Udaipur
Nathdwara Temple, Udaipur
History
The city Palace was built concurrently with establishment of the Udaipur city by Maharana Uday Singh, in 1559 and his successor Maharanas over a period of the next 300 years. It is considered the largest royal complex in Rajasthan and is replete with history. Founding of the city and building of the palace complex can not be looked in isolation as the Maharanas lived and administered their kingdom from this palace.
Prior to moving their capital from Udaipur to Chittor≤≥, the Mewar kingdom had flourished initially in Nagda (30 kilometres (19 mi) to the north of Udaipur), established in 568 AD by Guhil, the first Mewar Maharana. In the 8th century, the capital was moved to Chittor, a hill top fort from where the Sisodias ruled for 80 years. Maharana uday Singh II inherited the Mewar kingdom at Chittor in 1537 but by that time there were signs of losing control of the fort in wars with the Mughals. Udai Singh II, therefore, chose the site near Lake Pichola for his new kingdom because the location was well protected on all sides by forests, lakes and the Aravalli hills. He had chosen this site for his new capital, much before the sacking of Chittor by Emperor Akbar, on the advice of a hermit he had met during one of his hunting expeditions.
Mount Abu
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mount Abu (
pronunciation (help·info)) is a popular hill station in the Aravalli Range inSirohi district of Rajasthan state in western India near the border with Gujarat. The mountain forms a distinct rocky plateau 22 km long by 9 km wide. The highest peak on the mountain is Guru Shikhar at 1,722 m (5,650 ft) above sea level. It is referred to as 'an oasis in the desert' as its heights are home to rivers, lakes, waterfalls and evergreen forests.
pronunciation (help·info)) is a popular hill station in the Aravalli Range inSirohi district of Rajasthan state in western India near the border with Gujarat. The mountain forms a distinct rocky plateau 22 km long by 9 km wide. The highest peak on the mountain is Guru Shikhar at 1,722 m (5,650 ft) above sea level. It is referred to as 'an oasis in the desert' as its heights are home to rivers, lakes, waterfalls and evergreen forests.History
The Gurjars and Arbuda Mountain
The Arbuda Mountains (Abu Parvat / Mount Abu) region is said to be original abode of the famous Gurjars. The association of the Gurjars with the mountain is noticed in many inscriptions and epigraphs including Tilakamanjari of Dhanpala.[1] These Gurjars (Gujars or Gujjars) migrated from Arbuda mountain region and as early as sixth century CE, they set up one or more principalities in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Almost all or a larger part of Rajasthan and Gujarat had been known as Gurjaratra (country ruled or protected by the Gurjars) or Gurjarabhumi (land of the Gurjars) for centuries prior to Mughal period.[2]
The conquest of Mount Abu in 1311 CE by Rao Lumba of Deora-Chauhan dynasty brought to an end the reign of the Parmars and also marked the decline of Mount Abu. He shifted the capital city to Chandravati in the plains. After the destruction of Chandravati in 1405, Rao Shasmal made Sirohi his headquarters. Later it was leased by the British government from the then Maharaja of Sirohi for use as the headquarters of the resident to Rajputana (another name for Rajasthan).
Mythology
The ancient name of Mount Abu is Arbudaanchal. In the Puranas, the region has been referred to as Arbudaranya ("forest of Arbhuda") and 'Abu' is a diminutive of this ancient name. It is believed that sage Vashistha retired to the southern spur at Mount Abu following his differences with sage Vishvamitra. There is another mythology according to which a serpent named "Arbuda" saved the life of Nandi - Lord Shiva's bull. The incident happened on the mountain which is currently known as Mount Abu and so the mountain is named "Arbudaranya" after that incident which gradually became Abu.
Tourism
The mountain is also home to several Hindu temples, including the Adhar Devi Temple (also known as Arbuda Devi Temple), carved out of solid rock; the Shri Raghunathji Temple; and a shrine and temple to Dattatreya built atop the Guru Shikhar peak and a number of Jaintemples including Dilwara Temples, a complex of temples carved of white marble that was built between the 11th and 13th centuries AD. The oldest of these is the Vimal Vasahi temple, built in 1021 AD by Vimal Shah and dedicated to the first of the Jain Tirthankarasand they include the Achaleswar Mahadev Temple (1412) and the Kantinath Temple (1513). It is also the location of the headquarters of the Brahma Kumaris.
The Achalgarh fort, built in the 14th century by Rana Kumbha of Mewar is nearby and at its center is the popular visitor attraction of the Nakki Lake. There is the Toad Rock on a hill near the lake.
The Durga temple, Ambika Mata Temple lies in a cleft of rock in Jagat, just outside Mount Abu town.
Climate
Summer Summer season prevails from mid of April to mid of June when average Maximum temperature remains around 36 °C. Therefore it will be better if you bring light cotton clothes. These clothes are fit for the summers of Mount Abu.
Monsoon Due to its relief and geographical conditions, it rains well in Mount Abu during the monsoons. During the rainy season even the temperature falls down. Normal summer clothing will do. It is wiser to carry an umbrella in order to avoid being caught at the wrong side of monsoon.
Winter Winters are cool in Mount Abu, with mercury hovering around 16 °C to 22 °C. Nights are really chilly and average night temperature is around 4 to 12 °C. Nevertheless, there are instances when the temperature has dipped to as low as −2 to −3 °C. Heavy winter clothing is preferable. You can include long coats and outsiders in your luggage. In daytime, light pullovers are sufficient.
| [hide]Climate data for Mount Abu | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 19.3 (66.7) | 21.0 (69.8) | 25.3 (77.5) | 29.4 (84.9) | 31.5 (88.7) | 29.1 (84.4) | 24.5 (76.1) | 22.7 (72.9) | 24.5 (76.1) | 26.7 (80.1) | 23.8 (74.8) | 20.9 (69.6) | 24.89 (76.8) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 8.0 (46.4) | 10.0 (50) | 14.5 (58.1) | 18.7 (65.7) | 21.0 (69.8) | 19.8 (67.6) | 18.7 (65.7) | 17.8 (64) | 17.6 (63.7) | 16.2 (61.2) | 12.1 (53.8) | 9.0 (48.2) | 15.28 (59.52) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 5.3 (0.209) | 4.4 (0.173) | 6.5 (0.256) | 2.6 (0.102) | 16.4 (0.646) | 101.6 (4) | 573.2 (22.567) | 600.3 (23.634) | 214.2 (8.433) | 19.4 (0.764) | 7.9 (0.311) | 2.4 (0.094) | 1,554.2 (61.189) |
| Source: IMD | |||||||||||||
DILWARA TEMPLES
