Rajasthan is a popular spot known for medieval structures. These structures are extremely interesting and visitors truly love exploring them too. Moreover the structure that includes a series of forts, palaces, temples are finest examples of skilled craftsmanship as well. However there is one such popular fort located on top of Mount Abu. Mount Abu is the only hill station in Rajasthan and the location and the landscape there is something that you cannot miss out on. The Achalgarh Fort is one such fort located in Mount Abu and is a popular sightseeing spot there as well. The Achalgarh Fort Mount Abu is a medieval fort and offers a picturesque view as well. And if you are visiting Mount Abu then this fort should be a must visit location for you.
Achalgarh Fort Mount Abu
You can check out the Achalgarh Fort photos and you would understand why you need to visit there for sure. It is a beautiful location that is still standing tall with its glory. Also the structure reflects the rich history and culture of the land as well. Overall a visit to this fort would truly be enriching. And the site also houses some Jain temples that makes it an important religious site as well. The beautiful landscape, the majestic panoramic view, the architectural brilliance and the history attached makes it a popular sightseeing location. Keep on reading this article as here I will mention everything that you need to know about the Achalgarh Fort. This will be a helpful article for you if you are planning a trip to this fort in Mount Abu.
Location: Jain Temple, District Sirohi, Achalgarh Village, Mount Abu, Rajasthan
Timings: Achalgarh Fort Mount Abu timings are from 9 am to 5 pm on all days
Entry fee: There is no entry fee
How to reach
By air
If you are travelling by air then the nearest airport to reach the fort is the Maharana Pratap Airport in Udaipur. From Udaipur airport Achalgarh Fort distance is about 184.8 km. It would approximately take you around 3 hours and 30 minutes to reach the location from Udaipur. Buses are available on this route from Udaipur to reach Mount Abu and you can opt for that. Or else for more convenience you can easily take a car or hire a cab as well to reach the fort from the airport.
And if you are travelling from anywhere abroad then the nearest international airport to reach the Achalgarh Fort is the Jaipur International Airport, from the Jaipur Airport the location of the fort is about 506 km away. It would approximately take you around 9 hours to reach the location from the airport. You can take buses from Jaipur to reach Mount Abu as there are buses available on this route. Or for more convenience you can also take a car or hire a cab as well to reach the fort from the Jaipur airport.
By train
If you wish to travel by train then the nearest railway station is the Abu Road Railway Station. This is a well connected railway station and is connected to major cities and towns. You will get trains from locations like Jodhpur, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Mumbai etc to reach Abu Road railway station. From the railway station the distance of the fort is about 35.7 km. It would take you a little more than an hour to reach the fort from the railway station. It would be most convenient for you to take a car or else hire a cab from the railway station to reach the location.
By road
You can also travel by road to reach the Achalgarh Fort. The road to Mount Abu is well connected via roadways. Regular buses are also available from major cities and towns so you can opt for that as well. You can reach Mount Abu from locations like Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Delhi, Ajmer etc by buses. Both government as well as private buses are available on this route regularly. Or else you can also take a car or hire a cab as well to reach the location from various directions.
Best time to visit
The ideal time to visit a location like this would definitely be the cooler months. During the months from November to February the location enjoys a comfortable climate. So this would be the ideal time to visit this location and also to explore the whole surrounding well. During this time the visitors would get to enjoy a clear view of the sky and therefore it would allow a better view of the whole surrounding as well. However you must remember that the winter season is also the popular tourist season here. So if you are visiting the fort around this time period you must be ready for a lot of crowd. These are the comparatively crowded months to visit here so you must be prepared for that.
But if you at all wish to enjoy the location in some peace then the ideal time to visit here would be the months of September and October just after the monsoon. Moreover if you are visiting here during this time then you would get to experience the greenery all around. The location also remains less crowded so you would be able to explore the area in utmost peace and tranquility. But you must also be prepared for one or two occasional showers though. However avoid visiting here during the scorching summer months though. The summers here can be uncomfortable to explore outdoor locations like this. So plan your trip accordingly to enjoy the best of the location.
Overview of Achalgarh Fort
Located in Achalgadh Village in Sirohi district the Achal Garh fort or Achal Gadh Fort is one of the popular sightseeing locations in Mount Abu. It is a medieval fort that was built long back by the Paramara Dynasty but renovated by Rana Kumbha. Rana Kumbha at that time during the 15th century was in charge of numerous massive forts in South Rajasthan. The main idea of constructing this fort was to keep an eye on the movements of the enemies. Located on top of the mountain this fort further offers a beautiful view of the whole area. Battlement walls surround the fort and make it look even more imposing. However the fort currently is in a dilapidated condition though.
The first gate of this fort is the main entrance to the lower fort and it is called the Hanumanpol. This gate has two towers which are built of large chunks of grey granite. Next there is the Champapol which is the second gate here. The second gate gives way to the inner fort.
Other than the architecture, the presence of the Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple further makes it an important site with religious significance. The presiding deity of the Achaleshwar temple is Lord Shiva. According to belief the temple has the footprints of Lord Shiva on the holy rock. Also here you will find a Nandi idol which is made of 5 metals which are gold, silver, copper, zinc and brass. This idol weighs more than 4 tons and is one of the major attractions of this temple. The whole temple is further made up of marble blocks. Along with that you will find some carvings of ancient poems on it. You will also find a pond here and by its side you will find three stone buffaloes.
What’s more?
Another major attraction of this fort are the Jain Temples that you will find in the premises of the fort. One of the important temples among all the temples is the Kantinath Jain Temple. There is a Dashavatar Temple here as well. At the entrance of this temple you will find a canopy-like structure with sculptures of statues. All these statues display various dance forms of that era. Moreover all these temples in Achalgarh reflect the finest craftsmanship of the skillful artisans belonging to those eras. Amidst the rocky hills you will also find the beautiful Mandakini River as well. Near the lake on the rocky walls you will find many images of Rajput rulers as well as some animals.
Achalgarh Fort History
The Achalgarh Fort is a majestic fort located on top of the hill station of Mount Abu. It is a fort dating back to the medieval period and has a historical and cultural relevance attached to it. Originally the Paramara Dynasty rulers constructed this fort. But later in 15th century the great warrior king Rana Kumbha of Mewar renovated the fort. The fort has been a centre of power struggles and therefore it has witnessed a number of battles as well. At one point of time the fort has also played a significant role in the power dynamics and the history of the land.
The Achaleshwar Temple that is located just outside the fort also adds to the religious significance of this location. Along with that there are some other Jain temples here as well that were built around 1513 CE within the fort premises. Earlier the location was just like any other fort and a religious site. But during the colonial period the location started flourishing. Because of the pleasant weather in this area Mount Abu became a summer retreat for many British officials. And it was then that the location started gaining importance. Later, after the independence of India, Achalgarh started to become a popular choice for many travelers. For the panoramic view, architecture of the fort, temples this site became a popular tourist spot.
Currently the Eco Tourism of Mount Abu has created this site an even more prominent location to visit. In recent years visitors come to enjoy the majestic beauty of nature here. So if you are ever visiting Mount Abu then make sure you are definitely visiting the Achalgarh Fort here.
Wrapping Up!
So that was all about the Achalgarh Fort and now you definitely need to visit this fort as soon as you can. The beautiful fort is one of the popular sightseeing locations in Mount Abu. The structure of the fort as well as the temples here reflects the richness of the days long gone. And for history buffs this would be one of the interesting locations to explore. Even for nature enthusiasts the magnificent view of the beautiful fort will win over your heart. So when are you planning a trip to this fort in Mount Abu? Also let me know if this fort in Mount Abu is helpful for you in planning a trip to this location.
