As soon as we talk about Rajasthan what comes to our mind instantly? Deserts? Palaces? Historical Monuments? These are the major things that a tourist can explore in Rajasthan. The dry land of Rajasthan undoubtedly offers some of the most breathtaking experiences. And no doubt, that this is such a popular tourist spot as well. But there is a different side to Rajasthan as well that definitely needs attention. When you are visiting here other than the deserts you can also enjoy the fun of visiting a hill station as well. Yes, the location that I am talking about is Mount Abu. And what is most interesting to explore here is Guru Shikhar in Mount Abu. Guru Shikhar is the highest peak of the Aravalli Range and is one of the popular sightseeing locations in Rajasthan as well. And so you need to visit Guru Shikhar Mount Abu.
Guru Shikhar Mount Abu
Mount Abu Guru Shikhar is a location in Rajasthan that is somewhat different from what you can expect from Rajasthan. It is a quaint hill station and a popular sightseeing spot as well. Due to the breathtaking height of the location the spot is comparatively cooler according to the weather as well. Located amidst the rocky terrain it can be an exciting visit to explore Guru Shikhar. And for the pristine beauty of the location it is further popular as an oasis in the desert. With evergreen forests, lakes, and waterfalls Mount Abu offers a wholesome experience to the visitors. And Guru Shikhar being the highest peak offers a breathtaking view of the Aravalli range as well.
So keep on reading this article as here I will mention everything that you need to know about Guru Shikhar. This will be a helpful read for you if you are travelling to Mount Abu any time soon.
Location: Sirohi District, Arbuda Mountains, Aravalli Range, Rajasthan
Timings: 9 am to 5 pm
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 location is the Maharana Pratap Airport in Udaipur. From the airport Guru Shikhar is located at a distance of 190 km. It would take you around 3 hours and 35 minutes to reach the location from the Udaipur Airport. You can easily take a taxi or hire a car from the airport to reach Mount Abu. Or else buses are also available on this route as well that you can opt for.
However in case you are travelling from anywhere abroad then the nearest international airport to reach Mount Abu Guru Shikhar is the Jaipur International Airport. From Jaipur airport the location of Mount Abu is 519 km. It would take you around 9 to 10 hours to reach the location from the Jaipur Airport. Buses are available on this route to reach Mount Abu from Jaipur. Or else you can also opt for a car or hire a cab as well from the airport to reach Mount Abu.
By train
If you wish to travel by train then the nearest railway station to reach Mount Abu is the Abu Road Railway Station. From the Abu Road railway station the distance of the location is about 41.5 km. It would approximately take you around 1 hour and 20 minutes to reach the location from there. You can easily take a car or a cab from the railway station to reach the spot easily.
By road
You can reach by roadways as well as the location of Mount Abu is easily accessible. If you are travelling by road then you will get buses from major locations to reach Mount Abu. Or else you can opt for a car or you can hire a cab as well. It would be most convenient to travel by car. You can hire two wheelers here as well to reach the location. From Mount Abu the Guru Shikhar Peak is about 15 km away. And after reaching the spot it is about a 300 step short trek to reach the topmost point of the peak.
Overview of Guru Shikhar
Guru Shikhar Mount Abu is the highest peak of the Aravalli range and is a unique location in Rajasthan. As we all know Rajasthan as a dry desert land, Mount Abu as a location here is like a breath of fresh air. Mount Abu is the only hill station in Rajasthan and for both the people of Rajasthan as well as for tourists this is a popular sightseeing spot. Guru Sikhar is located about 15 km away from Mount Abu and the pristine Guru Shikhar height of 1722 meters is the major attraction of visiting this location. Obviously due to the majestic height of the point the location offers a gorgeous view of the whole Aravalli Range and the Mount Abu Hill Station.
Literally the word Guru Shikhar means the peak of the Guru. And there is a legend associated with this location as well. According to beliefs the peak is named after Guru Dattatreya who used to reside here during his days that he spent as a monk. On the top of the peak you will also find a cave which is at present a temple here built in remembrance of Guru Dattatreya. Further this location also houses the Mount Abu Observatory as well which is another major attraction here.
What’s more?
While travelling to reach the location you will have to travel about 15 km from Mount Abu. However after reaching a certain point the only option to reach the peak is via a small trek. You will have to climb around 300 steps to finally reach the top of the Guru Shikhar Mount Abu Peak. The weather of this location is beautiful and comparatively cooler in terms of other locations in Rajasthan. Especially if you visit around October or after that the location seems cool and misty. At the top of the peak you will find an old bell. There you will find 1411 AD inscribed on it. And after a successful hike up to the peak if you ring the bell it would definitely feel like your personal achievement. And the sound of a bell also travels far away, so try it.
Legend of Guru Shikhar
There is a legend associated with Guru Shikhar Mount Abu that makes the location interesting. According to local legends Goddess Anusuya was determined to have a son like Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu or Lord Mahesh. This wish created a tension among the wives of the Gods Devi Saraswati, Devi Lakshmi and Devi Parvati. There the Goddesses asked their husbands to go to the people and take Anusuya’s examination. However the people on earth therefore took her examination. And after that she also obtained the infant forms of the Gods. Therefore she took them back to her husband Atri. Just when Atri embraced the three children something happened. Instantly the power converted the three children into one child with three heads and six hands.
With this the wives of the three Gods Devi Saraswati, Devi Lakshmi and Devi Parvati got really worried about their husband’s return. Therefore they themselves went and visited Anusuya and also urged her to return their husbands. It was then that Tridev again came back to their normal form. They were really impressed with the kind nature of both Atri and Anasuya. Upon this they blessed the couple with a son named Dattatreya, who was an embodiment of the three Gods. This child had one body but with three heads and six hands.
What’s more?
According to beliefs Dattatreya is an incarnation of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. The word Datta means given and the word Atreya came from Atri as he was Atri’s son. Also people believe that the Lord has actually put his foot on this peak and sanctified the location. One can even witness the footprints of the Lord on the rocky caves here. Every year a huge number of devotees visit this holy place. To the northwestern side of this peak you will find a temple dedicated to Dattatreya’s mother.
Major attractions at Guru Shikhar
Hiking is obviously one of the major attractions here and the hikers love visiting this spot, especially during morning the hiking seems even more attractive with the sunrise. Along with that there are temples that you can visit here. You will find a Chamundi Temple, a Meera Temple and a Shiva Temple here along with the temple of Anusuya. Raghunathji Temple is also an important temple in this location. Furthermore there is the Mount Abu Observatory here that you can visit. The Physical Research Laboratory opened this Observatory here. One of the major attractions here is the 12.m infrared telescope.
Other than that there are some small shops that you will spot along the hiking route here. They sell delicious breakfast items here along with tea. Also you will get items like cakes, biscuits and chips here that you can munch on any time of the day. Some shops even sell souvenirs here that you can browse through. And make sure you click beautiful photographs here as well. The location is one of the picturesque locations and offers breathtaking views. So definitely capture memories and moments as much as you can with your eyes as well as lenses.
Wrapping Up!
So that was all about Guru Shikhar Mount Abu and now you just need to plan a trip to this location as soon as you can. This is one of the best locations that you can explore in Rajasthan. Furthermore in the landscape of Rajasthan this is definitely one of the unique locations to visit. The only hill station in Rajasthan is definitely beautiful and offers a majestic experience to its visitors. So you simply cannot miss out on visiting Guru Shikhar. Let me know if this article on Mount Abu Guru Shikhar is helpful for you in planning a trip to this beautiful location.
