulty in locating the places of interest of that city or transportation problem etc .and waisting time unnecessarily.So I wish all Indians and outsiders including me to visit all this beautiful India at least once in this precious life.