Mount Abu: The Lone Hill Town of Rajasthan

Nestled in the Arabuda Mountain Range in Aravalis and the only exception in otherwise arid and hot Rajasthan, Mount Abu is one of the most popular places to visit in Rajasthan in summer as well as winter. This verdant paradise dotted with plenty of natural and manmade attractions appeals not just to the local crowd but visitors from overseas in equal numbers.

During summers as well as winters, Mount Abu is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations in North India. The 80 odd Dilwara Jain Temples makes this hill town in Rajasthan a major Jain pilgrimage destination too. For wildlife enthusiast, 289 square kilometers stretch of Mount Abu wildlife sanctuary is a place to explore and discover the rich flora and fauna of the area.

Attractions in Mount Abu

Nakki Lake

View of Nakki Lake in Moun Abu

Nakki Lake is surrounded with green valleys, restaurants, hotels and bustling local markets. This lake is Mount Abu’s highlight and is thronged with visitors looking for boating, photography and picnicking. Also known as “Love Lake” of Mount Abu, Nakki Lake is inspired by the love story of Sage Rasia Balam and Kunvanri Kanya. In recent years, government spent good amount of money to restore it and make it better. Its divinity has however never been overlooked and Nakki Lake is venerated as a sacred lake.

Achalgarh Fort

Achalgarh Fort in Mount Abu, Rajasthan

Rajasthan, located on the western part of India is world famous for its stunnig forts & palaces which are also inscribed as UNESCO world heritage sites. Achalgarh Fort is known for the Achaleshwar Mahadeva and Jain Temples, in and outside it. The Achaleshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and also has a brass of Nandi. And the Jain Temples were built in 1513. The Achalgarh fort was built even before 16th century and stands dilapidated, but still allures its visitors with its unique and mysterious ambience. This fort was commissioned by the rulers of Paramara Dynasty and was later renovated by Maharana Kumbha.

Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary

Located in one of the India’s oldest Hill Ranges (Aravali Ranges), this wildlife sanctuary is stretched until Gurushikhar, the highest peak of the state. This is one of the few flourishing and green areas of arid Rajasthan and must be visited if you fancy a trek amidst the woods having numerous plant species. Here, you can find sambhar, mongoose, Indian hare, wolves, jungle cats, langur, hedgehog, wild boar, bear, sloth bear and others.

Sunset point

View of Sunset Point in Mount Abu

Located on the south-west side of Nakki Lake, Sunset Point, as its name suggests offer a wonderful sight of the sun setting down beyond horizon. The Sunset Point is close to food stalls and markets, making a perfect place to spend enough time. Also, sandalwood idols, carved marble statues, wooden toys surround the area. Children can enjoy pony rides and adults can stop for a while and hail the view.

Dilwara Jain Temples

Dilwara Temples is accentuated because of the fine carvings it is filled with. These five marble marvels date back to 11th and 13th century and were built by Vastupal Tejpal. Dilwara Temples have ornamented inscriptions in its pillars, ceilings, entranceways; everywhere. Apart from its architecture, the temples are believed to be one of the holiest shrines in Buddhism. The best part of the temples is its Pooja, which is enlightening and soothing.

Shopping in Mount Abu

It is impossible to think of heading home without stuffing your luggage with Rajasthani paintings, artifacts, clothes and everything else. Mount Abu offer wide variety in genuine Rajasthani stuff. Here, you can get the best Kota saris, bangles, linen with sanganeri prints, Jaipuri quilts, stone crafts, leather articles etc. Some of the best shops of Mount Abu are Rajasthali, Piccadily Plaza, Chacha Museum, Kashmir Cottage Emporium, M/s Bansilal Bhurmal, Fair Price Rajasthan Emporium and Khadi Bhandar.

Festival in Mount Abu

Exotic location and vibrant culture makes the celebration of Summer Festival an unforgettable experience. This festival falls in the month of May and is started off by a ceremonial procession. This procession commences from RTDC Hotel Shikhar and is set to sparkle by fireworks, and Guajarati and Rajasthani cultural folk performances. Tug-of-war, Panihari Matka Race, Horse Race, CRPF Band Show, Skater’s Show, Skating Race and deepdaan are the major highlights of this festival.

[ Read More about Fair & Festival in Rajasthan ]

Best Time to Visit in Mount Abu

Mount Abu is a hill station in the state of Rajasthan, its green valleys and sapphire lake make it a highly inviting place. Any time is the best time to visit Mount Abu. The winters are chilling and pleasurable. In monsoon, Mount Abu receives highest rainfall in whole Rajasthan. But still, there are moderate to average amount of rain showers that take place here. And summers can come out to be a savior in Mount Abu, far away from scorching heat of the deserts.

How to Reach in Mount Abu

Mount Abu is easily accessible through all the major modes of transport. Nearest airport from Mount Abu is in Udaipur; connecting to Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur.

Nearest railway station is Abu Road. This railway station is at a distance of 22 kilometers from Mount Abu and is connected to trains running to and from Mumbai, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and others.  Mount Abu can also be reached via state and privately owned buses.

Where to Stay in Mount Abu

Mount Abu is a popular tourist destination; and having said this, it becomes pretty obvious that you have easy access to all your needs here. Talking about accommodation, you can go for budget or luxury hotels. I suggest that you consider; Hotel Welcome Heritage Connaught House (Heritage Hotel) , Palace Hotel (Heritage Hotel) Udaigarh Hotel (Heitage Resort), Hotel maganji’s (3 star), Hotel Hiltone (3 star), Hotel ChaCha Inn (2 star) and Hotel Vinayak (1 star).

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Top 5 Hill stations in India

The Himalayas has some of the highest peaks in the world. On the foothills of these show-clad mountains, there are a number of hills towns in India. They boast of being some of the most amazing hill stations, filled with natural scenic beauty. The hill stations in India are perfect for all kinds of vacations, be it in the summers, in winters or for a honeymoon. Here are top 5 hill stations in India visited by a large number of tourists from all over the world:  

Manali

Manali, located in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh, is not only a breathtakingly beautiful town but is also famous for a range of adventure activities. There are numerous tourist attractions in and around Manali such as Kullu, Rohtang Pass (situated at 13000 ft), Solang Valley, Hidimba temple, the Naggar Fort, Manikaran etc. You can indulge in a number of activities like river rafting, para-sailing, zorbing, zip-lining and so on.

Shimla

 

The Summer Capital of the British, Shimla, in the present times is the state capital of Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the most thronged hill stations of the country. This beautiful hill town has colonial style buildings, oak and pine forests, floral valleys and mountain ridges. You can shop at the famous Mall road. There are innumerable tourist spots here which include Observatory hill, the old Christ Church, Scandal Point, Vicergal Lodge etc. Try short distance hiking here.

Darjeeling

Darjeeling, situated in West Bengal, does not only has lush tea gardens but is a hill town with a lot of natural beauty. A major attraction of this place is that from a particular place, travelers can have a clear view of Mt. Kanchenjunga, the third highest peak in the world. You can visit the extremely popular tea gardens and tea factories. There are other attractions too like Zoo, botanical gardens and various monasteries sprinkled, all around. Take a ride in the toy train or travel in the Darjeeling-Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway cable car. It is the longest cable car in Asia. Take a stroll in the markets or the countryside.

Srinagar

Srinagar is another beautiful hill town, which is also the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. You can have a delightful vacation in the luxurious houseboats, floating on the lakes of the region. Srinagar has plenty of lakes and gardens and thus many times is referred to as the ‘Land of Lakes and Gardens’. The largest tulip garden of Asia is here only that plays host to the annual tulip festival. It also has some of the best trekking tracks as well.  Most of the gardens have a distinct Mughal influence.

Munnar 

Munnar, a hill town of Kerala, is located in the Western Ghats. The place is well-known for its amazing climate and its sprawling tea estates. This lush green hill station in the southern part of India has the highest mountain of the South: Anaimudi. Fondly known as ‘Little London’, it is a perfect venue for trekking enthusiasts and nature lovers. You can try your hand at other adventure activities too like para-gliding as well as rock climbing.

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