The Spectral Entrada
"Rajasthan exhibits the sole example in the history of mankind
of a people withstanding every outrage barbarity can inflict or human nature
sustain, and bent to the earth, yet rising buoyant from the pressure and
making calamity a whetstone to courage".
Rajasthan's
panoramic outlook is simply mesmerizing, with the lofty Aravali hills - one
of the oldest mountain ranges of the world and the golden sand dunes of the
Great Indian Desert - the only desert in the sub continent.
Climatically, Rajasthan is the driest part of India. Population densities
are higher in the eastern part of the State and nineteen of the thirtyone
districts of the State fall in the non-desert area to the east of the
Aravallis.
Mount Abu
Mount Abu is a beautiful hill-station which is actually a plateau lying at
an altitude of 1200 meters and is rich in vegetation. This is also the
highest point between the Nilgiris in the south and the Himalayan range up
north. While driving uphill to Mount Abu, there is a range of huge smooth
rocks with weird shapes, a result of erosion by high velocity winds.
In the medieval times, Mt. Abu was a part of the Chauhan kingdom. Later it
was later leased to the British by then Maharaja of Sirohi for use as the
headquarters of the resident to Rajputana (another name for Rajasthan).
Mount Abu was one of the favorite summer destinations of the British who
drove to this hilly retreat to escape the dusty, dry heat of the plains.
According to the folklores, Mt. Abu was also the home of many saints and
sages in ancient times. According to the legends, all the three hundred and
thirty million gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon used to visit this
holy mountain. This place is held in reverence by Jains since Lord Mahavira,
the 24th Jain Tirthankara (spiritual leader), visited Mt. Abu and blessed
the city.
