General Information :
Area : 25 sq. kms.
Altitude : 1219 Meters
Clothing: Summer : Light Tropicals Winter : Woolens
Season: Winter : Oct. - March Summer : April - June
Language: Rajasthani, Hindi & English

This holy mountain lies at the southern extremity of the Aravalli range. Surrounded by forests rich in florae and fauna, the town appears as an oasis. The drive uphill along Abu Road overlooks an arid region strewn by huge rocks with smooth surface and weird shapes, fashioned by high velocity winds. The altitude of this plateau, 1220 meters and abundant vegetation, have endowed Abu with a pleasant climate. It is a resort as well as a celebrated place of pilgrimage.

Abu, according to legend, stands for the son of Himalaya, deriving its name from Arbuda, the powerful serpent that rescued Nandi, the sacred bull of Shiva, from a chasm. Yet another legend explains how the lake at Mt. Abu got its name. It is believed that the gods formed the like-bed by digging it with their fingernails- `nakh'- hence Nakki Lake. Many sages and seers had their retreats on Mt Abu; most famous being sage Vashishta. To regenerate the human race, he performed a `Yojna' of fire sacrifice from which were born the pratiharas. The natural spring beside which this legendary event occurred is situated below Abu and emerges from a rock shaped like a cow's head, hence its name, Gaumukh. Mt Abu was dedicated to Shiva before it became a Jain pilgrim center. The greatest draws of Abu are the Diwara temple. Half had hidden by mango groves, their sober exterior belles the wealth of their interior ornamentation. Wondrously carven in marble, the Dilwara temples enshrine various Jain `Tirthankaras', saints.

The fairs and festivals are celebrated in a grand style as in other parts of the state. The tribal folk of the region lend special color to the festivities of Mount Abu, leaving a spellbinding effect over the visitors. The important festivals of the hill city are:

Summer Festival (Budh Purnima): This is a special occasion in the hill resort, as people throng from all parts of the country to escape the sizzling heat of the plains, and rejuvenate their sapping energies. They are treated to one of the most exotic festivals that linger in their minds for long. Every year on Buddh Purnima this three-day festival is celebrated.

Air: The nearest Airport is Dabok) at Udaipur 185 kms away. Indian Air Lines, Jet Airways are connects Udaipur with Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Mumbai.

Rail: The nearest Railway Station is Abu Road (28 kms). Western Railway connects Udaipur and Abu Road Station from Delhi, Jaipur, Ajmer, Ahmedabad and Jodhpur.

Road: Mt. Abu is well connected by road with major cities of the country. Udaipur is situated on N.H. 8.

Road Distances:
Ahmedabad :	222 kms
Chittaurgarh :	390 kms
Jodhpur :	290 kms
Udaipur :	185 kms