State: Rajasthan

District: Sihori

Main languages: Hindi and Rajasthani

 

History:

 

Mount Abu is the highest peak in the Aravalli Range of Rajasthan state in western India and it is located in Sirohi district. The mountains here form a distinct rocky plateau and the highest peak on the mountain is Guru Shikhar, which is located at 1722 meters above sea level. This beautiful town is also referred to as 'an oasis in the desert', as these heights provide home to rivers, lakes, waterfalls and evergreen forests, amidst the middle of the arid state of Rajasthan. The town has been referred to in the Puranas and has been called Arbudaranya or the forest of Arbhu. The word Abu is a diminutive of this ancient name and it was believed that the sage Vasishtha retired to the southern spur at Mount Abu following his differences with sage Vishvamitra. This area was once home to the meditating rishi and munis and there is a legend that Mount Abu is home to 33 crore Gods and Goddess. As per this legend the name Abu means son of Himalayas and the hill of wisdom. The town gets its name from Arbuada, the powerful serpent, which rescued Nandi the sacred bull of Lord Shiva. During the British rule in the country, Mount Abu was leased by the East-India Company from the Maharajah of Sirohi. It was then used as the headquarters for the resident of Rajputana until 1947, and also as a sanatorium for troops.

 

Geography and climate:

 

The town of Mount Abu is located at 1220 meters and is the only hill station in Rajasthan to have this elevation. This has been a popular retreat from the heat of Rajasthan and neighboring Gujarat for centuries and it is also the home to the Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary. The weather in this area remains cool during the entire year with warmer temperatures during the summers. The nights are usually cooler due to the influence of the surrounding deserts. The rivers and lakes in this are provide greenery to the town and there is frequent rainfall due to the surrounding mountain ranges.

 

Demography:

 

As per the 2001 India census, Mount Abu had a population of 22,045 and had an average literacy rate of 67%.

 

Economy and education:

 

The economy here is mainly dependent on tourism but there are also various kinds of agriculture and forestry related occupations here. The town is also the home to some of the esteemed educational institutions in the country along with hostels. 

 

Tourism:

 

The city has various Jain temples like the Dilwara Temples are a complex of temples, which are carved of white marble, and were built between the 11th and 13th centuries AD. One of the oldest of these is the Vimal Vasahi temple followed by the Lun Vasahi Temple were built in 1231 AD. Other tourist attractions here include the Achalgarh fort, built in the 14th century by Rana Kumbha of Mewar and the Kantinath Temple. The Nakki Lake is another popular visitor attraction of Mount Abu and there are also various Hindu temples here including the Adhar Devi Temple, Shri Raghunathji Temple and Dattatreya. There is also wildlife sanctuaries located near Mount Abu.

 

Transportation:

 

The nearest railway station from Mount Abu Road is 27 km southeast of the town and is connected to the main cities of India. The town is easily accessible through roads and the nearest airport is the Udaipur airport along with Ahmedabad.

 

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