Mount Abu

The most acclaimed Jain pilgrim site and the only pristine hill station in Rajasthan, Mount Abu is identified as the ‘Arbuda Mountains’ in the script of The Mahabharata. Entwined around the name of the mighty Hindu mythological snake Arbuda, the hill is believed to be a part of the “Arbudaanchal”. It is presumed that Arbuda accomplished the command of Shiva in closing the gorge that existed there and this event was cherished by christening the hill ‘Arbuda’. Drastically, it evolved as ‘Mount Abu’, which became an abode of religious devout. The folk stories depict that this serene mountain was visited frequently by most the Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Gaumukh, the residence of Sage Vashishth, is still a constant religious juncture of the Mount Abu. The paucity of information on Mount Abu draws difficulty in having a deeper insight into its history and development. The amusing fact about this place is that due to its difficult terrain and dense forest it was never invaded or attacked by foreign rulers. Few historical pieces of evidence portray that, this region was under the rule-Nagas, Bhillas, Solankis and Deora-Chauhan. With the support of the best architectures, the magnificent Dilwara temple was constructed under the rule of Solankis. But the quintessence of glory evolved only under the rule of ‘Gurjars’, and the place later became to be known as ‘Gurjarabhumi’. But then the glory and importance faded under the Mughal rule of Akbar. Later, with the emergence of British Raj, Mount Abu regained its importance and acquired the title - ‘the summer capital of Rajasthan’. In addition to that, The British installed few military cantonments and convent schools in this region. Coruscated and inspired by its mythic reference, Mount Abu remains as a fascinating destination, retaining its historical charm.

Mount Abu is a true holiday destination if you are seeking a little family time and also visit the great Hindu and Jain temples. The ancient Arbuda Devi Temple and Shri Raghunathji Temple which was carved out of a solid rock are also on the must visit list here. Guru Shikhar peak is the highest point over there and on top of it is Dattatreya, a shrine and a temple. Also, there are many Jain temples over there known as Dilwara Temples that are carved out of white marble. The temples are believed to be built in between 11th and 13th century. Out of all the Jain temples, the oldest is Vimal Vasahi temple which was built in 1021 AD in dedication to the first Jain Tirthankaras. Also, the place is the headquarters to Brahma Kumaris. A very well - known Shiva temple is also there known as Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple.

Mount Abu Forest Sanctuary is the forest between the Aravalli Mountain Range. It was officially declared in 1980 and has 288 square kilometres covered. The sanctuary has an abundance of flora and fauna. The forest is tropical and the prime predator over here is Leopard. There are many rare species found here which includes sambhar, wild boar, bear, pangolin, wolf, hyena, porcupine, hedgehog and many others. The sanctuary is also home to nearly 1250 species of birds amongst which Grey Jungle Fowl is the unique one. Another beautiful tourist attraction is the ancient sacred Lake Nakki. The place has many stories revolving it. Some say it was dug out by the Gods to take shelter from Demon Bashkali. Many other stories revolve around this lake. The place offers various trek for adventure seekers and also an amazing boat ride. The restaurants and eateries around the lake are a great place to eat local food at very cheap prices.

This popular and simple hill station has a cuisine of the same nature. Being a popular Jain pilgrim site, there are a large number of pure-veg restaurants, and you should expect little in the way of non-vegetarian food. There are a number of restaurants serving everything from local Rajasthani food to Punjabi and Chinese cuisines. You would find most of these restaurants clustered around the city center. We would recommend you go with the local food flavors and skip the chinese/punjabi options, if possible.
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Day 1: On arriving Mount Abu, try some delicious local breakfast on your way from the railway station to the main city. Then after checking in a hotel, head to the magnificent Dilwara Temple and then you can head to Trevor’s Tank, which is 10 minutes away from the temple. Post lunch, to experience the spirit of history head to the Mount Abu Museum and Art gallery. It is a 5 minutes’ stroll to the placid Lake Nakki. Boating being the highlighted venture here, you could also visit the beguiling Crocodile Park and the captivating Datda Sea World which is very close to the lake. Engage in street shopping and bargaining at the Nakki lake market and then head to the Sunset point to behold the beautiful view of the sunset.

Day 2: After having a good breakfast, drive to the Peace Park and indulge in the lush beauty. After lunch, you could visit the Lucky’s celebrity Wax Museum (along with the escapade of 9D cinemas, horror house, mirror maze and vortex), which is enchanting hang out spot for kids and family for fun and entertainment. After that head Guru Shikhar, to accommodate the pristine experience of peace and tranquillity. For more street shopping and bargaining, don’t forget to visit Chacha museum, Rajasthali, Tibetian market and Khadi Bandan.

The top places near to Mount abu are Udaipur which is 98 km from Mount abu, Danta ambaji which is located 72 km from Mount abu, Patan which is located 101 km from Mount abu, Palanpur which is located 54 km from Mount abu, Jaisalmer which is located 315 km from Mount abu

The only hill station in Rajasthan, Mount Abu acts as a relaxing point for people of both Rajasthan and Gujarat. Dilwara temple has an amazing architecture and is quite important for Jain pilgrims as well. Mount Abu can be visited throughout the year.

The place is a hill station situated between beautiful evergreen mountains and has views to die for. The place is meant for honeymoon couples and families from Gujarat and Rajasthan. The place can be visited by anyone but as it is quite affordable. Mount Abu also attracts a lot of Jain pilgrims because of Jain temples.

Mount Abu has a soothing climate throughout the year as the rich flora covers the entire hillside, which includes flowering shrubs and coniferous trees. However, the best time to visit this hill station is during monsoon and winter, i.e., from July - February. The beautiful weather and the pleasant temperature makes it excellent for a visit.
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This popular and simple hill station has a cuisine of the same nature. Being a popular Jain pilgrim site, there are a large number of pure-veg restaurants, and you should expect little in the way of non-vegetarian food. There are a number of restaurants serving everything from local Rajasthani food to Punjabi and Chinese cuisines. You would find most of these restaurants clustered around the city center. We would recommend you go with the local food flavors and skip the chinese/punjabi options, if possible.
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The packages for Mount abu start at INR 5207 which can be further customized based on number of people, days, hotel category, vehicle type and customizations. You can have a look at all packages here

Udaipur is the nearest airport to the city but is still 185km away. Abu Road is the nearest railway station, about 25km from the main city and well connected to all major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, etc. Mt Abu is also very well connected by road with all major cities. The most common way to reach Mount Abu is by road. Mount Abu is well connected to major cities by road and the nearest national highway is number 14 which is 24 kilometres away from it.
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The top things to do in Mount abu are Dilwara Temples, Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary, Nakki Lake, Guru Shikhar, Arbuda Devi Temple, Achalgarh Village. You can see all the places to visit in Mount abu here

If you visit Mount Abu during winter season around Diwali the place gets very expensive. Also, it gets very crowded during the time from mid - May to mid - June and other peak seasons. Also, there's not much to do in the town except for a few sightseeing points.