Introduction :

Mount Abu is the sole hill station of the desert state of Rajasthan. The nearest of the great Rajasthani tourism centers, Udaipur, is 185 kilometres (ll5 miles) away and Abu remains slightly off the foreign tourist route. Its visitors are mainly Indians and during the season it is well patronized, especially by honeymoon couples.Mount Abu has been a pilgrimage site and its most remarkable attractions are its beautifully carved Jain temples, nearly a thousand years old.

History of Mount Abu :

The name Abu is variously described as a corruption of Arbuda, hill of wisdom, or Arbuda, the name of a powerful serpent who rescued Lord Shiva's mount, the bull Nandi, from a chasm here. Legends surround the town. The Nakki Lake is said to have been excavated by the nails of the gods.

The British added a chapter to Mount Abu's long history by making it a hill station. They had no hill retreat in Rajputana, as Rajasthan was then called, until 1845, when the government leased Mount Abu from its Rajput owner. The station was built principally for the British Resident of Rajputana, and in 1847, for the first time, 60 Britons escaped to the hill from the plains. While the British built private bungalows, and a polo ground, the Raiput princes constructed palatial residences.Mount Abu has a cooler climate than the plains and stands among great granite outcrops, surrounded by scrub-covered hills.

Accessibility :

The nearest Railway Station, Abu Road, 27 kilo metres (17 miles) away. The nearest airport is Udaipur, 185 kilometres (ll5 miles) away. is on the main meter-gauze line between Delhi and Ahmedabad. Some superfast trains stop here. There are taxis and regular buses from the bus stand next to Abu Road station to the town.

In Mount Abu you can choose between unmetered taxis and horse drawn carts (tangos). There are also large baby prams for children. Local buses run to certain sights. The tourist office opposite the bus stand will advise you on which ones to take. Rajasthan State Tourism runs two conducted tours a day during the season, which cover the main sights in four hours.

Places to Visit :

Mount Abu is a curiously elongated hill station. The bus stand has become the town's center, and here you will find the main hotels. Roads to the northeast and southwest lead to the Guru Shikhar Peak and the Gaumukh Temple, respectively.

Guru Shikhar Peak :
The highest peak in the area, Guru Shikhar, 15 kilometres (a little over nine miles) from the town centre, at 1,722 metres (5,650 feet), is at the end of the Mount Abu plateau, surmounted by the Atri Rishi Temple. It is an unequalled viewpoint.

Nakki Lake :
In the central part of Mount Abu is Nakki Lake, which can contract dramatically in a rainless year. Take a walk around it or hire a rowing boat or a motor launch. Overhanging the lake is the Toad Rock clearly resembling a gigantic toad.There are a number of shrines and cave dwellings of ascetics on the shores of the lake.

View Point :
Popular viewpoints are Sunset Point to the southwest, which overlooks the plains, and Honeymoon (or Anadra) Point. On the footpath between the latter and Subhash Road to the north of the bazaar is another path which leads to the Crag's Viewpoint.

Shopping in Mount Abu

Mount Abu is an enchanting hill resort in Rajasthan.Shopping in Mount Abu is going to be an enthralling experience as the markets of Mount Abu are stacked with a variety of handicrafts from Rajasthan and the neighboring state of Gujarat. Textiles, jewellery, curios in wood, metal and marble, you name it and they have it all in Mount Abu.

Most of the shops in Mount Abu are located around the beautiful Nakki Lake, which makes your shopping in Mount Abu a pleasurable experience. Rajasthani paintings, leather articles and stone crafts make good souvenirs. If you have a fascination for textiles and fabrics, then you should check out the Kota saris, linen with Sanganeri prints or even the lightweight Jaipury quilt.

For Rajasthan Handicrafts like metal, stone and wooden curios, you can shop at the Government Handicrafts Emporium, Khadi Bhandar, Kashmir Cottage emporium and a host of other shops in the town.