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MOUNT ABU, INDIA
A
Pleasant retreat set amidst the lush forested hills, Mt. Abu
is a green oasis in the barren desert scape 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 Mt. Abu is a
curved one characterised 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 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 agnikula. Rajput clans from a
fire-pit by performing a 'yagna' or fire 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 Gaunmukh.
Prime Site :
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Gaumukh Temple : |
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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. |
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Museum and Art Gallery :
Located at the Raj Bhawan, it has a collection of
archaeological excavations dating back to 8th-12th
century A.D. It also has Jain bronze carvings, brass
works etc., for viewing. |
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Gardens and Parks : Beautiful 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. |
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Sri 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 Sri Ramanand - the famous Hindu
preacher. |
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Honeymoon Point : Also known as Anadra Point,
it offers and enchanting view of the verdant plains and
valleys. The place looks most beautiful during the dusk
hours. |
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Sunset Point : Spectacular sight of the
setting sun when the hills are covered in the golden
glow can be viewed from here. |
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A
steep one and a half hour climb beyond the
Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra leads to the ruins of the Taragarh
Fort, perched on a hill. One can have an excellent view
of the city from here. The fort was the site of the
military activity during the Mughal period, later used
as a sanatorium by the British. |
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Adhar Devi Temple : The temple is chiseled
out of a huge rock reached by a flight of 360 stairs. A
favourite tourist spot. |
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Nakki
Lake : |
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A
tiny lake, picturesquely set amid hills. The lake is
dotted with several islets approachable by a boat. Of
particular interest are strange rock formations around
the lake. Especially notable is the Toad Rock which
looks like a real toad about to jump into the lake.
Others are Nun Rock and Nandi Rock etc. Set in the heart
of the town, the lake gets its name from the legend that
it was scooped out by the gods with their finger mails
or 'Nakh'. It is the only artificial lake in India that
is 1200 mts. above sea level. |
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Delwara
Jain Temples : |
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These
beautifully carved temples built between 11th and 13th
century A.D. are sheer elegance in marble, dedicated to
the Jain Tirthankaras. The Vimal Vasathi temple is the
oldest of these dedicated to the first Tirthankara.
Built in 1031 A.D. (by Vimal Shah - a merchant and
representative of the then Gujarat ruler), it is a
superb example of temple architecture. |
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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 22ne
Tirthankara-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. |
Excursions :
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Travor's Tank (5 km) : |
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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. |
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Achalgarh (8 km) : |
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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 a 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. |
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Guru Shikhar (15 km) : |
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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 ont he shikhar are worth a visit. |
Festival
Summer
Festival (1st-3rd June )
The summer seasion is the time for exuberant festivities in
this sylvan retreat of Rajasthan.The hill town , covered
with mango groves, beautiful bauhinia trees and thickets of
wild berries, stirs with life in the first week of June
every year. Tribal festivities, folk and classical music
performances amidst the luch surrounding and lovely lakes,
make it a joyous event.
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Where
to stay |
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UDAI BILAS PALACE:-(Heritage
Hotel)
Single and double room suites are also
available. Udai Bilas Palace-a running Heritage Hotel
offers facilities which includs picnic lunch spots at
ancient fort ruins, folk concerts of tribal dances, boat
trips at Gaib Sagar Lake and birding excursions to
nearby lakes.
In the
city near Bus Stand budget
class Hotels are available.
Hotel Pratibha Palace with Single and bouble
rooms,
Hotel Pushpanjali with single and double rooms.
Click Here For More
Hotels Information |
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