Mount Abu

Mount Abu, the resort town of Rajasthan with a pastoral lake, nature reserves and hiking trails, amazing views, and an exceptionally comfortable climate that somehow hasn't yet been assimilated by the hummus path.

Weather in Mount Abu

28°C

Nearby airport

Cochin International Airport.

Nearby train station

ABU ROAD (one hour drive)

Mount Abu is a hill station in Rajasthan and is actually located in the very south of the desert state, right on the border with Gujarat, so the landscape and climate there are different from those known throughout Rajasthan. It is higher, located on a hill between green hills and lakes, and the weather there is tropical, humid and cooler than the rest of Rajasthan.

Mount Abu was once a summer resort for the Maharajas of Rajasthan, who built palaces and holiday castles there to escape the sweltering heat of the Rajasthani summer. Today, it is known as a resort town for Indian tourists, especially honeymooners.

Mount Abu is full of attractions, it has lakes with boats and water wheels, nature reserves with spectacular nature around, full of diverse and rare animals, ancient and special Jain temples, and it is surrounded by water sources and streams. That is why it is a very popular destination among Indian tourists who like to relax and unlike Israelis for hummus who are used to being spoiled, Indian tourists are used to traveling at a high level and therefore the altitude in Mount Abu is adapted to this, it is not a place for backpackers and accommodation there is relatively more expensive than other places in Rajasthan and tourist places in India. The cheaper places will be of a lower standard (hot water in a hot bucket and toilets outside the room, for example).

How to reach Mount Abu

Transportation in Rajasthan is extremely simple and convenient, so it is very easy to get to Mount Abu.

The nearest train station is ABU ROAD and is located about an hour's drive from the town, a simple ride by taxi, tuktuk or local (local bus).

Buses and local buses reach Mount Abu from many destinations in Rajasthan.

Distances:

3 and a half hours drive fromUdaipur – This is also the nearest airport.

5 hours fromJodhpur

8 hours From Pushkar

9 hours fromJaipur

Recommended season for a trip to Mount Abu

Due to it being higher and more tropical than other destinations in Rajasthan, the most ideal season for a trip to Mount Abu is after winter, from March to summer, and from the end of summer to the beginning of winter - around November, at which point the days will start to turn gray.

The season in Mount Abu can drag on for months longer than the rest of Rajasthan because the weather there is cooler and more humid. At the height of summer, temperatures will reach 30+ degrees, but usually not to extremes, and you will probably find tourists there throughout the summer.

What to do in Mount Abu?

Mount Abu is full of attractions!

♦ Lake Naki: The main attraction in the town. This is a sacred lake that has several versions of its origin, all of which are related to nails (nakh = nails). One of them is that it was created when the Indian gods scratched the surrounding mountains with their nails. Another version is that an ancient king ordered that whoever could dig a lake with his nails alone would win the hand of his wife, and there was a brave heir who heroically carried out the task and dug the lake with his nails. Around the lake there is a promenade with food stalls, restaurants and pastoral seating areas that invite you to a relaxed stroll. You can go pedal boating on the lake, an attraction especially popular with the Indians.

♦ Mount Abu Nature Reserve: Around Mount Abu there is an impressive nature reserve with very special nature and many species of plants, animals and birds, lakes and more, and many hiking trails. Entrance to the reserve costs 300 rupees. There are also several observation points.

♦ Sunset Point: A spectacular desert sunset view in bright colors over the mountains. The view point is located in the nature reserve, about 2 km from the town center. You can walk or take a taxi or tuktuk.

♦ Guru Shikahar: The highest point in Rajasthan, at an altitude of 1722 meters. It is a peak in the Arbali Range and therefore overlooks mountains rising from the desert sands and provides an amazing panoramic view. The view point is 15 km from Mount Abu which can be easily done in a tuktuk.

♦ Honeymoon Point: An amazingly beautiful panoramic viewpoint located on a cliff overlooking the distance. The viewpoint is about two kilometers from the lake, you can walk of course or take a tuktuk for a few minutes. Both ways require a short climb to the viewpoint itself.

♦ Toad Rock: A rock above Lake Nakki that looks like a toad about to jump into the lake

Delwara Temples: The Jain temple complex is an ancient and magnificently beautiful structure made of white marble and decorated with beautiful carvings and decorations on the inside, which are the highlight of the place. The temples reflect the unique architecture typical of the Jain religion, which originated in these parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The site has five temples built sometime between the 11th and 13th centuries, each dedicated to an ancient Jain ruler. They are an important pilgrimage site for the Jains.

The temples are about 2.5 km from the town, and there is a service jeep that takes you there for 10 rupees, or you can travel by tuktuk. Entrance to the temples is on a donation basis. It should be taken into account that entry is only allowed in modest clothing, for both women and men, and cameras and cell phones are not allowed (there is a place to store belongings).

♦ Government Museum: A museum displaying a collection of tribal historical items that characterize the area and showcase the history of Schlutz

♦ BRAHMA KUMARIS: An ashram and spiritual community focused on yoga, meditation, and spiritual study, interested in spreading their teachings around the world, which advocates values of peace and acceptance of others. You can visit the guest hall at the ashram and participate in their retreats and seminars.

♦ Organized nature trip around the town: You can go to one of the agencies in the city or through the guesthouses and find out about the different hiking trails and what they include. The trails pass through green fields and huge rocks in strange shapes, you see lots of animals and birds, water sources and more, and the highlight is seeing the local population and their way of life without electricity and running water. They live in mud houses among the rocks and simply blend into nature, and not the other way around. If you go on a trip of more than one day, you even get to enjoy authentic, local and special hospitality. It is a unique experience.