Guru Shikhar Mount Abu is the highest point of the Aravalli Range. It rises to an altitude of 1,722 m (5,650 feet). Guru Shikhar provides a breathtaking panoramic view of Mount Abu town and green Aravalli range. According to history, King Prithviraj Chauhan is believed to have travelled along this peak to meet his bride and consummate his marriage with her. The bride was the princess of Prahladanpur, now known as Palanpur.
The peak is named Guru Shikhar or 'the peak of the guru' after Dattatreya. The temple of Dattatreya is one of the main attractions at Guru Shikhar peak other than scenic views. Lord Dattatreya is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu who had taken birth to the sage couple Atri and Anasuya. The word 'Datta' means given and since he was the son of Atri hence named 'Atreya'. Thus the boy got its name Dattatreya and is believed to be born with divine power. It is believed that the lord actually put his foot on this peak sanctifying the place. While visiting, one can see the footprint marks of the Lord in the rocky caves. Thousands of pilgrims visit this holy place every year. A huge bell suspended from a wooden frame having an inscription of 1411 AD can be seen at the entrance of the temple.
Raghunathji Temple is also worth seeing over this place. In this temple one can find the footprints of Swami Ramanath, who was a famous sage of his time. Nearby temple of Mata Anasuya, mother of Lord Dattatreya, is also a major attraction for devotees. Adjacent to the temple is the Mount Abu Observatory operated by the Physical Research Laboratory. This observatory hosts a 1.2m infrared telescope and also several Astronomy experiments.
Visitors can rent a taxi or take a two-wheeler and travel along the Dilwara-Achalgadh road to reach the base of the mountain. From here, one needs to climb about 300 steps to reach the peak. Although it is a steep climb, the steps are in good condition throughout and can be negotiated with relative ease.
History and mythology of guru shikar mount abu
You will hardly find a place in Mount Abu which does not have a temple or hermitage nearby. Gurushikhar is no exception.
Before you reach the peak, you will find the temple dedicated to Dattatreya. The literal meaning of the name can be explained thus: Atreya means son of Atri, the sage from Hindu mythology. Datta in Sanskrit means given. Dattatreya, according to Hindu belief is the son given to the sage Atri and his wife Anasuya by the trinity, Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma. The peak is dedicated to Guru Dattatreya and hence the name of the peak, Guru Shikhar.
The temple is believed to house the foot prints of Dattatreya and devotees feel blessed by darshan (sighting) of these footprints.
Within the temple you can also see footprints of Swami Ramnath, the seer who enshrined the statue in the Raghunathji temple in Mount Abu. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is an important pilgrimage place for the Vaishnavites, that is, devotees of Lord Vishnu.
After reaching the peak, at a little distance to the northwest, you will also find a temple dedicated to Ahilya, who was Dattatreya’s mother.
On the peak, there is a huge bell with inscription 1411 A.D. The original bell has had to be replaced with a new bell in recent times because of disintegration of the old one. The sound of the bell is carried to a long distance and is very captivating.
Historically speaking, King Prithviraj Chowhan is believed to have travelled along this peak to meet his bride and consummate his marriage with her. The bride was the princess of Prahladanpur, now known as Palanpur.
