Mount Abu town, the only
hill station in
Rajasthan, is at an elevation of . It has been a popular retreat from the heat of
Rajasthan and neighboring
Gujarat for centuries. The mountain is home to several
Hindu temples, including the Adhar Devi Temple (also known as Arbuda Devi Temple), carved out of the solid rock; the Shri Raghunathji Temple; and a shrine and temple to
Dattatreya built atop the
Guru Shikhar peak; and the
Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple (1412). The
Achalgarh Fort, built in the 14th century by
Kumbha of Mewar, is nearby and at its center is the popular visitor attraction of the
Nakki Lake. The Toad Rock is on a hill near the lake. Close to the fort is the
Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple, a popular
Shiva temple. Also, Achal Fort Jain Temple, Shantinath Jain Temple (1513) is equally famous. The
Durga Ambika Mata Temple lies in a cleft of rock in Jagat, just outside Mount Abu town. The mountain is also the home to a number of
Jain temples including
Dilwara Temples, a complex of temples carved out of white
marble. The Dilwara Temples or Delvada Temples are located about 2½ kilometers from the Mount Abu town. These
Jain temples were built by Vimal Shah and designed by
Vastupala,
Jain ministers of Dholka, between the 11th and 16th centuries and are famous for their use of white
marble and intricate marble carvings. They are a pilgrimage place of the Jains, and a popular general tourist attraction. The temples have an opulent entranceway, the simplicity in architecture reflecting Jain values like honesty and frugality. Minutely-carved ornamental detail covers the ceilings, doorways, pillars, and panels. The temple complex is in the midst of a range of forested hills. There are five temples in all, each with its own unique identity. All five temples are enclosed within a single high walled compound. The group is named after the small village of Dilwara or Delvara in which they are located. The five temples are: • Vimal Vasahi, dedicated to the first Jain
Tirthankara, Shri
Rishabhadev. • Luna Vasahi, dedicated to the 22nd Jain Tirthankara,
Shri Neminatha. • Pittalhar, dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankar, Shri Rishabhadev. • Parshvanath, dedicated to the 23rd Jain Tirthankara, Shri
Parshvanatha. • Mahavir Swami, dedicated to the last Jain Tirthankara, Shri
Mahaviraswami. Among all the five legendary marble temples of Dilwara, the most famous of those are the Vimal Vasahi and the Luna Vasahi temples. In Mount Abu, the faith community of
Brahma Kumaris has its spiritual headquarters, which are represented by its own account in 110 countries. Every year about 2.5 million visitors are supposed to visit the sprawling campus of that spiritual movement. ==In literature==