Mount Abu in Rajasthan.

HIT THE HEAD & TAKE THE TREASURE.”

Mount Abu.
Arbudanchal
Arbudaranya.
Elevation 5680 feet
Home of Jain Temples.
Dilwara Temples built by Vimalsha. 11 Century.
Nakki Talao, Arbuda Devi.

Every 1000 feet elevation, Temperature drops by 1* C.
Therefore Mount Abu is cooler by 5.7*C. than at the sea level.

Throughout the country the English Rulers developed Hill Stations.
Mount Abu was the official residence of the Resident, Political Agent,
and his staff for Western India. Many Royal family also settled there.
They lived at Mount Abu two seasons a year that is 8 months in a year.
They established municipality to construct roads, recreation centers
clubs theatres, picnic Points and allowed settlers to settle in Mount Abu.

Prior to 1947, No entry for vehicles in municipal limit. Trucks, Bus, Cars
stopped at the entrance of Mount Abu toll-booth..
The Europeans too walked down to their Kothi on foot or
on horse etc. There were camel carriages to take their family etc.
No vehicles were allowed beyond the entrance point.
All had to enter on foot or in a palanquin or a horse carriage.
Dilwara Jain Temples is a center of great attraction.

Incident.1.
One Political Agent William with his Madam one afternoon stood at
the entrance of the Dilwara temple, just to know what a temple is.

Maharaj ShantiVijayji himself came to the door to welcome the couple.
They said they wanted to have a glance. They were offered jute cloth slippers
to wear and were asked to take out their shoes by the security staff.
The Madam changed her shoes. William did not like it and he toured
the temple premises with his shoes on.

Rumors say that William had his feet paralyzed. He could not walk.
He was advised to visit the temple again. He did not believe in such things.
He prepared himself to return to England for surgery. No medicine helped.
Wiser counsel prevails. The Madam by lot of persuasion took him in a
wheel-chair to see the temple barefoot. William walked out OK on his two feet.


Incident No.2.
At Gautameshvar there was a Fountain Head of a Bull Nandi wherefrom
fresh-water poured for Visitors to wash and drink and rest there.

A marble stone was inscribed roughly meaning “Hit the Head and Take the Treasure.”
Many devotees gave their life by Hitting their Head before the bull icon and died.
No Treasure was found.

At last, it is rumored Vastu Pal Tej Pal brothers in 13th Century visited the spot.
They were very sorry for the plight of the dead in search of the Treasure.
Vastu Pal was so annoyed that with an iron rod, he Hit the Head of the Bull.
And? Lo! Behind the Mouth of the fountain was hidden treasure of Gold
Diamonds Pearls Ruby and what not. The message was to break the head of the icon. Many had mistakenly cut own head and had died in vain.

They spent the proceeds of the Treasure in the development of Abu.


Mt.Abu during 1935-45 was army cantonment and a colony of British Officers, the Rulers of Indian states. Mount Abu was the seat of meetings, conference and discussing political agenda of the states.
Abu was the meeting place of religious heads of different religion.
No vehicle was allowed in city limit. Each and all abandoned their car, bus at the toll-booth.
Horse carriage, Carts were available for movement of old people, transport of luggage and supplies. All used to move of foot. I remember running from our kothi at Achalgachh to Addhar devi by short cut from the back of Dilwara. There were short cuts for reaching sunset point Anadra point Gau-mukh, Nakki-lake, bazaar and all such places. We had enough of supply of fresh milk and green vegetables from fields adjacent to sun-set point. We drank boiled water and used to sleep in mosquito curtains. Every week we were given a tablet of quinine with milk.

Mount Abu deserves a Visit at least once.