📍 Location: Mount Abu, Rajasthan, India
📅 Travel Date: December 2020
🚆 Nearest Railway Station: Abu Road (30 km)
✈️ Nearest Airport: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
🚗 Distance to Udaipur: 163 km (3-hour drive)
About Mount Abu
Nestled in the Aravalli Range, Mount Abu is Rajasthan’s only hill station, offering a refreshing escape from the desert heat. The town sits on a rocky plateau 22 km long and 9 km wide, with Guru Shikhar as its highest peak at 1,722 meters (5,650 feet) above sea level. Often called "An Oasis in the Desert," Mount Abu is home to serene lakes, lush greenery, waterfalls, and ancient temples, making it a must-visit destination for nature lovers and history enthusiasts.
My Trip Experience
After months of lockdown due to COVID-19, I finally got the chance to explore Mount Abu in December 2020. This was a long-awaited trip with my friends, and the experience was nothing short of amazing.
Day 1 – Arrival & Stay Challenges
We reached Mount Abu around 11:00 AM on Christmas Day, but since this was an impromptu trip, we hadn’t booked a hotel in advance. Unfortunately, most accommodations were either fully booked or too expensive.
After searching for a while, we found Temple Niwas (Kothi) near Dilwara Temple, a peaceful and budget-friendly stay option. If you're looking for a similar place, you can contact Vikram Bhai (+91 8824581923)—he's an incredibly helpful and genuine person who assisted us throughout our trip.
After refreshing, we went for lunch and then tried to rent a bike or scooter. However, since it was peak season, all two-wheelers were already booked, and renting a four-wheeler was too expensive (4x the usual price!).
So, we decided to explore places nearby and planned to rent an Activa the next day to cover the farther attractions.
Places to Visit in Mount Abu
1️⃣ Dilwara Temple – A Marvel in White Marble
📍 Location: 2.5 km from Mount Abu
⏳ Entry Fee: Free
📸 Photography: Not Allowed
The Dilwara Temples are one of the finest Jain temples in India, renowned for their intricate marble carvings. Built between 1031 and 1582, the temples were financed by Vimal Shah and Vastupala, two prominent Jain ministers.
The five Dilwara Temples—Vimal Vasahi, Luna Vasahi, Pittalhar, Parshvanatha, and Mahavir Swami—are known for their exquisite craftsmanship and serene atmosphere. Even if you're not particularly interested in stone carvings, a visit here will leave you mesmerized.
Pro Tip: Since photography is not allowed inside, take a moment to appreciate the temple’s beauty with your own eyes!
After visiting Dilwara Temple, we tried to find a rickshaw to our next destination—Sunset Point (also known as Lover’s Point). Unfortunately, since it was a busy holiday, no auto-rickshaws were available.
We waited for an hour, hoping to find transport, but luck wasn’t on our side. Finally, we made a group decision to walk all the way to Sunset Point.
What seemed like a challenge at first turned into an unexpected adventure! We clicked tons of photos and selfies 📸😜 along the scenic route, soaking in the beautiful landscapes of Mount Abu.
After three hours of walking, we finally reached Sunset Point—just in time to witness the breathtaking sunset. The sky transformed into shades of orange, pink, and purple, creating a picture-perfect moment.
🔥 Pro Tip: If you're planning to visit during peak season, consider walking if no transport is available—it’s a great way to explore Mount Abu’s natural beauty up close!
2. Wildlife Sanctuary
On the way to Sunset Point, we passed through Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary.
🦜 Spotted birds & monkeys along the way.
📸 Took some amazing shots of them!
Didn't see a leopard, but the walk through nature was refreshing. 🌿
3. Sunset Point (Honeymoon Point)
🕠 Reached at 4:30 PM – perfect timing!
🍜 Had Maggi while enjoying the sunset.
🐒 Monkeys everywhere—eating, playing, and entertaining us.
We sat for 1.5 hours, soaking in the breathtaking view. The sky was magical! 🌄✨
4. 🍽️ Sarovar Restaurant
5. Mount Abu Market
6. Gurushikhar
To reach the top, we had to ride our own vehicle. I drove my Activa at full speed, but due to the steep slope, it only reached about 30 km/h. Despite that, the journey was thrilling, with multiple scenic points along the way where we stopped to take pictures.
After reaching the summit, we parked our vehicle and explored the area. Gurushikhar, meaning "the peak of the guru," is named after Dattatreya, an incarnation of Vishnu. There is a cave temple dedicated to him at the summit, along with another temple nearby for his mother, Anasuya, wife of sage Atri. Being the highest peak of Mount Abu at 1,722 meters, the view from the top was truly mesmerizing.
At the top, the view was absolutely breathtaking. The sky was a brilliant shade of blue without a single cloud in sight. The stunning scenery from the highest peak of Mount Abu was truly a sight to behold.
Since it was so cold, we enjoyed a hot bowl of vegetable Maggi, which felt perfect for the weather. After spending some time at Guru Shikhar, we began our journey back, ready to explore our next destination—Achalgarh Fort.
7. Peace Park
8. Achalgarh Fort
We reached Achalgarh in about an hour. The site features newly built Jain temples and an ancient Nandi temple. We then started our trek toward Achalgarh Fort, which took around an hour to reach the top. A massive Jain temple stands at the peak, offering breathtaking views of Guru Shikhar and the entire Achalgarh village.
The scenery was stunning, and we captured plenty of photos to remember the moment.
There was also a Bhojnalaya (restaurant) for lunch, but we chose to eat in Mount Abu instead. So, we returned and enjoyed a delicious meal of Dal-Bati. It was amazing. After resting for an hour at our stay, we headed out again for our next destination—Toad Rock.
9. Toad Rock
Toad Rock, located near Nakki Lake, is a must-visit spot in Mount Abu. This uniquely shaped rock formation resembles a toad about to leap into the lake. The view from the top is breathtaking, offering a stunning panorama of Nakki Lake and the lush greenery around it.
Climbing up Toad Rock is an exciting experience, and it’s a perfect spot for photography lovers. Despite its simplicity, the rock's distinctive shape and the scenic surroundings make it one of the best attractions in Mount Abu.
To reach Toad Rock from Nakki Lake, we had to trek a short distance. Once we arrived, we sat there for a while and clicked some beautiful photos. The view of the entire Nakki Lake from this point was stunning. If visited in the evening, this spot could also serve as a great Sunset Point.
After enjoying the view, we returned to Nakki Lake for boating around 5:30 p.m.
10. Nakki Lake
Nakki Lake is a vast and beautiful lake where visitors can enjoy boating for 30 minutes to an hour. A half-hour ride is usually sufficient to take in the scenic surroundings. Various types of boats are available for rent.
This lake holds special significance as the largest man-made lake at an altitude of 1,100 meters in India. It is often referred to as the "Love Lake of Mount Abu" due to its romantic ambiance. Additionally, for the Garacia tribe, Nakki Lake is considered sacred.
The lake is approximately half a mile long and a quarter mile wide, offering a peaceful boating experience. We enjoyed our boat ride for about half an hour before heading back to our stay, reaching around 7:00 p.m.
I highly recommend visiting Mount Abu during winter (October to February). In early January, there is a chance of snowfall, and temperatures may drop below freezing. Some tourist points might be temporarily closed for a week or two due to extreme weather conditions.
For any queries regarding stay or vehicle rentals, you can contact:
Vikram Bhai
Jain Dharamshala, Near Delwara Temple, Mount Abu
📞 +91 8824581923
- Pawapuri Tirth - Jiv maitry dham (70 km away)
- Udaipur (163 km - 2 days)
