Mount Abu is the exception in Rajasthan: a green hill station at 1,220 metres in the Aravallis, where the temperature drops ten degrees the moment you start the climb. The Dilwara Jain temples here contain some of the most extraordinary marble carving in India, and the town itself is small, walkable and built around a lake.
Five marble temples built between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries. Photography is not permitted inside, and visiting hours for tourists are limited to the afternoon — check before you go.
The centre of town, with pedalos, a lakeside walk and Toad Rock at one end.
The Aravallis' highest peak, 15 km out, with a small Dattatreya temple at the top.
The standard evening gathering spot, with a broad view west over the plains.
8 km away, with the Achaleshwar Mahadev temple and its brass Nandi.
288 sq km of forest around the plateau, with sloth bear, leopard and good birdlife.
November to February for cool, clear weather, and July to September if you want the hills at their greenest — the monsoon here is genuinely scenic. The Summer Festival in May and the Winter Festival in December both draw large crowds.
Maharana Pratap Airport, Udaipur (UDR), is the nearest at 176 km, roughly 4 hours by road.
Abu Road (ABR) is the railhead, 28 km down the hill, with direct trains from Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Mumbai.
Udaipur is about 4 hours, Ahmedabad 4 hours 30 minutes and Jodhpur 5 hours 30 minutes. The final 28 km from Abu Road is a winding ghat climb.
Udaipur airport is the practical arrival point; we run direct transfers from UDR to Mount Abu with a stop at Ranakpur if you want to break the drive.
Abu Road station sits at the base of the hill. The climb to town takes 45 minutes to an hour by cab.
| Destination | Distance by road | Approx. drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Road | 28 km | 1 hr |
| Udaipur | 165 km | 4 hr |
| Ahmedabad | 225 km | 4 hr 30 min |
| Jodhpur | 265 km | 5 hr 30 min |
Distances and drive times are approximate and depend on traffic, road conditions and the stops you make.
We run local sightseeing cars, airport and station transfers and outstation taxis in Mount Abu. A local package covers a set number of hours and kilometres with the driver waiting at each stop, which is far more practical than hailing a new ride at every monument. For longer trips, the same car and driver can stay with you across the whole itinerary.
Twelve days and eight destinations — forts, desert, tigers, hills and lakes, at a pace that lets you enjoy them.
Rajasthan's three great cities in six days, connected by two of the state's best drives.
Eight days through the great forts, palaces and havelis of Rajasthan, from Jaipur to the desert and down to the lakes.
Two days is comfortable — one for Dilwara, Nakki Lake and Sunset Point, another for Guru Shikhar, Achalgarh and the sanctuary.
Non-worshippers are generally admitted in the afternoon only, and photography is prohibited inside. Timings do change, so confirm locally on the day.
The 28 km ghat road from Abu Road has plenty of hairpins but is well surfaced. An experienced hill driver makes a real difference, particularly after dark.
Very easily. Four hours by road, and Ranakpur makes a natural stop on the way.
