Legends dictate that the Abu Parvat or Mount Abu has been the original abode of the Gurjars. This has further been confirmed by several other sources owing to numerous inscriptions and epigraphs including the Tilakamanjari of Dhanpala. It is believed that these Gurjars migrated for the Mount Abu region as early as sixth century CE and set up one or more principalities in Gujarat and Rajasthan. In fact, prior to the Mughal period, almost all or a large part of Rajasthan and Gujarat was called as Gurjarabhumi, which means land of the Gurjars as well as Gurjaratra, which means land ruled or protected by the Gurjars. This makes Mount Abu as quite important historic place to visit for the history lovers.
Mount Abu was ruled by the PArmars long until their rule was brought to an end by Rao Lumba of Deora Chauhan dynasty. This conquest of Mount Abu took place in 1311 CE and it brought an end to the Parmar dynasty. Then he shifted the capital to the Chandravati city in the plains. When the city of Chandravati was destroyed in the year of 1405, Rai Shasmal made his headquarters in Sirohi. Later on, it was leased by the British government from the then Maharaja of Sirohi for usage as a headquarter for the residents of Rajputana (an old name for Rajasthan). Mount Abu has a very vivid and rich history. Further it is full of beautiful buildings that still stand testimony to its glorious past. further it has the rare privilege of being the only hill station in the desert state of Rajasthan. It lies at an elevation of 4003 feet and is a popular retreat in order to beat the heat of the desert state. It stands in a stark contrast to the average climate of the state it lies in. So while Rajasthan has an average climate of dry and extreme summers in contrast to the mild pleasant climate of Mount Abu. It has served as a popular retreat to the neighbouring gujarat state as well. If you are a nature lover, you can head to the Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary. it was established in the year 1960 and it is covering around 290 sq. km of the mountains. Check out the Mount Abu tour packages to make a good choice regarding your trip.
You can also head to the beautiful Nakki lake which is the main focus of the town. It is one of the main attractions of the town and it is believed by the legends that it was scooped out by a God using his nails (called as Nakh in the local dialect). Another version of the story says that it was built by the Britishers in the 19th century. You can have a pleasant stroll of around 45 minutes around the perimeter. The lake is surrounded by hills, rock formations and parks. You can check out the list of hotels in Mount Abu with tariff in order to make a better choice.
Martin Wynn
