Mount Abu History



The history of Mount Abu is as diverse as the city itself. It was once a part of the Chauhan kingdom of Rajasthan and served as a summer resort for the Rajput kings of the region. After that, it was leased by the British government from the then Maharaja of Sirohi for use as the headquarter of the resident to Rajputana (another name for Rajasthan).

During the British rule in India, it was the favorite summer destination of the British, who came here to escape the dusty, dry heat of the plains particularly Rajasthan. It also served as a sanatorium for the troops. The small huts and cottages here tell stories of those times even today.

Mount Abu was the home of many saints and sages in the old days. Legend has it that all the 330 million gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon used to visit this holy mountain. It is also the place where the great saint Vashishth lived and performed a yagna (sacrificial worship on a fire pit) to create four Agnikula (four clans of fire) to protect the earth from demons. The yagna was supposed to have been performed near a natural spring, which emerged from a rock shaped like a cow's head.

According to another legend, once sage Vashishth's cow Nandini was trapped in a deep gorge and could not free herself. The sage appealed to Lord Shiva for assistance. The Lord sent Saraswati, the divine stream, to help flood the gorge so that the cow could float up. Vashishth then decided to ensure that such mishaps did not occur in future. He asked the youngest son of Himalaya, the king of mountains to fill the chasm permanently. This he did with the assistance of Arbud, the mighty snake. This spot came to be known as Mount Arbud and was later changed to its present form - Mount Abu.

This place is held in reverence by Jains as well since Jain scriptures record that Lord Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankar (spiritual leader), also visited Mount Abu and blessed the city.

Tourist Attractions of Mount Abu

Dilwara Temples

Mt. Abu, Rajasthan sightseeing tour is incomplete without a visit to the famous Dilwara Jain temples. Built between 11th and 13th century AD, these temples are made up of carved marble. The temples are dedicated to the Jain Tirthankaras. There are five Dilwara temples in Mt. Abu. Out of these, the oldest one is Vimal Vasahi, dedicated to the first Tirthankara. All the Dilwara temples are a marvelous example of temple architecture.

Gardens and Parks

There are a number of parks and gardens in Mt Abu providing you with natural beauty. Some of them are Shaitan Singh Park, Municipal Park, Terrace Garden, Ashok Vatika, Gandhi Park, etc.

Gurushikhar

The highest peak on the mount (1722 mts above the sea level) allows a bird eye view of the sylvan surroundings of Mount Abu.

A small shrine and a temple of Dattatreya standing on the shikhar are worth a visit.

Toad Rock

Overhanging the Nakki Lake, so called because of its likeness to gigantic toad about to leap into the water

Nakki Lake

The lake is picturesquely set amidst hills and is believed to have been carved out by the Gods with their nails. It is popular spot for boating and the only artificial lake in India that is 1200 mts. above sea level. The surrounding hills have several area of interest.

Museum and Art Gallery

The museum and art gallery are located at the Raj Bhawan. A rich collection of archaeological excavations dating back to 8th-12th century A.D. is on display.

How to Reach Mount Abu

By Air

Udaipur is the nearest airport, which is 185 km away from Mount Abu. There are regular and direct flights to Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur from Udaipur. You can take taxis/buses from Udaipur to reach mount Abu.

By Train

Abu Road is the nearest railway station and is about 22 kms from Mount Abu. And well connected by Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mumbai and Jodhpur.

By Bus

Mt. Abu is well connected by road with major cities of the country.