Legend
has it that the place derived its name from Arbuda, a
serpent who rescued Lord Shiva's bull, Nandi. Situated
atop a 1
,220 m high plateau in the Aravalli hills,
this modest hill resort centred around Lake Nakki is a
perfect getaway from the heat of the surrounding
deserts and plains.
The road to paradise has never been easy and this
one is no exception. Bumping along an uneven road,
hitting your head against the smooth roof of a deluxe
bus you need to close your eyes and revive the
temptations of your destination. Conjure up the
lushness of Mount Abu, which all tourist guides
announce is 'the paradise of Rajasthan'.
The little pamphlet gushes that Mount Abu, the only
hill station in Rajasthan, offers you the best of all
possible worlds, with more scenic beauty, more
architecture and archaeology in the form of the famous
Dilwara caves, the chief center for the Brahmakumaris
and a generous peppering of temples which shows that
the place is exceptionally favored by the gods. Abu
has been an important place of penance for the sages.
Dilwara
Temples: This
complex consisting of five marble Jain temples is one of the
finest in Rajasthan, worth braving the queues and ferocious
guards. These beautifully carved temples built between 11th
& 13th century AD are sheer elegance in marble,
dedicated to the Jain Tirthankaras. The Vimal Vasahi Temple
is the oldest of these, dedicated to the first Tirthankara.
Built in 1031 AD (by Vimal Shah- a merchant and
representative of the then Gujarat ruler), it is a superb
example of temple architecture.
Gaumukh Temple: Dedicated to Rama, this small temple
(the cows mouth) is centred on a spring gushing from the
mouth of a marble cow. In the Hindu creation myth, the world
is formed by a cow, licking salt; the source of the Ganges
has the same name. This is said to be the site of the
ancient 'agnikund' fire rituals. It is 4 kms south of Mount
Abu. Open, free access, down 700 very steep steps.
LAKES
Nakki Talav: This holiday centre of Mount Abu, is
virtually in the heart of the town. This sparkling blue
artificial lake is said to have been gauged from the earth
by the gods, using their fingernails ('nakh' means nail).
Nearby is the 14th century Raghunath Temple.On the western
edge of the town centre, Nakki Lake Road circles the entire
lake. Rowing boats are available for hire from the jetty by
Gandhi Park.
TEMPLES
Adhar Devi Temple (2-km North Of Town): This ancient
temple dedicated to the serpent goddess, Arbuda, is carved
out of a huge rock.. Arbuda is the patron of the town, who
formed the mountain in order to save the sacred cow, Nandi
from drowning in an abyss. The black-painted marble idol,
riding a solid gold tiger, is claimed to be about 5,000
years old. Open and free access during daylight hours.
OTHERS
Trevors Tank (5-km): Named after the British
engineer, who constructed it, Trevors tank is a delight for
birdwatchers with densely wooded hills that are a haven to
pigeons, peacocks and partridges.
Mandakini
Kund: The
watersupply for Achalgarh fort and a sculpture of Parmar
Daravarsh are situated close to the Achaleswar Mahadev
temple.
Guru Shikhar (15-km): The highest peak on the Mount
Abu (1722 mts above the sea level) allows a birds eye view
of the idyllic surroundings of Mt. Abu. A small shaivite
shrine and a temple of Dattatreya standing on the Shikhar
are worth a visit.
Around the Clity of Mount Abu Like all other hill stations,
Abu too : has its horse rides, honeymoon and
sunset points. Sunset point here is definitely worthy
a visit. An entire hill has been carved into several
layers, top to bottom and as the sun begins to lower
itself in the sky, and the entire hill is crowded with
people covered in the golden glow of the setting sun.
