The Only Hill Station in Rajasthan

Story: Think Rajasthan, and the first thing that comes to mind is sand dunes, heat and barren lands. Out of all the flora, fauna and topography we associate with this beautiful state, never does the thought of a hill station come to mind. Well, if you haven’t already heard of Mount Abu, though we doubt, let us take you through a trip of this beautiful hill station, that is famously known as an ‘oasis in the desert’ called Rajasthan.

Situated at the foot of Aravalli Hills, it is home to flowing rivers, beautiful lakes, free falling waterfalls and lush green forests. Mount Abu has it all and beats any common misconception that comes with a deserted landscape. Situated at a height of 1,722 m (5,650 ft) above sea level, this luscious hill station is situated on the border Gujarat and Rajasthan. The name ‘Mount Abu’ is believed to be derived from its ancient name ‘Arbudaanchal’ from the Puranas. The word Abu comes as a diminutive from the word Arbudaranya, which loosely translates to ‘forest of Arbudha’. It is believed, according to history, that sage Vashistha headed here after his differences with sage Vishvamitra. While this is one story, that explains the name, there is another story that many believe, led to the name Abu. It is said that there was a serpent who saved the life of lord Shiva’s bull Nandi on the mountain of ‘Arbuda’, and that’s why the place is named as Mount Abu.

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Filled with attractions for all types of tourists, from the laid back ones to the adventure seekers, the hill station is most famous for its wildlife sanctuary; yes, you heard that right, a hill station that in in a desert, with water bodies and a wildlife sanctuary! It happens to be a habitat to many animal species, huge range of tree species, medicinal plants and, the only place in all of Rajasthan, where one can spot orchids! While there was a time when the sanctuary was home to the regal Asiatic lion, one can spot other animals there, including – leopard, mongoose, sambar, pangolin, sloth bear, hedgehog, languor and wild boar, to name a few.

Besides the sanctuary, there are other places to visit here as well, like the Dilwara Jain Temples, a complex of temples that are all carved out of white marble. Build by Vimal Shah and designed by the Jain ministers of Dholka, Vastupala, in-between 11th and 16th century, the temples are known for its simplicity and fine craftsmanship of marble engraving. If it is boating you crave for, to beat the heat, then Nakki Lake is the place. Said to be the largest manmade lake, its situated at the height of 1100 meters, and you can witness a gorgeous sunset over the Aravalli’s.

Another must visit is the Guru Shikhar, the highest peak of the Aravalli Range. With a height of 5650 feet, the peak is about 15 kms from the main town. That is not all, we have a fun story for you, behind its name! Guru Shikhar, which translates to ‘peak of the guru’ in Hindi, got its name after Dattaterya, an avtar of lord Vishnu. It is even believed that there are the footprints of Dattaterya on a rock here. Although, if you’re more of a science and astronomy fan, then you must check out the Mt Abu observatory, next to the temple. Operated by the Physical Research Laboratory, the observatory is home to a 1.2m infrared telescope and conducts various astronomy experiments.

Then there are multiple forts around, because Rajasthan, and you have a range of hill top viewpoints, camping, trekking, adventure sports, rock climbing, cave exploration, and so much more!

So next time you want to get away from the city’s hustle bustle to a hill station, that offers more than just a beautiful but typical view, then Mount Abu is the place. Not only is it rich with history, stories and facts but comes loaded with the vibrant tradition and colourful culture of Rajasthan!

From the April-May 2021 issue of FHM India.