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The town of Mount Abu is most famous for the stunning Dilwara Jain temples, built between the 11th and 13th century. These intricately carved marble temples are amazing to behold-not an inch of space has been left uncarved; almost, as if, in a frenzy of inspiration, the artists carved and carved till they could carve no more! Mount Abu also has a pretty lake studded with little islets…
Places to see in Mount Abu: Jain Temple
Of the five temples - Vimal Vasahi, Lun Vasahi, Shri Risha Lhdeo, Shri Parshvanath and Shri Mahavir Swami, the first two are the most famous. One estimate states that a sum of Rs. 1.2 billion was spent on Lun Vasahi itself. Two brothers - Vastupal and Tejpal, ministers in the court of Raja Varadnawarkar, a ruler of Gujarat, built this temple. They belonged to Neminath Bhagwan, the 22nd Tirthankara.
Outside the main doors of this temple, there are two statues called Devrani's and Jethani's goklas respectively, and are backed by stories of competitive jealousy of the two wives of these brothers. Another striking feature of the temple is the marble dome in the porch, which is made up of a cluster of half open lotuses, which appear to be almost transparent.
The Vimal Vasahi temple is older and is also known to be the first Jain temple and is dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankara. Built in 1031, by Bhim Deva, the first Solanki ruler of Gujarat, the temple is constructed in pure marble, with plain exteriors. However, its interiors are richly sculpted and house some fine examples of the accomplishment of artist in those times.
Residents of the area will tell you that a visit to Abu cannot be complete without obtaining the blessings of Arbuda Devi, the goddess after whom Abu is said to have been named. Arbuda Devi is stationed some 200 steps above the road, in a series of caves on top of a mountain. Along with Arbuda Devi are the statues of her three attendants.
Places to see in Mount Abu: Adhar Devi Temple
The Adhar Devi temple is situated at a distance of 3 km to the north of the city. The temple is built on a rock cleave and one has to crouch under the rock to enter the temple. There are 365 steps that take one to the rock on which the temple is built. This temple dedicated to Goddess Durga is regarded as one of the important pilgrimage sites of Mount Abu. This is also a good site to get a panoramic view of the valley.
Places to see in Mount Abu: Gaumukh Temple
Gaumukh Temple is located around 8 km southwest of Mount Abu. It is said that the temple was built on the spot where saint Vashishth performed a yagna to create four major Rajput clans. Next to it is the spring that is said to have emerged from the mouth of a rock shaped like a cow's head. This site now has a marble bull from whose mouth a stream of water flows. Nearby are statues of Nandi, saint Vashishth, Lord Ram, and Lord Krishna.
Ajmer | Alwar | Bharatpur | Bikaner | Bundi | Chittorgarh | Jaipur | Jaisalmer | Jodhpur | Khimsar | Kota | Mandawa | Mount Abu | Pushkar | Samode | Sariska | Sawai Madhopur | Udaipur
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