Mount Abu: A Hill Station in the Desert of Rajasthan, India

Mount Abu is the only hill station of the State of Rajasthan, India, which is known for its desert. Beautifully carved out by nature, the place is a center of attraction due to a number of ancient temples, headquarter of Brahma Kumaris, which have many campuses here. It has five famous Dilwara Jain temples and other Hindu temples. Nakki Lake is a beautiful added attraction for the tourists where they enjoy boating. A wild life sanctuary is also located here. The historical Achalgarh fort, built in the 14th century by Rana Kumbha of Mewar is also a major tourist attraction.

The entry to Mount Abu is possible through this place only. The railway lines passes through Abu Road and one has to de board the train for going to the Mount Abu.

Dilwara temples are the most revered ancient temples of Jains. Although the Jains built some beautiful temples at other places of India, including Rajasthan, it is believed that none come close to these in terms of architectural perfection and style. The ornamental detail spreading over the minutely carved ceilings, doorways, pillars and panels is simply amazing.

The Gyan Sarovar Complex at Mount Abu is reminiscent of ‘Mansarovar’, about which a legend goes that anyone who dipped into the lake emerged in the form of a fairy or an angel. Gyan Sarovar is said to be an environment which enables individuals to dip into the ‘Lake of Knowledge’ and emerge highly transformed.Founded by the Brahma Kumaris in 1996, the Gyan Sarovar Academy for a Better World was inaugurated as part of the celebration of the University’s 60th anniversary. The Academy is an international campus – a place where men, women and children can reach their unique human potential and cultivate the values of our common humanity.

Nakki Late at Mount Abu is said to be the largest man-made lake at the height of 1,1 00 meters in India. People called it the love lake of Mount Abu. It is also regarded as the sacred lake for the proud Garacia tribe. They come to the lake on their festival in Shukla Paksha in April to worship and remember their ancestors, and consecrate their nails!

Declared as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1960, Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary has numerous places for sightseeing. The floral biodiversity of the sanctuary is quite rich with subtropical thorn forest at the foothills to evergreen forest along watercourses and valleys at higher altitudes. 112 plant families with 449 genera and 820 species fill up the sanctuary. Some of the three species of wild roses and 16 species of feras seen here are quite rare. In the southwest area, the sanctuary abounds in bamboo forests.It spreads out into a plateau which is about 19 km in length and six km in breadth. In altitude, it varies from 300 meters at the foot to 1722 meters at Guru Shikhar, the highest peak in Rajasthan.

Mount Abu is home to several beautiful temples, including the Achaleswar Mahadev Temple (1412) and the Kantinath Temple (1513). The Adhar Devi Temple, carved out of solid rock; the Shri Raghunathji Temple; and a shrine and temple to Dattatreya built atop the Guru Shikhar peak are the most revered place here.The Durga temple, Ambika Mata Temple lies in a cleft of rock in Jagat, just outside of Mount Abu.

Located at an elevation of 1220m, Mount Abu is the only hill station of Rajasthan. Due to its pleasant weather it has been the popular retreat of the people of Rajasthan, Gujarat and other parts of the country.

Though it has an ancient history, Mount Abu is currently known more for being the headquarter of Brahma Kumaris Ashram. A short walk takes you away from the activity of tourist place into the tranquil seclusion of this sacred destination whose atmosphere emanates a sense of enchantment; and to the worldwide spiritual headquarters of the Brahma Kumaris from whence the knowledge of the king of all yogas, Raja Yoga, is disseminated, as they claim. The spiritual headquarters complex consists of three campuses – Madhuban and Gyan Sarovar – as well as a recreational park and the Global Hospital & Research Centre. The third center is situated at Abu Road, which is known as Shantivan.

The town of Mount Abu has become a center of bustling market. The rustic look and the trendy shops—both co-exist and lure tourists for their handmade wares, dresses and the eatables. Roadside dhabas have also come up as the lime juice and bhutta wallas. You can see real Rajasthan here with people donning their traditional colourful turban and the women with colorful dresses and the distinct jewellery.

Dilwara Temples:

Dilwara temples are the examples of remarkable Jain architecture and are known for country’s finest decorated temples. Made of marble, these two temples are center of attraction for tourists and those who believes in the Jainism. Vimal Vashai is the elder temple, dates back to as early as year 1031. It is dedicated to the first tirthankar of Jains, Adinath. It is said that 1500 masions and 1200 laborers built it in 14 years. The other one, the Luna Vashi temple is dedicated to the Neminath, the 22nd tirthankar and was built about two centuries later in about 15 years. The temple complex is in the city boundary only and you can easily walk your way to it since it is very near to parking place.

According to Hindu mythology, Nakki lake in Mount Abu is a very sacred ancient lake. The legend is that the lake was dug by the nails of the people, and hence the name. Other myth is that it was dug by Gods themselves to live in.

Gyan Sarovar:

Gyan Sarovar is a 25 acre campus of Brahma Kumaris, situated at Mount Abu. It is officially known as academy of the better world. Gyan Sarovar is an environment which enables individuals to dip into the ‘Lake of Knowledge’ and emerge highly transformed.

Founded by the Brahma Kumaris in 1996, the Gyan Sarovar Academy for a Better World was inaugurated as part of the celebration of the University’s 60th anniversary. The Academy is an international campus – a place where men, women and children can reach their unique human potential and cultivate the values of our common humanity.

Madhuban:

Madhuban is a place where thousands of devotees from nearly 100 countries gather to deepen their meditation practice. Madhuban’s atmosphere of spirituality inspires profound experiences.

Within no time, the Madhuban campus has evolved into an homely, complex of dormitories, residential units, meditation venues and buildings that house dining facilities, administrative offices, a literature shop, a telephone exchange and a dispensary. The Universal Peace Hall, a 3,000 seat auditorium, has regularly hosted international conferences since 1983. Dining facilities can cater meals for up to 4,000.

Just as the cool heights of Mt. Abu beckoned the Rajasthani kings to retreat from their daily routine; professionals from all corners of the world are attracted to the spiritual power of ’Madhuban‘. Above and beyond the hustle and bustle, the wondrous beauty of ‘Madhuban’ spirits them away to another world.

Global Hospital:

Western Rajasthan is one of the least privileged areas of India. Much of it is desert, water is in short supply and the illiteracy is rampant. The majority of the population has long been deprived of basic health measures. This situation began to change in 1990 with the establishment of the J. Watumull Memorial Global Hospital and Research Centre, a Brahma Kumaris initiative. Designed to provide high quality, modern, holistic healthcare services in a tranquil, rural environment, the hospital offers free or subsidised treatment and medicine to 100,000 people, of whom 54,000 are tribal residents inhabiting 855 primitive villages. The hospital is managed and run by a charitable trust established and supported by members of the Brahma Kumaris.

Peace Park:

The Brahma Kumaris Peace Park is both lovely and serene, a natural environment where silence and recreation co–exist. The park offers a perfect recreational environment, with level playing fields, picnic areas, swings, and nature walks. Nestled between two famous peaks of the Aravali hills–the well known spiritual pilgrimage destinations of Guru Shikhar and Achal Garh—Peace Park is an oasis of natural beauty only 8 kms from the Madhuban campus.

The Brahma Kumaris Peace Park is both lovely and serene, a natural environment spread into about 25 acres area where silence and recreation co–exist. The park offers a perfect recreational environment, with level playing fields, picnic areas, swings, and nature walks.