Nathdwara yathra - 5

Mount Abu

       Radhekrishna! After booking for the Srinathji temple trip we had booked for a car to take us to Mount Abu the next day. So next day morning we got ready and got in to the car. Mount Abu is a resort located at an elevation of 4000 ft in Rajasthan.In puranas this place is referred to as arbudaranya. A number of temples are situated here like Arbuda devi temple carved out of solid rock. You have to climb about 800 steps to reach the temple. Another one is a Dattatreya temple built on the Guru Shikhar peak.

Climbing up the hill was a real adventure for us. On the top peak we can see Dattatreya's charana mandir. The place has nice ambiance. Climbing down we were taken to Achaleswar Jain mandir. Here also you will have to climb lots of steps to reach the mandir. But it is worth seeing. The architectural beauty of Rajasthan is really good. 

The temple is built in marble. They have kept it very clean and neat. But cameras are strictly prohibited so we couldn't take the photos of the wonderful sculpture there. In this temple they have built rooms for pilgrims who want to stay there and do sadhana for free. Daily food is given to pilgrims who come there. Well we didnt wait till lunch time since we had to see many other locations also.

      Our next destination was the very famous Dilwara Jain temple complex. My God! This is a marvel in marble so to say. Actually we need at least one full day to see around it completely. We could only do a hurried circumbulation. Long marble corridors with a number of temples for various thirthankaras. Each temple would be different. The corridor is full of innumerable pillars each different from the other. The ceiling is also covered with various floral and other designs carved in marble. We stared at the ceiling till our necks ached. Walking around our legs started aching. The temple is very vast and exemplary. By the time we finished seeing around the temple complex we were tired. Next we moved on to Nakki lake beside which we had lunch at a hotel. 

This is a place of visitor's attraction. There is a toad shaped rock in this place. As we had to return by 7 pm we started back without seeing the rest of the temples. It is advisable to stay in Mount Abu for a day to complete the temple visits. Next issue we will be back with our Chithorghadh trip. Radhekrishna! Radhekrishna!