Greetings from the Abode!

Before the bustling Diwali rush takes over, I want to take a moment to wish you, your family, friends, and colleagues a joyous and delightful Diwali!

As we get ready to celebrate the festival of lights, I hope every moment in your life fills you with joy, success, and the warmth of togetherness. I hope this festive season brings you closer to loved ones and fills your heart with happiness.

Wishing you and your family a very happy and Prosperous Diwali!

May the divine light of Diwali bring peace, prosperity, happiness, and good health into your life.

12 Days to Diwali Mount Abu

12 Days to Diwali

Last night, the full moon played a captivating game of hide-and-seek over the Abode of the Gods. As heavy, brooding clouds drifted across Mount Abu’s skyline, hope flickered in the hearts of the Abuites. We braced ourselves for a torrent, expecting the rain gods to shower us with blessings. But alas, they withheld their grace. Today, hope lingers in the air. The sky remains pregnant with possibility, and perhaps by nightfall, the heavens will open up and quench the land.

Meanwhile, Mount Abu’s roads are in absolute disarray. Meanwhile, the streets of Mount Abu resemble craters as contractors rush to lay fresh water and sewage lines, possibly influenced by the full moon. Each year, thousands of tourists flock to Abu for Diwali, and with hotel rooms already booked, this year promises to be no exception. However, if they drive on these mangled roads, they may wonder if they’ve landed on the moon instead of the picturesque hill station they imagined.

The contractors have taken on more work than they can handle this time. Getting the roads into any semblance of order before Diwali feels like a task that only a miracle could accomplish. So, dear tourists, if you brave the journey up the Hill, bear with us! Spare a thought for the locals, who are grappling with more than just broken roads. Poor sanitation, inconsistent garbage collection, and a neglected infrastructure have become part and parcel of life here. It’s the Indian way—‘live and let live,’ as they say. We’ve learned to adapt, surviving power cuts that last for hours and receiving water every second or third day. Life rolls on, regardless.

But despite it all, there’s an undeniable charm in the air. So, let’s gear up for the season and make the best of it, as we always have. To our esteemed guests who will soon ascend the Hill: “A Very Happy Diwali and a Stress-Free New Year!” Let’s celebrate, rain or shine—because in Abu, that’s how we do it. 

HAPPY Diwali!

Ains

Full Moon cloaked with dark clouds

Moon playing peek-a-boo

Mount Abu Camp Sites for Tourists

The day after Diwali, Mount Abu is like the burning Olympic flame, only here it does not attract the athletes, but the Gujjus from Gujarat. It drew them to Abu like the moth to the flame. A steady stream of non-ending vehicles winds its way up this enthralling mountain. This continues for a complete week nonstop. Tourists that have advance booking have nothing to worry about; those who have moved up this hill without any booking are indeed brave souls. Abu at this time of the year is crammed; locals have a heyday as they oblige the tourists by renting out personal rooms in their homes at a premium, and nothing is spared, they make even space in jeeps use of. Abu gears up for this maddening rush by utilizing every asset that it owns, government agencies pitch tents like the Scouts personnel and the forest department. To make life exciting for the youth, the forest department has opened up a “Wilderness campsite Auro Adventures” en route to Gaumukh. The scouts have pitched tents on their lower and upper ground by the name of “Camper Adventure” for families. Tourists interested in utilizing these camping sites have to get in touch with the head of these departments. My suggestion to our guests who make their way up to our Paradise is to please make sure you have your booking well in advance or be prepared to be ripped off. This Paradise could turn into quite hell if they do not prepare you for the worst. Also, note the temperature drops quite low after sunset, so bring along some warm clothing for yourself and your family. Wishing all Guests a Very Happy Diwali Season and “A Joyous Happy New Year” from us folks from the Abode of the Gods.