VERDANT OASIS IN THE HILLS

A pleasant retreat set amidst the lush forested hills. Mt. Abu is a green oasis in the barren dessertscape 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 Mt. Abu is a curved one characterized by arid region dotted with huge rocks in weird shapes and high velocity winds.

The only hill station in Rajasthan, Mount Abu is more that just a summer retreat. Its stunning array of exquistie Dilwara Jain Temples, dating back 11^th –13^th centuries, make it a popular pilgrimage centre.

‘Abu’ according to a legend, stands for the son of Himalayan, deriving its name from Arbuada, the powerful serpent who rescued Nandi, the sacred bull of Lord Shiva, from a chasm. Mount Abu has been home to many sages and saints. Most famous of them was Sage Vashishtha who is believed to have created four Agnikula Rajput clans from a fire-pit by performing a ‘yagna’ or fire sacrifice, to protect the earth from the demons.

The yagna was performed besides a natural springs situated below Abu, emerging from a rock shaped like a cow’s head and hence the site was called Gaumukh.