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.