Page 8 - Connect 2024-25

Must visit places at Mount Abu

1. Dilwara Temple:
The Dilwara Jain Temples,
located in Mount Abu, are
renowned for their extraordinary
marble stone carvings and
exquisite design, making them
one of the finest Jain temples
in the world. Built between
the 11th and 13th centuries
AD, these temples exemplify
remarkable craftsmanship and
devotion, despite the challenges
of transporting massive marble
blocks from the Arasoori Hills
at Ambaji to the remote, hilly
location at over 1200 meters
altitude.
The temple complex comprises
five distinct temples, each
dedicated to different Jain
Nakki Lake(Image from Unsplash.com by Romi Kalathiya) Tirthankaras. These temples
hold great significance for the
Locals say both of them were the avatars of lord Shiva
and goddess Parvati. The king’s wife’s grave is still Jain community and are also a major tourist attraction
marked by a pile of rocks thrown by locals in protest of in Mount Abu, showcasing the unparalleled artistry of
her actions. While most tourists visit the Dilwara temple, marble carvings and the spiritual legacy of Jainism.
few are aware of these lesser-known temples, which are
frequented primarily by locals and those familiar with 2. Guru Shikhar:
this story. At 1,722 meters, “Guru Shikhar” is the highest peak in
the Aravalli Range and provides breathtaking views of
Mount Abu and the surroundings. The temple dedicated
The Story of Mount Abu
Millions of Hindu deities are said to have visited Mount to Guru Dattatreya, who is regarded as an incarnation
Abu, formerly known as “Arbudaanchal,” as a sacred of Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma, is located at the peak.
place. Beside a spring that flowed from a rock shaped There’s a temple nearby devoted to his mother, Anasuya.
like a cow, there was a dense forest where Sage Vashishth The 7-kilometer Delwara-AchalGarh route leads to
lived and performed a sacred “Yagna” that resulted in “Guru Shikhar”, which is a place of spiritual significance
the creation of four Rajput clans, known as Agnikula. with beautiful scenery and historic sites.
A legendary tale of Vashishth’s cow, Nandini, getting
trapped in a gorge, with Lord Shiva sending Saraswati
to flow through and save her. With the help of the
serpent Arbud, the youngest son of the Himalayas filled
the gorge to prevent further mishaps; so, Mount Arbud,
which was thereafter named Mount Abu, was formed.
When the Rajput clans were formed, there was chaos,
but Lord Shiva calmed the region by placing his toe on
Achalgarh, which is why the mountain is called Guru
Shikhar. For devotees, Gaumukh, the ashram of Sage
Vashishth, remains a sacred place.

(Courtesy - Pinterest.com by Serge Grusenmeyer)

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