You must not leave the hill resort of Mount Abu without seeking blessings from the Arbuda Devi. The goddess Arbuda Devi lends her name to the hill resort of Mount Abu. You need to climb 200 steps on a mountain to reach the cave of Arbuda Devi. Besides the goddess there are the statues of her three attendants too.

Then you must visit the Guru Shikhar, the highest peak of Mount Abu. The beauty of the peak attracts several tourists. Atop the peak there is a temple. You may visit the temple in pink and white. It is dedicated to Datta-traya, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. From the temple you may enjoy the natural beauty of Mount Abu. You may even pose clad in a local dress here.

Summer Festival (1st-3rd June, 2005)
Organized in the only hill station of Rajasthan, this is the coldest place at this time of the year. Folk dances and a general atmosphere of gaiety prevails in this tiny hill resort and the tourist has ample time to relax and enjoy himself.

Mount Abu History
The history of Mount Abu is as diverse as the city itself. It was once a part of the Chauhan kingdom of Rajasthan and served as a summer resort for the Rajput kings of the region. After that, it was leased by the British government from the then Maharaja of Sirohi for use as the headquarter of the resident to Rajputana (another name for Rajasthan).

During the British rule in India, it was the favorite summer destination of the British, who came here to escape the dusty, dry heat of the plains particularly Rajasthan. It also served as a sanatorium for the troops. The small huts and cottages here tell stories of those times even today.

Mount Abu was the home of many saints and sages in the old days. Legend has it that all the 330 million gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon used to visit this holy mountain. It is also the place where the great saint Vashishth lived and performed a yagna (sacrificial worship on a fire pit) to create four Agnikula (four clans of fire) to protect the earth from demons. The yagna was supposed to have been performed near a natural spring, which emerged from a rock shaped like a cow's head.

According to another legend, once sage Vashishth's cow Nandini was trapped in a deep gorge and could not free herself. The sage appealed to Lord Shiva for assistance. The Lord sent Saraswati, the divine stream, to help flood the gorge so that the cow could float up. Vashishth then decided to ensure that such mishaps did not occur in future. He asked the youngest son of Himalaya, the king of mountains to fill the chasm permanently. This he did with the assistance of Arbud, the mighty snake. This spot came to be known as Mount Arbud and was later changed to its present form - Mount Abu.

This place is held in reverence by Jains as well since Jain scriptures record that Lord Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankar (spiritual leader), also visited Mount Abu and blessed the city.

Mount Abu Culture
A pleasant retreat set amidst the lush forested hills, Mt. Abu is a green oasis in the barren desert scape that's Rajasthan. Situated at the southern tip of the Aravali range the hill retreat owes its cool climate to its rich flora covering the entire hillside that includes coniferous trees and flowering shrubs. The road leading to Mount Abu is a curved one characterized by arid region dotted with huge rocks in weird shapes and high velocity winds

Gaumukh Temple
A natural spring flowing through a sculpted cow’s head gives the shrine its name. The famous ‘yagna’ of sage Vashishtha was performed here. A beautifully sculpted hill temple of Arbuada-the mighty serpent stands against the beautiful backdrop. Nearby is the magnificent marble image of Nandi, the celestial bull rescued by Arbuada.

Delwara Jain Temple
These beautifully carved temples built between 11th and 13th century A.D. are sheer elegance in marble, dedicated to the jain Tirthankaras. The Vimal Vasahi temple is the oldest of these dedicated to the first Tirthankara. Built in 1031 A.D. (by Vimal Shah-a merchant and representative of then Gujarat ruler), it is a superb example of temple architecture. The central shrine has an image of Rishabhdev and large courtyard with 52 small shrines, each housing a beautiful statue of Tirthankaras with 48 elegantly carved pillars form the entrance to the courtyard. The Lun Vasahi Temple, dedicated to the 22nd Tirthankaras-Neminath, was built in 1231 A.D. by two brothers-Vastupal and Tejpal,Ministers of Raja Vir Dhawal, a ruler of Gujarat-belonging to the Porwal Jain community. With door casings, pillars,architraves,and sculptures on porticos, the temple is a fine specimen of craftsmanship.

Adhar Devi Temple
The temple is chiseled out of a huge rock reached by a flight of 360 stairs. A favourite tourist spot.

Nakki Lake
Legend has that this small lake, was scooped out by a god using only his nails(or nakh).The lake is surrounded by hills , parks and strange rock formations. The 14th Century Raghunaht temple stands beside the lake. Several Maharajas built lavish summer houses around the Nakki lake,a nd the maharaja of Jaipur's former summer palace is perched on a hill onlooking the water.

Museum and Art Gallery
Located at the Raj Bhawan, it was a collection of archaeological excavations dating back to 8th-12th century A.D. It also has Jain bronze carvings,brass works etc. for viewing.

Viewpoints
There are many view points around the town. Most famous among them is the Sunset point which provides a spectacular sight of the setting sun when the hills are covered in the golden glow can be viewed from here. Other popular spots include Honeymoon point, which also offers a view of sunset, the Crags and the Shanti Shikhar.

Shri Raghunathji Temple
Situated near the ‘Nakki’ lake is the temple dedicated to Shri Raghunathji with a beautiful image of the deity that was placed here in 14th century A.D. by Shri Ramanand the famous Hindu preacher.

Gardens and Parks
Beautifully laid parks and gardens are interspersed throughout the hilly paradise. Ashok Vatika,Gandhi park, Municipal Park, Shaitan Singh Park and Terrace Garden are some of the noteworthy gardens.

Trevor’s Tank (5 km)
Named after the British engineer who constructed it, Trevor’s Tank is a delight for bird-watchers with densely wooded hills that are a haven to pigeons, peacocks and partridges.

Achalgarh (8 km)
An impressive fort with some beautiful jain temples enclosed within. Among the
noteworthy temples are Achaleswar Mahadev Temple (1412 A.D.) and Kantinath Jain Temple (1513A.D.) . The latter has gold plated image. Mandakini Kund and a sculpture of Parmar Dharavarsh are situated close to the Achaleswar Mahadev Temple. The Fort was built in the 14th century A.D. by Rana Kumbha and is approachable by a motor able road.

Guru Shikhar (15 km)
The highest peak on the mount (1722 mts. Above the sea level) allows a bird’s eye view of the sylvan surroundings of Mt. Abu. A small Shaivite shrine and a temple of Dattatreya standing on the Shikhar are worth a visit.