General Information
General Information
Location: Bundi (210 km from Delhi)
Population: 1.8 millions
STD code: 0747
Famous for: Taragarh Fort, Brij Bhushanji Ki Haveli.
Temp: 28C - 14C
Rainfall: Yes
Airport: No
Getting There: Bus, Rail
Shopping: Textile, Blue Pottries
Kajli Teej Festival
Teej festival is celebrated all over the state with each region having its own unique touch. Kajli Teej of Bundi is different in several ways, while Teej is celebrated on the third day of the month of Shravana, in Bundi it is celebrated on the third day of the month of Bhadra.
The festival starts with the procession of goddess Teej in a decorated palanquin from the beautiful naval Sagar. It passes through the main bazaars and termintes at Azad Park. The procession has decorated elephants, camels, bands, performing artists and colourfully dressed people.
The people who gather here from surrounding areas also get to watch and participate in the cultural programmes that are organised in the evenings.It provides a very good chance to see performances by local artists from Hadoti region. Though the main function of Teej is held only on two days, the celebrations continue upto Janmashtami, which marks the birth of Lord Krishna.
Activities
Organized in the only hill station of Rajasthan, this is the coldest place at this time of the year. Folk dances and a general atmosphere of gaiety prevails in this tiny hill resort and the tourist has ample time to relax and enjoy.
History
The history of Mount Abu is as diverse as the city itself. It was once a part of the Chauhan kingdom of Rajasthan and served as a summer resort for the Rajput kings of the region. After that, it was leased by the British government from the then Maharaja of Sirohi for use as the headquarter of the resident to Rajputana (another name for Rajasthan).
During the British rule in India, it was the favorite summer destination of the British, who came here to escape the dusty, dry heat of the plains particularly Rajasthan. It also served as a sanatorium for the troops. The small huts and cottages here tell stories of those times even today.
Mount Abu was the home of many saints and sages in the old days. Legend has it that all the 330 million gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon used to visit this holy mountain. It is also the place where the great saint Vashishth lived and performed a yagna (sacrificial worship on a fire pit) to create four Agnikula (four clans of fire) to protect the earth from demons. The yagna was supposed to have been performed near a natural spring, which emerged from a rock shaped like a cow's head.
According to another legend, once sage Vashishth's cow Nandini was trapped in a deep gorge and could not free herself. The sage appealed to Lord Shiva for assistance. The Lord sent Saraswati, the divine stream, to help flood the gorge so that the cow could float up. Vashishth then decided to ensure that such mishaps did not occur in future. He asked the youngest son of Himalaya, the king of mountains to fill the chasm permanently. This he did with the assistance of Arbud, the mighty snake. This spot came to be known as Mount Arbud and was later changed to its present form - Mount Abu.
This place is held in reverence by Jains as well since Jain scriptures record that Lord Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankar (spiritual leader), also visited Mount Abu and blessed the city.
Places to see
There are a number of sites to visit in and around this small city. Besides being a hill station, Mount Abu is also regarded as an important pilgrimage site, with the Dilwara Jain temples, ashrams of saints and some Hindu temples within its boundaries. The landscapes, mountains and the holy Nakki Lake are some of the sites that would make the trip to this place a delight.
Getting there
By Air : Udaipur is the nearest airport to Mount Abu, 185 km away. Tourists can easily opt for various road transport facilities available at the airport for reaching Mount Abu. A number of domestic airlines have their scheduled flight to Udaipur, which connect the city to the major cities in the country.
By Road : Mount Abu is well-connected by roads, as it is in close proximity to National Highway No 8 and 14. A small roadway connects the city to National Highway no 8, which in turn connects it to major cities like Jodhpur and Delhi. There is also a good network of roads making it accessible to other important places in the state.
By Rail : The railway station at Abu Road is a two-hour drive from Mount Abu and is well-connected to the rest of the country through a number of trains. It is a major stoppage for a number of important long-distance trains of the Western and Northern Railways.