Mount Abu

Mount Abu

Mount Abu is a hill station in Pindwara in Sirohi district of Rajasthan state. It is near the border with Gujarat. The highest top on the mountain is Guru Shikhar at 5,650 feet above sea level. It is surrounding with rivers, lakes, waterfalls and evergreen forests.

Tourist Attraction in Mount Abu

Mount Abu is famous for the Temples.  The mountain has several Hindu temples such as the Adhar Devi Temple, the Shri Raghunathji Temple and the Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple.

Mount Abu is the only hill station in Rajasthan which is at an elevation of 4,003 ft. It is a popular destination among tourists for rid of from the heat of Rajasthan and Gujarat for centuries.

Achalgarh Fort

Achalgarh is a fort which is situated around 11 kilometers from Mount Abu. The fort was built by the Paramara rulers. Later on it is reconstructed    by Maharana Kumbha in 1452. It is one of the 32 forts made in the period of his reign.

Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple is located just outside the fort. Here a brass Nandi is situated and inside the temple the toe of Shiv is worshipped. Near the temple there are three stone buffaloes that all are around a pond. Jain temples are also inside the fort that was built in 1513.

Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple

The Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple is situated in the tehsil of Sirohi district on the Abu Road. It is a Shiva temple which is outside the Achalgarh Fort. It is believed that the temple have been constructed in the 9th century by the Paramara dynasty. He also constructed the original structure of the Achalgarh Fort.

Dilwara or Delvada Temples

The Dilwara Temples are set near about 3 kilometers from Mount Abu. They are a pilgrimage site and a tourist attraction point. These Jain temples were made by Vimal Shah and designed by Vastupala. These temples are made between the 11th and 16th centuries in Mount Abu. These are popular for use of white marble and intricate marble carvings. Even though Jains made several beautiful temples in Rajasthan but the Dilwara temples are the most beautiful example of architectural excellence. Carved ceilings, doorways, pillars, and panels are all marvelous.

Five Temples

There are five temples are located in small village of Dilwara or Delvara and each has own unique identity. All the five temples are surrounding in a high walled. The most popular temples are the Vimal Vasahi and the Luna Vasahi temples.

These five temples are:

Vimal Vasahi temple is devoted to the first Jain Tirthankara, Shri Adinatha

Luna Vasahi temple is devoted to the 22nd Jain Tirthankara, Shri Neminatha.

Pittalhar temple is devoted to the first Jain Tirthankar, Shri Adinatha.

Parshvanath temple is devoted to the 23rd Jain Tirthankara, Shri Parshvanatha.

Mahavir Swami temple is devoted to the last Jain Tirthankara, Shri Mahaviraswami.

Vimal Vasahi Temple

The Adinatha or Vimala Vasahi Temple was built by Vimal Shah in 1031. Vimal Shah was a minister of Bhima I who was the Chaulukya king of Gujarat. The temple is devoted to Lord Rishabha and carved entirely out of white marble. The temple is in an open courtyard containing smaller idols of the tirthankaras. The attractive carved corridors, pillars, arches, and mandaps are remarkable in the temple.

The ceilings have carved designs of lotus-buds, flowers, scenes from Jain mythology and about life of tirthankars from dream to incarnation. There are another 59 devakulikas (small temple) in front of the main image of Rishabhanatha. The Gudh mandap has two images of Parshvanatha in Kayotsarga position and al well as is the idol of Adi Nath or Lord Rishabdev. The mandap is used for Aarti to the deity.

Luna Vasahi

The Luna Vasahi temple is devoted to Lord Neminath. The Luna Vasahi temple was made in 1230 by two Porwad brothers - Vastupal and Tejpal. Both brothers were ministers of Virdhaval who was the Vaghela ruler of Gujarat. The temple is made in memory of Vastupal & Tejpal's late brother Lunig. The temple was designed after making of the Vimal Vashi temple. So the temple has a similar structure as Vimala Vasahi temple but there is a different and rich amazing sculptural decoration. Main hall or Rang mandap has a central dome featuring elaborate carving

The ceilings of the temple show scenes of the life of Neminatha with Rajmathi who was to marry Neminatha and Krishna. The Gudh mandap has a black marble image of the 22nd Tirthankara Neminatha. The Kirthi Stambha is a big black stone pillar which is inside of the temple. The Kirti Stambha was made by Maharana Kumbha of Mewar.

Shri Parshvanatha Temple

Shri Parshvanatha Temple was made by Sangvi Mandlik and his family in 1458–59. Temple is dedicated to Lord Parshvanath. This temple has a three-story building. It is the tallest of all the temples at Dilwara. On the ground floor, in the sanctum are four big mandaps having a Choumukha idol of Parshvanatha. On the first floor, in front of the Chaumukha idol is Chintamani Parshvanath, second Magalakar Parshvanatha and third Manoratha-Kalpadruma Parshvanatha all are showed with hood of 9 cobras. In the corridor there are painting of 17 tirthankaras images and flowers. On the second floor there is the Chaumukha idol of Sumatinatha, Parshvanatha, Adinatha, Parshvanatha and Goddess Ambika. On the third floor there is the Chaumukha idol of Parshvanatha.

Pittalhar Temple

This temple was made by Bhima Shah in 1316 to 1432. He was a minister of Sultan Begada of Ahmedabad. The temple is dedicated to first Tirthankara, Rishabha Dev (Adinath). Inside the temple there is a massive metal statue of the Rishabha Dev cast in five metals. Pital (brass) is the main metal in this statue hence the name 'Pittalhar'.

Inside the temple there are a total 107 images. The temple has a main Garbhagriha, Gudh mandap and Navchowki and yaksha Gomukha.  Gudh Mandap has a big marble Panch-Tirthi statue of Adinath.

Shri Mahaveer Swami Temple

Shri Mahaveer Swami Temple is a small structure which is made in 1582. It is dedicated to Lord Mahavira. It is an excellent temple with carvings on its walls. On the upper walls there are carvings of flowers, court-scene, dancing girls, horses, elephant, and other scenes.  Just Outside the temple, there is a marble slab of rectangular shape which having 133 small images of tirthankar with a larger image in center.

Note: Bathing facilities are available here. It is compulsory to take bath before puja. Solar power has been used to heat up the water for bathing and other things.

Repairs of the Temples

The temples have being repaired time to time. Temples had been attacked and damaged by Allauddin Khilji in 1311. In 1321, Bijag and Lalag of Mandore had undertaken repairs these temples. In 1906, Lallubhai Jaichand of Patan repaired the temples, under the supervision of Yati Hemasagar.

Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary

Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1980. It is one of the oldest mountain ranges of India. It is situated in the Aravalli range.

In Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary are Indian leopard, sloth bear, Sambar deer, chinkara, jungle cat, small Indian civet, Indian wolf, striped hyena, golden jackal, Indian fox and gray langur.  More than 250 species of birds have been recorded here.

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest airport is Udaipur Airport. Private and Government Buses, cabs and rented taxis can be taken easily from outside of the airport to reach the city.

By Rail: The Nearest railway station is the Abu Road railway station. It has good train connectivity with other major stations in Rajasthan and from Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Kolkata. Abu Road railway station is also well connected to others tourist places in Rajasthan such as Jaipur and Udaipur. Traveling by train within Rajasthan is a good and cheap option.

By Road: Mount Abu has good road connectivity to various part of the country. State transport buses are regularly available. Sleeper buses are available from Delhi or Ahmedabad to Mount Abu. This journey is quite cheap and comfortable.

Climate of the Mount Abu

Summer : In Mount Abu Summer remain from April to June. Average maximum temperature remains around 34°C. Humidity is quite less and light cotton clothes are best choice.

Monsoon : In the rainy season, the temperature falls and weather become pleasant. 

Winter : In Mount Abu, winter remain from November to Mid-March. Winters are cool with temperature of around 13°C to 22°C. Nights are cooler than Day and Average night temperature is about 3 to 12°C. Sometimes the temperature reaches to low as −1 to −3°C. Heavy woolen clothing is the best choice in the winter season.

Best time to Visit

Mount Abu can be visited any time of the year. The best time is to visit it from October to March. These months are enjoyable. Although these months are very cold but this time is a good to visit the Temples.