Dec 23, 2005 02:02 PM
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(Updated May 18, 2006 11:46 AM)
Mount Abu is the highest peak in the Aravalli Range of Rajasthan state, in western India. It is located in Sirohi District. The mountain forms a distinct rocky plateau 22km long by 9 km wide. The highest peak on the mountain is Guru Shikhar, at 1722 meters above sea level. It is referred to as 'an oasis in the desert', as its heights are home to rivers, lakes, waterfalls and evergreen forests. The town of Mount Abu, the only hill station in Rajasthan, is located at 1220 meters elevation.
Mount Abu is the highest peak in the vicinity, and is a popular retreat from the heat of Rajasthan and nearby Gujarat for centuries. Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1960, and covers 290 km² of the mountain.
Mount Abu is home to a number of Jain temples. The Dilwara Temples are a complex of temples, carved of white marble, that were built between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries. The Vimal Vasahi temple is the oldest, built in 1031 by Vimal Shah, and dedicated to the first of the Jain Tirthankaras. The Lun Vasahi Temple, built in 1231 by the brothers Vastupal and Tejpal, who were ministers of Raja Vir Dhawal, a local ruler of Gujarat who belonged to the Porwal Jain community. Nearby Achalgarh is a fort, built in the fourteenth century by Rana Kumbha of Mewar, which encloses several beautiful Jain temples, including the Achaleswar Mahadev Temple (1412) and the Kantinath Temple (1513).
The mountain is also home to several Hindu temples, including the Adhar Devi Temple, carved out of solid rock, the Shri Raghunathji Temple, and a Shaivite shrine and temple to Dattatreya atop Guru Shikhar. A footprint of Vishnu is on top of Mount Abu.
The town of Mount Abu is the world headquarters of Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University
The nearest railway station is at Abu Road, in the lowlands southeast of the mountain. The station is on the main Indian Railways line between Delhi and Ahmedabad. Image:Nakki Lake - Abu
GENERAL INFORMATION
Area : 25 sq km
Altitude : 1200 meters
Climate : Mean Max. Mean Min.
Summer : 33.8 degree C 23.3 degree C
Winter : 28.3 degree C 11.6 degree C
Rainfall : 177 cm (July to September)
Best season : March to June and September to December
Clothing :Summer - Light Woollens and Tropicals Winter - Heavy Woolens
Languages: Gujarati, Hindi, and English
STD Code : 02974
What to See?
Adhar Devi Temple, Andhra Point (Honeymoon Point), Dilwara Jain Temple (Open from 1200 hrs. to 1800 hrs for non Jains), Gaumukh, Nakki Lake, Red Temple, Shri Raghunathji Temple, Sunset Point, Traver's Tank.
EXCURSIONS
Ambaji 50 km, Achalgarh 11 km, Guru Shikar 15 km, Ranakpur 168 km.
HOW TO GET THERE?
By Air : Udaipur (185 km) is the nearest airport. Taxis and buses are available to reach Mount Abu.
By Rail : Abu Road (29 km) is the nearest railhead linked with Ahmedabad, Delhi, Jaipur and Jodhpur.
By Road : Abu is well connected with Udaipur (185 km), Ahmedabad (221 km) and Jodhpur (326 km).
