Abu

Taking pride of being the only hill station of the state, Mount Abu is a very beautiful place located in Rajasthan, India. Situated amidst lush green, forested hills on the highest peak in the Aravali range, Mount Abu is the summer capital for the Indian state of Rajasthan. Its cool and soothing climate makes it an ideal retreat. Mount Abu is a true holiday destination if you are seeking a little family time and also visit the great Hindu and Jain temples. The ancient Arbuda Devi Temple and Shri Raghunathji Temple which was carved out of a solid rock are also on the must visit list here. Guru Shikhar peak is the highest point over there and on top of it is Dattatreya, a shrine and a temple. Also, there are many Jain temples over there known as Dilwara Temples that are carved out of white marble. The temples are believed to be built in between 11th and 13th century. Out of all the Jain temples, the oldest is Vimal Vasahi temple which was built in 1021 AD in dedication to the first Jain Tirthankaras.

Also, the place is the headquarters to Brahma Kumaris. A very well - known Shiva temple is also there known as Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple. Mount Abu Forest Sanctuary is the forest between the Aravalli Mountain Range. It was officially declared in 1980 and has 288 square kilometres covered. The sanctuary has an abundance of flora and fauna. The forest is tropical and the prime predator over here is Leopard. There are many rare species found here which includes sambhar, wild boar, bear, pangolin, wolf, hyena, porcupine, hedgehog and many others. The sanctuary is also home to nearly 1250 species of birds amongst which Grey Jungle Fowl is the unique one. Another beautiful tourist attraction is the ancient sacred Lake Nakki. The place has many stories revolving it. Some say it was dug out by the Gods to take shelter from Demon Bashkali. Many other stories revolve around this lake. The place offers various trek for adventure seekers and also an amazing boat ride.