Mount Abu The Playground of the Gods

Mount Abu

Mount Abu, often described as the Playground of the Gods, rises like a green oasis from the rugged stretches of the ancient Aravalli Range. Within this elevated haven lies an expansive landscape of weathered granite boulders, softened by a lush covering of vegetation, forming forests that transition from dry deciduous groves to patches of evergreen woodland.

The beckoning hills seem to call out to travellers, inviting them to explore their mystic slopes and mysterious valleys. Those who wind their way up the mountain road often feel a sense of quiet triumph — as if they have stepped into another world, walking literally on cloud nine.

Following the season’s first torrential downpour on the 10th of July — a remarkable 15.8 cm of rain in a single spell — the weather gods appear content to recline upon the heavy clouds that now mantle this sacred abode. Below them, nature revels in a theatre of drifting mist and swirling fog, a hallmark of Mount Abu’s monsoon mood.

The landscape flickers between visibility and veil: forests appear, vanish, and reappear again in ghostly outlines. It is a magical time when the hills breathe cool air, and every leaf glistens with life.

Tourists understandably feel thrilled because such weather lingered for several days. They know that once the full force of the monsoon arrives, heavy rains may restrict movement and exploration. For now, however, they wander through this fresh, misty, emerald haven — a rare privilege before the monsoon settles in.

The lake's attractive appearance, however, conceals a more grim and serious past. Only three days ago, the lake received its first “bhog” of the season — an offering in the tragic form of a human life lost to suicide. Local lore whispers that whenever such a soul departs in this manner, the lake gazes skyward, gathering strength from the heavens before overflowing. The rising waters, people say, help release the troubled spirit, setting it free on its onward journey to whatever realm awaits beyond.

Such stories — part folklore, part reflection of human sorrow — are woven into the living fabric of Mount Abu. Here, nature’s splendour and humanity’s fragility exist side by side, reminding visitors that this mountain retreat is not only a place of beauty but also one of mystery, legend, and deep emotion.