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Udaipur is great, and a must see, the beautiful lakes, the glorious forts, the greenery, it makes one doubt if its really Rajasthan. After covering the Udaipur city and the nearby places Ranakpur, Kumbhalgarh and Haldighati, the next stop was Mount Abu. Its about 160 km from Udaipur by road.
One bus goes directly from Udaipur to Mount Abu taking about 4-5 hours. We took private cab for this commute. The road is good and well maintained, in between many dhabas are there so no worries about food. To be noted, this route is not safe for travelling in evening hours as suggested by our cab driver, a considerable stretch is dangerous in wee hours.
If travelling from Delhi to Mount Abu directly, you need to book tickets to 'Abu Road station' .Then board a bus, or taxi available outside the station to reach Mount Abu.
Coincidentally the day we had to checkout from Udaipur and checkin in Mount Abu, the day was Holi, the festival of colours. We were really sceptical about the people celebrating holi on the roads, or road blocks if any. Much to our relief the city was calm in the morning hours, we started around 10 am just after breakfast, and headed towards Mount Abu. It took almost 3-4 hours for our cab to reach our destination 'Hotel hillock, Mount Abu'.
Hotel is great, and kid friendly with its very own swimming pool, gardens, play areas with activities and swings. The greenery and gardening are really serene and soothing to the eyes. The interiors of the hotel , the antiques used up in the decor, the wall paintings all made hotel very ethnic and Rajasthani. This place is a well known hill station cum hangout place for Gujaratis as its near to the border of Gujarat. Can say Most of the tourists here were from Gujarat, even the hotel breakfast had Gujarati friendly menu. The city was buzzing with tourists as it was the time of Holi vacation. Mount Abu is often referred to as "An Oasis in the desert". We reached around 3 pm at the hotel.After getting refreshed, we decided to explore the activities for kid. Just a glimpse of the play area made my kiddo happy allowing us a sigh of relief.
Hotel management had planned a holi celebration for the tourists on the next day.A big open area was provided for the colour play , the colours, gulal and water was already kept for use. People played colours and enjoyed the festivity. The brekfast was also a Holi feast , really delicious and so many options. The hotel staff is courteous, managing a beautiful artistic and ethnic hotel with prompt service.
We spent this whole day relaxing here in cool and lovable weather. Me dragged to the playarea all the time is a different story apart from relaxing, my kid always drag me to play with her and Mr.Hubby gets lucky. Since the hotel was so serene, calm, beautiful and spacious that I didn't mind to step out of the room and soak the loveliness of the place.
In the evening hours around 5 pm, we decided to explore the city a little bit. Explored the shopping areas which included Picaadilly Plaza which was suggested by Hotel Hillock staff, the Khadi Bhandar, and some handicrafts shops too. There were many shops selling dress items made up of Crotchet dresses for girls, kids, ladies. I too got a few for my little one and the crotchet skirt is her favourite.
The whole market is full of colourful ghagra cholis, antiques, wooden works , handicrafts,and much more. One can explore the market as the time permits.
Done with the local shopping we retired for the day. Booked a cab from hotel for sight seeing of Mount Abu for the next day, and by EOD board the train back to Delhi.
The places which one should visit in Mount Abu are
1) Dilwara Jain Temples
2) Guru Shikhar
3) Achalgarh
4) Nakki Lake
5) Sunset Point
6) Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple
7)BrahamKumaris Ashram ( Brahamkumari World Spiritual University)
Photography is not allowed within the campus, and no tickets required to get entry to the campus.
One bus goes directly from Udaipur to Mount Abu taking about 4-5 hours. We took private cab for this commute. The road is good and well maintained, in between many dhabas are there so no worries about food. To be noted, this route is not safe for travelling in evening hours as suggested by our cab driver, a considerable stretch is dangerous in wee hours.
If travelling from Delhi to Mount Abu directly, you need to book tickets to 'Abu Road station' .Then board a bus, or taxi available outside the station to reach Mount Abu.
Coincidentally the day we had to checkout from Udaipur and checkin in Mount Abu, the day was Holi, the festival of colours. We were really sceptical about the people celebrating holi on the roads, or road blocks if any. Much to our relief the city was calm in the morning hours, we started around 10 am just after breakfast, and headed towards Mount Abu. It took almost 3-4 hours for our cab to reach our destination 'Hotel hillock, Mount Abu'.
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| Hotel Hillock |
Hotel management had planned a holi celebration for the tourists on the next day.A big open area was provided for the colour play , the colours, gulal and water was already kept for use. People played colours and enjoyed the festivity. The brekfast was also a Holi feast , really delicious and so many options. The hotel staff is courteous, managing a beautiful artistic and ethnic hotel with prompt service.
We spent this whole day relaxing here in cool and lovable weather. Me dragged to the playarea all the time is a different story apart from relaxing, my kid always drag me to play with her and Mr.Hubby gets lucky. Since the hotel was so serene, calm, beautiful and spacious that I didn't mind to step out of the room and soak the loveliness of the place.
In the evening hours around 5 pm, we decided to explore the city a little bit. Explored the shopping areas which included Picaadilly Plaza which was suggested by Hotel Hillock staff, the Khadi Bhandar, and some handicrafts shops too. There were many shops selling dress items made up of Crotchet dresses for girls, kids, ladies. I too got a few for my little one and the crotchet skirt is her favourite.
The whole market is full of colourful ghagra cholis, antiques, wooden works , handicrafts,and much more. One can explore the market as the time permits.
Done with the local shopping we retired for the day. Booked a cab from hotel for sight seeing of Mount Abu for the next day, and by EOD board the train back to Delhi.
The places which one should visit in Mount Abu are
1) Dilwara Jain Temples
2) Guru Shikhar
3) Achalgarh
4) Nakki Lake
5) Sunset Point
6) Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple
7)BrahamKumaris Ashram ( Brahamkumari World Spiritual University)
BrahamKumaris Ashram ( Brahamkumari World Spiritual University):
We started our sight seeing from Brahamkumaris Ashram. It is so calm and divine inside the campus. The Ashram volunteers give a tour to visitors giving a brief about the institution, the values Brahamkumaris teach and few anecdotes.Photography is not allowed within the campus, and no tickets required to get entry to the campus.
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| Brahamkumari World Spiritual University |
Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple:
Enriched with such a calm atmosphere, we started to Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple. Its about 10 km or so from Mount Abu. This place holds a religious importance. According to the legends the temple has the thumb of right foot and hence worshipped and visited. We also had the darshan in the temple garbhgriha. On the entrance of the temple itself, multiple prasad and flowers shops are there offering the service to keep shoes at their stalls. Proceeding ahead a big brass statue of NANDI is present. Only a 10 Rupees fee is charged for the photography else the entry is free. Since some renovation and maintenance is going on, the priests ask to donate for the cause but not mandatory. |
| The big brass Nandi |
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| The traditional artifacts work on sale in various shops just outside the temple |
Brahamkumaris Peace Park:
Next we headed to Brahamkumaris Peace park
This place can be skipped from the sight seeing list . It definitely has a beautiful garden, swings, and also an interactive session with Brahamkumari volunteer but its not so wise to make out itme for it from your busy itinerary. Here Photography is not allowed but people were still clicking pics and using the swings which were meant for kids.
We had a so so experience with this place as with kid definitely one cannot feel silence and meditate.
DILWARA JAIN TEMPLE:
Then we proceeded to the famous DILWARA JAIN TEMPLE. This temple is situated at a distance of 3 kms from Mount Abu in Dilwara village. Just seeing from outside it looks like an ordinary temple, but once you step inside and the mystery unfolds. Its huge, very very huge with beautiful architecture and marble stone carvings, corridors, the idols, everything is a gem hidden from outside.
The priests volunteer as the guide insise the temple premises sharing their valuable information with tourists. Dilwara temples were built in between 11th and 13th centuries. The temple is surrounded by greenery all around which gives a beautiful picturesque surrounding. The temple complex consists of five sub temples devoted to 5 different tirthankars ( Jain religion saints).
1) Shree Mahaveer Swami temple : is dedicated to the 23rd Jain tirthankar lord Parshva
2 )Shri Adinath Temple or Vimal Vasahi temple : is dedicated to the first Jain tirthankar lord Rishabh
3) Shri Parshavnath Temple or Khartar Vasahi temple : is dedicated to the 23rd Jain tirthankar lord Parshva
4) Shri Rishabhdevji Temple or Peethalhar temple : is dedicated to first Jain tirthnkar Lord Rishabh. Most of the idols are made up of brass (peetal) in here.
5) Shri Neminathji Temple or Luna Vasahi temple : is dedicated to the 22nd Jain tirthankar Lord Neminath. The idol of Neminathji is made up of Black Marble in this temple.
Along with these temples, there is also an Elephant cell or 'Hathishaala' which has elephant statues carved out of white marble. The long corridors in the temples have numerous cells with idols of other jain saints (tithankars).
The temperature drops in the temple premise as compared to outside. Its so serene, calming and leaves one wondering with its intricately carved pillars, ceilings, thoughtful floors, and everything.
Like Ranakpur this temple is again a marvel in architecture and no less than a wonder. It would not be wrong to say it is more rich in architecture than Ranakpur .
Must note that this temple is open from 12 pm to 5 pm only on all days. Strictly no photography so better to leave the cameras at a safe place. There are many food stalls around the temple, and the maggi they serve is really delicious and spicy.
[References used for tirthankars information :http://www.jaindharmonline.com/pilgri/delwa.htm ]
Next our taxi driver took us to HONEYMOON point, how is this name derived I don't know. This place is also not great and can be skipped. Only a good view can be seen but that too is not so aww. Horse riding can be done here if one want.We deliberately skipped the places Gurushikhar and Sunset Point which required to climb the stairs as holding a kid and taking stairs is a challenge, since none of the places were pram friendly.
NAKKI LAKE:
Our next stop was the famous Nakki Lake. In the middle of the city, its beautiful. Nakki lake is a picnic spot for the locals, boating , snacks, tea,coffee, and loads of photographs. The legend behind this lake is interesting, according to which this lake was dug by the gods( devdtas) with their nails hence called as Nakki Lake.
If you are in Mount Abu this lake is a must visit, giving a refreshing feeling with water around.
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| One of the beautiful ducks swimming in the Nakki Lake |
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| Boating in Nakki Lake
With Nakki lake as the last point of our Mount Abu sight seeing , the trip ended on a good note. Next our cabbie toook is to Abu road railway station for boarding our train back to Delhi. Point to be noted between Mount Abu to Abu Road, the road has numerous monkeys who keeps on jumping on the roads. Beware, not get allured to stop your car or vehicle and click pics with those notorious monkeys. Reason just not the monkeys, its prohibited to stop and click pics here, and police keeps on patrolling this road keeping an eye on tourists. We had ourselves witnessed one such incident with another family travelling in car. So don't stop and just keep going.
Honestly, one day is sufficient for Mount Abu sight seeing.
Hope this post helps in planning your visit to Mount Abu. Any feedbacks, inputs, suggestions are more than welcome.
Thanks for reading !!
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