Mount Abu – Rajasthan’s hill abode!!
Of days gone by...this January during my solo all India motorcycle journey…
I had ridden from the city of Palaces – Udaipur to Rajasthan’s only hill station Mount Abu. The drive from Abu road to Mount Abu offered splendid views of the lush green valleys and peaks of the Aravallis.
Mount Abu, located at an elevation of 1,220 meters is a popular ‘heat reprieve’ retreat for the people of Rajasthan and Gujarat, which is the neighbouring state. Further, this tourist destination, offers great incentive for the folks of Gujarat, as they offer the dual combo of a pretty and cool hill station that sells liquor (Gujarat is a no-alcohol state in India). The entire region is also home to the Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary, which covers 290 sq km of the hills.
Like a stereotype tourist, I visited the standard, yet famous destinations within this tourist hill town. The first evening, I made by way to the Sunset Point and watched the sun set across the deep valleys and gorges. The next day, I visited Nakki lake, a popular boating spot for honeymooners and kids alike. I spent my time watching the large migratory birds. Andara point and the nearby Ganesha temple were next on my list. Andara point offers great views of the Aravallis. There are a lot of Jain temples in and around Mount Abu and I visited the Dilwara temples, which are the most noted of the lot. The Dilwara temples are part of a temple complex that was built between the 11th and the 13th centuries AD. There are other notable Hindu temples that are definitely worth a visit, but my clock seemed to be ticking fast and I could not visit these. Mount Abu – a green and mountainous getaway in an otherwise dry desert state!!
