Mount Abu Sightseeing: Your Guide to Rajasthan's Best Hill Station

Situated in the Sirohi District of Rajasthan is the famous hill-station of the state named as Mount Abu. It is the perfect retreat spot for people on vacations and sometimes for honeymoons as well. People from nearby places such as Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Jaisalmer often visit here with their family and friends during the summer season to give themselves a break from the scorching sun. Like in any other hill station, visitors opt for the Mount Abu sightseeing tour with a lot of enthusiasm.

Lush green surroundings, pleasant temperature, and intricately beautiful views make the city a must-visit place for travellers. Mount Abu also boasts a lot of tourist attractions, some of which are man-made masterpieces. So, if you are planning on visiting the city, do ensure that the places suggested below are included in your Mount Abu tour package:

1. Dilwara Temples

Dilwara Temples situated in Mount Abu is a marvellous Jain temple built in between the 11^th and 13^th Century from marble carvings by Vastupal Tejpal. The design and architecture of the entire temple is a treat for the eyes. Within the temple, there are 5 more temples that have the same striking designs and enchanting interiors. Amongst these, Vimal Vasahi and Pithalhar are the two temples dedicated to Lord Rishabh who is the first Jain Tirthankar. Luna Vashi is dedicated to Lord Neminatha who is the 22^nd Jain Tirthankar. Khartar Vasahi is dedicated to Lord Parshva who is the 23^rd Jain Tirthankar and the Mahavir Swami temple is dedicated to Lord Mahavir, the last Jain Tirthankar. Sightseeing in Mount Abu is bound to feel incomplete if you do not take a tour of these temples. The wonderful interiors and exteriors will leave you mesmerized. Adorning the shrines in the temple is the archways and the miniature statuettes throughout its vicinity. You can offer your prayers in the beautiful Jain temple between 12 noon to 3 pm.

2. Peace Park

 Peace Park is one of the essential parts of Mount Abu that calls for a visit. With greenery and serenity the main constituents of the place, every visitor simply surrenders in front of the calmness that this place holds. Open for visitors between 8 am and 7 pm, Peace Park is a part of the spiritual abode of Brahma Kumaris. The park is a perfect place for meditation and rejuvenating yourself. It also hosts people who are looking out for a picnic spot. For all these reasons, make sure you have Peace Park in your Mount Abu sightseeing itinerary.

3. Nakki Lake

Nakki Lake is an artificial lake and the only artificial lake situated at a height of 1200m above the sea level. This lake gets its name from the legends that say the lake was made by deities using nails and nakh’s.

Situated amidst the lush green Aravali Hills, the mesmerizing Nakki Lake is surrounded by rocky hills and gardens from all the sides. Owing to its sheer beauty, a lot of visitors put Nakki Lake in their Mount Abu sightseeing list and create a lot of unforgettable memories here. Although a majority of people visit the lake during summers (as it helps them beat the heat), if you want to witness the real beauty of this place, monsoon season is the best time for you to visit here. But irrespective of the time of your visit, one can always enjoy boating, sitting at the lakeside and a lot of other stuff. But don’t forget that the boating timings here are between 9:30 am to 6:00 pm.

4. Shri Raghunath Ji Temple

The Shri Raghunathji Temple is situated right next to the Nakki Lake. This temple is a famous pilgrim spot for Hindus as they visit here to offer their prayers to Lord Rama and get blessings from him. The temple is dedicated to Rama who was the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is also believed that Lord Rama saves all of his followers from negative energies and natural calamities. People also believe that offering prayers in this temple opens up the path to moksha and liberates the pain and pangs of a person’s life. These beliefs make this temple one of the most popular spots for local sightseeing in Mount Abu. So try and not miss out on this one.

5. Adhar Devi Temple

Adhar Devi Temple is located on the summit of a cleft of a huge rock that offers a breathtaking view of Mount Abu from the top. According to legends, before the temple was built here, the image of the goddess was hanging mid-air which is why the temple was given the name “Adhar Devi”. Upon visiting the temple, you can see a lot of idols and sculptures that would definitely make your trip worth it. Moreover, a lot of travellers who come for sightseeing in Mount Abu, Rajasthan make it a point to visit here owing to the legends about the place. The temple is beautifully decorated during the 9 days of Navratri and filled to the brim!

6. Gaumukh Temple

Another popular temple of Hindus in Mount Abu is the Gaumukh Temple. The literal meaning of the temple’s name is the “mouth of a cow”. There are about 700 steps that a person has to climb to reach the topmost section of the temple. Dedicated to Saint Vashishtha, the Gaumukh Temple has a long and interesting history. If you ask the locals, there would be several stories circulating in the entire city, some of which are related to the formation of this temple. One of the most popular stories that the locals recite about the place is that Saint Vashishtha performed a Yagya at this place after which the 4 major Rajput clans were formed to rule Rajasthan. It is also said that the temple was built by cutting a huge rock. At the entrance of the temple is the face of a cow carved out of marbles through which a natural spring flows throughout the year. A lot of devotees who visit Mount Abu for sightseeing also visit here to have a look at the architecture of the temple.

7. Guru Shikhar

Located at a height of 1772m above sea level, Guru Shikhar is the highest point from where you can have a look at the beautiful city of Mount Abu. On the summit of the hill, you will find a temple that is dedicated to Guru Dattatreya who is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva, Lord Hindu, and Lord Brahma. Apart from this temple, one can also find a few more temples such as Shiva Temple, Chamundi Temple, and Mira Temple. If you wish to visit these temples or the Shikhar, you will have to trek up the hill. The starting point of the trek is about 15 km from the city of Mount Abu. So, if you are an adventure enthusiast, then add Guru Shikhar in your Mount Abu sightseeing list.

These 7 aren’t all that secret so make sure they are part of your Mount Abu sightseeing trip! Apart from these spots, you can spend some time visiting the Achalgarh Fort, Government Museum, Peace Museum and hall.