Mount Abu is both a summer and winter resort with its shaded woods, sheltered temple and shrines. Situated at a height of nearly 1200 meters in the Aravalli Hills, in its recesses are the Dilwara Jain Temples exquisitely carved in marble. To avoid destruction by the invader, the temples were cleverly hidden behind innocuous looking entrances.

WHAT TO SEE:

NAKKI LAKE AND SIGHTS IN TOWN:
Mount Abu’s centre is the Nakki Lake. Take a boat and explore the lake or
ride a pony around it. The landmark of Nakki Lake is toad rock, so called because it resembles a toad about to leap in to the water. It’s a pleasant walk to the Raghunath Temple. Or you could walk to the Raj Bhawan to see the Art Museum and Gallery. In the small Collection there are some textile and some carving from the 9th to 12th centuries.

DILWARA TEMPLE:
Five km. from town are two Jain temple of Dilwara and the reason for Mount Abu’s popularity since it double up as a hill station and a pilgrimage. These temples are beautiful and some of the most deftly carved in all of India.

The other two temples was built in 1031 by Virmal, a minister in the court of an early Gujarati ruler, Bhim Deva. One of the earlier Jain temples in India, it is made of pure white deities and dancing figures and fantastic lacelike designs. In a hall outside the temple, images of Virmal and his family riding marble elephants in a procession to a handsomely carved domed portico. Inside the temple, with in his little shrine, the smooth bronze statue of Adinath sits cross-legged, adorned with jewels and gazing out at passing pilgrims. The elaborately carved dome is supported by richly carved pillars. More carved pillars-48 in all lead to the temple country and enclosed by a wall with 52 little cells, each housing a seated image of a Jain saint.

The second temple was built about 200 years later by two brothers, Tejpal and Vastopal, minister of Raja Viradhawaler, a ruler of Gujarat, while this temple follows the same general plan as the first, it is even more richly ornamented, resembling a marble tapestry. Here, however, marble carving reaches its zenith in the partly opened lotus dropping like a pendant from the dome.

ACHALGARH FORT & ACHALESHWAR TEMPLE:
Instead of lingam at this Shiva temple, there is a pit which supposed to go to the nether world. It is believed that Shiva jumped in and made the pit, leaving his right toe behind, which is now worshipped here. Shiva’s mount, Nandi the bull, is handsomely set in bronze.

A path with souvenir stalls in the Fort leads up to another notable group of Jain temples which are elegant. The plateau on top offers a fine view of the valley. Down in the parking area is an empty tank, which was once believed to have been full of ghee till greedy demons disguised as buffaloes drank it up. But a King put an end to the thieving in the statue of a king taking aim with a bow and arrow at statue buffalos around the tank.

STANDARD SIGHTSEEING TOURS:
Located 4,000 ft. above sea level, Mount Abu is Rajasthan’s solitary hill station that is also a pilgrimage centre for Jains. Half day visit to Dilwara temples consisting of decoration in stone. Later visit Nakki Lake, Toad Rock, and Achalagarh Fort etc.