Top Things to Explore in Mount Abu | The Only Hill Station in Rajasthan
Mount Abu is Rajasthan’s only hill station, nestled in the Aravali hill range and often referred to as the oasis in the desert. It offers a refreshing mix of a cool climate, green hills, historic temples, and a unique cultural charm that sets it apart from the rest of the state. It's the kind of place where the evenings are breezy, the tea tastes better, and you feel like taking a moment to slow down and enjoy your surroundings.
How to reach Mount Abu?
Mount Abu can be reached in various ways, depending on your preferred way of traveling. It is the most loved destination across the country.
By Air
The nearest airport is Udaipur, and Abu Road is 165 km away from the airport. One can hire a private cab or a local bus to reach Abu Road from the airport, and again, a cab to Mount Abu.
By Road
Mount Abu, being a favourite gateway for travelers, can be reached via a drive by road. The distance from Ahmedabad is 230km, from Udaipur 165 km, and from Mumbai 760 km. Driving to Mount Abu is not only a way to reach, but it is the destination to experience by road.
By Train
Abu Road is the only railhead that is nearest to Mount Abu. It is on Delhi Delhi-Ahmedabad line, so many express trains halt here. Kindly note there are limited trains that halt here, so book your ticket well in advance.
My Experience of Visiting Mount Abu in Rajasthan
It was our anniversary, and just two days before the trip, I still hadn't finalized my destination. I began researching options in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan to create a three-day itinerary. Ultimately, we decided to book our trip to Mount Abu. We set out from our bus, as it was my plan to go to Mount Abu. As planned, we started our journey from Surat, encountering some travel struggles along the way. Our trip faced some last-minute emergencies that required people to arrange alternative transport. For a moment, I feared the plan might fall through; however, thankfully, everything went well until we arrived, though we still couldn’t arrive on time. The bus driver made us get off 65 km after Abu Road. We had to return by local vehicle and reached the Mount Abu central bus stand around noon. It was a terrible experience with local travel.
By the time we reached our hotel, it was noon. After freshening up, we headed to have our lunch since we were very hungry when we arrived. We went straight to enjoy our Dal Bati Churma, which is one of the Rajasthani cuisines.
We rented a bike for two days from our hotel and started our exploration at the 11th-century Delwara temple dedicated to the Jain community. This temple is famous for its stone-carved architecture made of white marble. As mobiles are not allowed inside the temple, we could not take many photos here. If you visit, make sure to wear full clothing and avoid skirts or shorts. The distance from Mount Abu was only 3 km. After exploring the Delwara temple, we headed to the Arbudadevi temple, which is one of the Shaktipeethas. You must trek for half an hour to reach this temple, located on a hill inside rock-cut caves. The cliff-top temple, carved from rock, has its shrine inside. You are not allowed to take a phone here; you must submit it at the main gate. Even though you don’t carry your phone inside the temple, you can feel its beauty with your senses.
While exploring Rajasthan, if you miss the sunset here, then you haven’t truly explored Rajasthan, have you? By 5pm, we headed to the sunset point of Mount Abu. However, all the spots are within a 10 km distance, so there is no need to worry about it timing.
To reach the best sunset point, you must walk through the forest, which has a fee of 175 INR per person, a cost I felt was high. We arrived here and enjoyed a peaceful time with our wives. If you fail to arrive before 5:30, you will have to stand and watch the sunset because seating arrangements are limited, and it gets crowded in the evening. If you don’t want to walk for 1 km, horse riding is an option. Once the sun goes down, you will likely explore the shopping road and the Tibetan market. Most people rush to one more place, which is none other than a liquor shop. The temperature was around 10 to 12 degrees.
The second day of the trip began with delicious Aaloo Paratha at the paratha center in the main market area. It was now time to explore another small mountain with its shrine inside the rock-cut caves. Guru Shikhar was the place where Lord Datta Guru performed penance while having his abode. The road to this temple passes through various ghats, offering scenic views to travelers. You can either visit early in the morning or in the evening.
Once you explore the Gurushikhar, you can move to the Achalgarh fort en route while returning from the Gurushikhar. You will have to trek for around 45 minutes to reach to top while exploring Achaleshwar Mahadev temple and the Jain Temple on the route.
Bramhakumaris Peace Park is on the route to Achalgarh Fort. Unfortunately, it was closed between 1 to 2, so we couldn’t explore it. Post lunch, we headed to Toad Rock, which is a famous tourist spot in Mount Abu. It is a place with a short trek of 10 minutes that offers a view of Nakki Lake. Toad rock feels like nature's fine artwork. After exploring here, we got down at went to Nakki lake for boating with a sunset view.
Boating at Nakki Lake at sunset is a serene experience. Boating charges are as follows.
Pedal boat- 250 per couple
Shikhara boat- 150 per person
Time-30min
Remember, while boating at Nakki lake, it ends at 6pm, the area around Nakki lake remains a beautiful spot to witness the sunset. After that, we had a magical evening in Mount Abu with a cool breeze, peaceful and full of charm.
Mount Abu in the evening is perfect if you want to unwind, whether it’s romance, reflection, or just relaxing. The mix of natural beauty and gentle buzz makes it feel both alive and calm.
Traveling Around Mount Abu
Since Mount Abu is an adventurous destination and many foreign tourists flock here throughout the year, traveling around Mount Abu is the best solution for travelers. It is one of the places, like Udaipur, where rental bike options are available on a paid basis. One can also rent out a wheel if you know how to drive, but a bike can also serve the purpose, and you can also feel a cool breeze while driving. The bike charges vary from 300 INR to 1000 INR, depending on your choice of bike.
Places to Stay Around Mount Abu
Mount Abu is one of such favourable destinations that is visited by many travelers. There are many options for staying that are available for visitors. As per everyone’s budget, from regular to deluxe, many options are available. Even for those who prefer a resort stay, it is available. It is recommended to book your stay around Mount Abu city, and many places are within 2km to 8km to explore. The budget for the same ranges from 500 to 5000 INR in different seasons. It is advisable to prebook your stay on an online site since the end of your stay will have to be compromised.
Foods Not to Miss When You are in Rajasthan
Rajasthans Mount Abu is one of those hill station that offers a delightful mix of Rajasthani and Gujarati cuisine. Despite being small town it is rich in food culture.
A signature Rajasthani dish called Dal baati Churma is something not to miss when you are in Mount Abu. Jodhapur Bhojanaya is the place for this dish.
Gatteb ki Sabji which is cooked in tangy Yougert is something not to miss here. If you are fan of street food then Pyaaz ki Kachori, Mirchi Vada is something not to miss here.
For sweet lovers, Rabri, Ghewar, and Malpua are must-try dishes here.
Best Time to Visit Mount Abu
Mount Abu is one of those hill station which is visited throughout the year. if you still looking for best time then it is depends on kind of experience you are looking here.
Winter and early spring, when temperature ranges from 5 to 20 degrees, are pleasant and perfect for sightseeing. Clear skies and crisp air makes the views more stunning.
There is a winter special festival in Mount Abu in December with cultural performances, folk music, boat races, and fireworks.
July to September is the monsoon season that offers lush greeneries and waterfalls. Some places might get affect due to heavy rain and due to foggy weather, you may miss some of the views.
Things to Remember While Visiting Mount Abu
- Remember, Abu Road rail has limited access to the trains, so plan your trip accordingly. ngly
- Do a bargain while renting out a vehicle here
- Do not miss the visit local Tibetan market in Mount Abu
- Start early morning to explore places to avoid the sun.
- Do not litter the area around
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