Rajasthan News Desk !!! The rainy season of the year beautifies the Aravalli mountain range of India with greenery. When it rains, the peaks of the distant mountains appear surrounded by clouds. It feels as if the mountains are changing. During my tenure in Udaipur, I got the opportunity to see the monsoon beauty of the huge Aravalli mountain range during the rains many times.
" style="border: 0px; overflow: hidden"” style=”border: 0px; overflow: hidden;” width=”640″>
Aravalli is the oldest mountain range in the geographical structure of India which is about 870 million years old. It is located in Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat of India as well as Punjab and Sindh of Pakistan. The Aravalli mountain range is also called ‘Mewat’ at the regional level. Some rocky hills of this 560 km long range have passed through the northeastern region of Rajasthan state and have gone up to the southern part of Delhi. The northern edge of this range extends from Haryana to the Delhi border. Its southern end is up to Palanpur near Ahmedabad. This mountain is one of the seven Saptakul mountains of ancient India. It is also called Pariyatra or Parijat mountain like Hindu Kush mountain, because Parijat tree is found here.
Favorite spot for mountaineers
The Aravalli range of Rajasthan is a favorite place for mountaineers. The mountainous region has forests, vegetation, wildlife, lakes, rivers and grasslands, mineral deposits as well as many tourist attractions that make the Aravalli mountain range very special. The highest peak of the Aravalli range, ‘Guru Shikhar’, is 5,653 feet (1,723 meters) high in Mount Abu. Here are Ser Peak 1597 meters, Achalgarh Peak 1380 meters, Delwara Peak 1442 meters and Abu Peak 1295 meters. Its peaks attract tourists. People from all over the country come to see them. The Jain temples of Mount Abu, Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur are also especially famous. To the north-west of Aravalli are the areas of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Barmer and Bikaner, which interrupt its greenery. There are many sacred and grand places in the northern region of Aravalli. It is spread over a very wide area. The Aravalli mountain range is spread across 12 districts of the state as a part of it also falls in Bundi district.
Aravalli Mountains and Sirohi
Sirohi district is a border district of Rajasthan and Gujarat, located among dense forests on the southwestern edge of the Aravalli Hills. Mount Abu is the oldest mountain in India. This area was under the rulers of Maurya, Kshatrapa, Hun, Parmar, Rathore, Chauhan, Guhil etc. In ancient times it was known as Arbuda Pradesh. Shivbhan, son of Devda King Raimal, established a fort on the Sarnava hill and in 1405 AD. I settled the city of Shivpuri which is known today as Sirohi.
According to Colonel James Todd, there were 999 temples in Chandravati Nagar. Due to the abundance of temples, it is called Dev Nagar. Their art is worth seeing. Its ancient name was ‘Shivpuri’. Mount Abu in Sirohi Rajasthan’s highest peak is Guru Shikhar 1722 meters and the second highest peak is ‘Ser’ 1597 meters. Mount Abu, the place of penance of sages, warriors, religion, art and culture, is home to marble, granite, tungsten, calcite, limestone and wollastonite minerals. 31 percent of the land of this hilly district is covered with forests.
Salar, Babul, Dhokra, Siras, Tendu, Khair, Kumtha, Baheda and Bamboo trees are found here. Mount Abu Sanctuary is here. Leopard, bear, wild boar, langur, wolf, fox, jackal, jackal, rabbit, wild cock, wild cat, mongoose, pheasant, quail and bulbul etc. are mainly found in it. The colorful culture of the tribal Garasia in the district is visible from their bright costumes, songs and dances. The dance performed collectively by women is especially popular. The approximately 2000 year old Jain temple in Jirawal is also worth seeing. Saraneshwar Temple, Mirpur Temple and Sarvadharma Temple are also other famous temples of Sirohi.
Mount Abu
Mount Abu, situated in Sirohi district of the Aravalli mountain range, is the only hill station in Rajasthan from the tourism point of view. Mount Abu is named after the Arbuda snake that protected Lord Shiva’s bull Nandi. Exciting trails, enchanting lakes, excellent picnic spots and cool weather, which is different from other parts of Rajasthan, make Mount Abu a favorite tourist destination. Honeymoon Point and Sunset Point are popular.
Achalgarh
Achalgarh is an ancient fort situated on a high peak of the Aravalli range. Maharana Kumbha of Mewar built a new fort on the ruins of this ancient fort which is known as Achalgarh. Achalgarh is a good example of fort architecture with strong ramparts and huge towers. Inside the fort are Kumbha’s royal palace, his Okha queen’s palace, grain stores (food stores), soldiers’ quarters, huge water tanks, Sawan-Bhado lake filled with immense water, danger warning towers built by the Parmaras, etc. The ruins are spectacular.
Nakki Lake
Nakki Lake is a very beautiful lake situated amidst the mountains. It is the only artificial lake in India which is situated at an altitude of 1200 meters above sea level. It is believed that this lake was created by the gods with their nails, hence it is named Nakki Lake. Boating facilities are also available in the lake. There is also a temple of Raghunathji near Nakki Lake.
Temples of Delwara
There are five temples in this group of carved Jain temples made of marble between the 11th and 13th centuries. Two of these temples are huge and grand and three temples are their complementary temples. The largest Vimal Vasahi temple is dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankara Lord Adinath. This temple was built in 1031 AD by Vimal Shah, the minister and general of the Chalukta king Bhimdev of Gujarat. I got this built when my wish of having a son was fulfilled. This temple is about 98 feet long and 42 feet wide.
The fine carvings and sculptures of the pillars, walls, arches, ceilings and domes of the temple are amazing. There are 57 shrines installed in the temple in which idols of Tirthankaras and other deities are installed. The second large Loon Vasahi temple is also an excellent example of art. This temple was built by Solanki rulers Tejpal and Vastupal. The dome of the mandap shaped like a temple is bigger and more attractive than the dome of Vimal Vasahi. There are images of 72 Tirthankaras in a sitting posture in circular strips on the sides of the dome. In the corridors of the temple, important events of the life of Tirthankara Neminath are beautifully engraved on stone. Along with these temples, Peetlahar Temple and Chaturbhuj Temple are also worth visiting. The temples make Mount Abu a beautiful Jain pilgrimage.
Arbuda Devi Temple
The importance of the temple of Maa Arbuda Devi situated on the hills of Abu can be gauged from the fact that it is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths of Sati (Parvati), where Sati’s lips fell. There are 365 stairs to reach this temple situated on the top of a hill 3 km away from Mount Abu. The surrounding natural scenery is very beautiful all along the way. The temple of Mata is built in the form of a natural cave, where the flame of Mata keeps burning continuously. Devotees have to sit through the narrow path of the cave.
Guru Peak
Guru Shikhar, 15 km from Mount Abu, is the highest peak of the Aravali mountain range. Guru Dattatreya temple is situated in a white building in its north-west. Footprints of Ramanand are also visible nearby. There is a magnificent brass clock on the peak. The entire view of Abu looks captivating from here.
achaleshwar mahadev
The ancient temple of Achaleshwar Mahadev located near the Achalgarh Fort on Mount Abu is the only temple in India where Shiva’s thumb is worshipped. The temple has a huge statue of Nandi made of Panch Dhatu, with a thumb mark on one side, a Shivlinga in the sanctum sanctorum, which is worshipped as Swayambhu Shivlinga. It is considered to be the right thumb of Lord Shiva. Outside the sanctum sanctorum are magnificent black stone statues of Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Kachhapa, Matsya, Krishna, Rama, Parashurama, Buddha and Kalangi avatars. A temple of Dwarkadhish is also located in the complex.
Government Museum
The museum displays weapons, musical instruments, women’s jewelry and clothes of the people living in the hilly areas. The main attractions of the museum include statues of devadasis or dancers from the 6th to 12th centuries, a statue of Chakrabahu Shiva, a collection of 404 ancient statues and a statue of Vish Kanya. From the traffic point of view, National Highways 14 and 27 pass through Sirohi district. Route number 27 goes from Pindwara to Shivpuri. Abu Road is the railway station. The country’s capital Delhi as well as all the major places of India and Rajasthan are connected by bus service. Buses from Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are also available here.