Places to visit in Aravali

Mount Abu is a solitary hill station situated in the Sirohi District of Rajasthan. It is present in the Aravalli ranges at a height of 1220m. The highest point of the range ‘Guru Shikhar’ is present in Mt Abu which is also known as the summer capital of Rajasthan. The popular tourist attractions of this hill station are the Nakki Lake which is the only artificial lake set among the hills at a height of 1200 metres and is a popular place for boating.

The sightseeing tourist attractions are the hill temple of Gaumukh, Toad Hill, the Sunset Point, and the famous Jain temple of Dilwara which is famous for its architecture. One can reach Mt Abu via airways by reaching Udaipur or by a good network of roadways and railway lines.

Impressive species of birds, mammals and reptiles are found in the wildlife sanctuaries and National parks that are situated in the belt of these ranges. The Mt Abu Sanctuary,  the Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary and the Sariska National Park  are the home to a huge variety of birds and animals like python, sloth bear, monkeys, jackals, langurs, sambar deer, jungle cat, spotted deer, eagles, flying squirrel, Indian wolf , hyena, great Indian bustard and many others.

This sanctuary is located in the Aravalli ranges with the highest peak of the Aravallis- Guru Shikhar situated here. Miscellaneous vegetation can be found here with the base of the hills having thorn forests and the higher areas having evergreen forests depending on the amount of rainfall it receives. The south western part of the sanctuary has bamboo forests. One can also find a lot of herbal plants here. The endangered species of certain animals are found here like that of tiger and lion. Other animals present in this sanctuary are sloth bear, hyenas, wolves, mongoose, porcupines and many others.

The Kumbhalgarh Fort is situated at a distance of about 64kms away from Udaipur towards the north and is set between 13 mountains in the Aravalli range. It lies near the wildlife sanctuary and is a magnificent tourist destination for its gardens, temples and various palaces. The fort lies at a height of 1914 metres and it is the adobe of another fort which is situated inside it. It is called by the different names of Kartargarh Fort as the Palace of Cloud or the Badal Mahal.

The Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the rugged area of the Aravalli range in the districts of Udaipur, Rajsamand and Pali. This is an important tourist attraction. The sanctuary is the home to many animals like sloth bear, chinkara, sambhar, hyena, jungle cat, leopards, wolf, Jungle cat,hare, Chausingha and nilgai. It is the lone sanctuary where one can see wolves involved in their activities. Wolves coming out near water holes are a common sight during the summer season in this area. Tourists who enjoy bird watching can really enjoy themselves here as it is a home to many avian species like kingfisher, grey jungle fowl, doves and peacocks, parakeets, grey pigeons, red spur owls, bulbuls and golden orioles. This sanctuary also boasts of a variety of foliage with unique trees and plants having medicinal value.

The Sariska landscape consists of narrow valleys and hills of the Aravalli Mountains. It is located about 200 kmsaway from Delhi. The vegetation of the sanctuary includes dry deciduous forests, rocks and grasses and thorn forests. The carnivores found here are jungle cat, hyenas, tigers, jackals, wild dogs and leopards. Sariska is also famous for the Rhesus Monkey found near Talvriksh. The birds found here are serpent eagles. Golden backed woodpecker, bush quail, grey partridge, peafowls and horned owls. This sanctuary is open throughout the year but the best time to visit this reserve is from October to April.

On top of the Aravalli hills in the town of Sohna lies tourist complex known as Sohna Sulphur springs. The spring is situated at the base of an upright rock and covered by a dome. The water of the spring is sulphurous and also has medicinal properties. According to myths this is the place of the main kund and is known as ‘Shiva Kund’. This was the place where hermits used to stay.

This is the largest natural lake of Haryana and is situated 20 kms from Gurgaon towards the south near the Aravalli range. It is a famous picnic spot  and one can indulge in sport activities like kayaking, parasailing, fishing and boating and hot air ballooning. The tourists can also enjoy adventure sports like camping, trekking and rock climbing. On the lake a bird watcher can enjoy seeing the egrets, water fowls, terns and kingfishers. The months between October and March are the best periods to come here.

Palanpur is located near the Aravalli hills and is encircled by hillocks. A famous temple here is the Kedarnath Mahadev which is the temple of Lord Shiva and exists from the Mahabharata period and it is situated within the Aravalli range around 35kms from Palanpur. It is at a height of 1500 metres on the Jasore peak.

Bundi is situated at the base of the Aravalli range and is encircled by the hills on three sides bounded by a huge wall which has four gateways. It attracts huge number of tourists because of its temples, magnificent palaces, havelis and medieval forts along with its picturesque landscape and peaceful atmosphere. The main attraction for the tourists is the Taragarh Fort, the Bundi Palace, the temple of Lord Varuna which is half immersed in the Nawal Sagar Lake and a huge number of step wells also called baoris some of them which are still maintained today. They are the RanjikiBaori, Nawalsagar and Nagar Sagar Kund. Bundi is famous for its murals and intricate carvings.

Pushkar is one of the holy cities of the Aravalli range.it is a small town located 13kms from Ajmer and 140kms from Jaipur. The city is full of temples and it is enclosed by hills on its three sides. The Pushkar Lake holds historical importance and lots of bathing ghats have been built around the lake. Pushkar is the only place in the world which boasts of Lord Brahma’s temple. Thousands of Hindu tourists from all over the world come to Pushkar to have a bath in the holy waters of the Pushkar Lake. The Pushkar Camel Festival is also famous and attracts tourists.

This state is an area of great heritage and culture and is situated at the foothills of the Aravalli ranges. This is the state where the famous Mahabharata battle was fought between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Hence this place is often visited by the tourists for its historical importance. Haryana is famous for its lush greenery, impressive architecture and ancient temples. Haryana is also famous for its weaving and embroidery, pottery, folk music and dance and handcrafted items. Haryana also attracts tourists who are adventurous as it offers adventure sports like parasailing, river rafting, rock climbing, trekking and canoeing. Golf tourism is also very popular activity in Haryana. The other sightseeing tourist attractions of Haryana are Tilya Lake, Morni Hills, Panipat, Thaneswar Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary and other places. You should visit Haryana during the months between October to March when it is very cool and pleasant.

The Japanese Rock Garden is a must visit place and is located in the middle of the Fateh Sagar Lake. The picturesque scenery of the Aravalli hills can be enjoyed from this garden. Udaipur is well connected by airways, railways and roadways from the rest of the country.

This city is situated among the Aravalli ranges and is called the ‘City of Dawn’. It is an ideal place for a vacation as one can experience the forts and palaces set between the natural surroundings. One can visit the gardens of Udaipur, Jag Niwas Palace, Lake Pichola and the Lake Palace. The tourists can also visit the Jagat temple, Ranakpur temple and the Nathdwara temples which are located near the city. The forts can also be a good place to visit in Aravali. The Kumbhalgarh Fort and the Chittorgarh Fort are the must visits. The travellers apart from visiting the forts and the temples can also visit Ghanerao castle, Nagda and Haldighati.

Kids can have a great time watching different species of birds and animals. There are also a few small parks and gardens where you can take your kids to play and enjoy.