Mount Abu

Nakki LakeThe drive upto Mt. Abu is, via a road that winds through regions dotted with huge rocks in weird shapes and high velocity winds. Very unusual, indeed.

The only hill station in Rajasthan, Mt. Abu is nestled in the pleasant surroundings of lush forested hills of coniferous trees and flowering shrubs – a green oasis in the desertscape. Apart from a number of exquisite Delwara Jam temples dating back to 11th —13th centuries that make it a popular pilgrimage center, Mt. Abu presents quite a few legends regarding its genesis. According to one, Abu stands for the son of Himalaya, derived from Arbuada, the powerful serpent who rescued Nandi, the sacred bull of Lord Shiva, from a chasm.

Mt. Abu has been home to many sages and saints. The most famous of them was Sage Vashishtha, who is believed to have created four Agnikula Rajput clans from a fire pit by performing a Yajna or fire sacrifice, to protect the Earth from demons. The Yajna was performed besides a natural spring below Mount Abu. The spring emerges from a rock shaped like a cows head, hence known as Gaumukh.