Visiting Mount Abu

The only hill station in Rajasthan is Mount Abu, which is situated on the highest peak of the Aravalli Range in Sirohi district. It is spread over an area of 25 square kilometers. The temperature in the summers could go up as high as 33 degrees Celsius and as low as 23 degrees Celsius, whereas in the winters it is considerably cooler at a maximum temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 11 degrees Celsius. Mount Abu was originally called Arbudaanchal. Mount Abu is referred to as an oasis in the desert because it is the only fertile patch in the otherwise barren Rajasthan desert.

It is fanned out along a 1200 meter high plateau, which is on the southern part of the state. Mount Abu is very close to the southern end of Rajasthan that borders with Gujarat. In fact it is only 58 kilometers away from Palanpur, which is situated in Gujarat. Mount Abu is at a distance of 27 kilometers from the railway station and it is situated on a hilly plateau about 22 kilometers long and 9 kilometer wide. The station is called Abu Road. Transportation is ubiquitously available in the form of taxis, state transport buses and cabs to take you to Mount Abu. Commuting to and from Abu Road is no problem. Mount Abu is connected with other places by bus and by train. Buses are available from Udaipur, Ajmer, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Delhi and Ahmedabad on a daily basis. You would have a very comfortable ride if you take a luxury cab from Udaipur. You can also opt for a train. Several express trains will take you there since Abu Road is on the track between Mumbai and Delhi. Trains depart from Jaipur, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and even Mumbai for Abu Road. However the closest airport is 210 kilometers away in Udaipur. Mount Abu provides some much needed relief from the hot summers to the people of Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Mount Abu has been mentioned in the Puranas as Arbudaranya, which literally means the forest of Arbhu. Arbhu was the name of a mighty serpent who had rescued Nandi, the sacred bull of Lord Shiva out of an abyss. The son of Himalya was named Abu after the serpent.

Mount Abu has been a refuge to many sages and saints. Sage Vasishtha was the most renowned of them all. As per the legend sage Vasistha came to Mount Abu following an altercation with sage Vishwamitra. It is believed that he formed four Agnikula Rajput kinfolk by performing a yagya (sacred prayer) to shelter the earth from the demons.

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