THE SPECTRA OF TOURISTS [ IN THE PANDEMIC YEAR 2020 ] Mount Abu

Mount Abu sold out on weekends 

TOURISTS IN THE PANDEMIC YEAR 2020 MT ABU.

The lockdown in April 2020 brought Abu's tourism industry to a standstill. Our summer season saw the collapse of our tourist visitors. The brutal blow meted to Abu’s main livelihood affected all. Abuites faced a bleak future. It was impossible to predict when or how the coronavirus pandemic would allow travel to resume. With virtually all travel halted, and no silver lining to the dark monsoon clouds, tourist recovery seemed a pipe dream.

This oasis in the desert of Rajasthan became a magnet for thousands of tourists after the 15th of August 2020, when travel restrictions were lifted and the lockdown period was relaxed. Our Gujarati neighbours flooded Abu every weekend for a quick spree. The crowds that landed here gave one the impression that the most dreaded pandemic in the history of modern man had ended. Personally, this baffling rush and the volume of traffic coming into Abu has left me apprehensive about the safety of our Abuites. This gravitation of the Gujaratis for Mount Abu in droves makes me think here of the adage “Like moths drawn to a flame”. 

Our country has not reached a coronavirus peak, and the long-term implications are unclear. Every day one reads in the papers of leaps and bound by COVID-19 NEW CASES. COVID is out of control in our country and the only solution is a vaccine to stop it. They set India on becoming Numero 1 on the cover impact!

Will update you on the events of our retreating monsoons soon. Keep in touch 

Mount Abu an update of events post Lockdown period [.Aug 2020.]

 Pandemic threat and Lockdown blues Beckon tourists to the GREEN OASIS OF Rajasthan.

Plummy From School per kind favour Brother Agnello

Before I go further with my rants on Mount Abu, let me wish all of you well.

May the glory of our Independence Day be an inspiration for us to achieve greatness in life. HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY.

Monsoons in Mount Abu, with its pitter-patter, clouds swirling through the trees, and misty conditions playing hide and seek with the subdued sunlight from above, are a major attraction for our Gujarati visitors. Post 15 Aug 20 and this weekend has seen an exceptional influx of tourists. The lockdown has made people want to escape their homes and find some freedom. The charm of the cool and misty conditions is a thrill. The waterfalls along the hillsides are a great attraction. For the vacationer, this brief trip is a welcome change from being cooped up because of the lockdown.

Abuites are happy that such a large volume of tourists have visited this abode, but the bummer should this be a short-lived euphoria that comes crashing down on the local populace who, if exposed to COVID-19, brought via these visiting guests. Guess only time will tell. “Be positive, be safe, wear your mask, keep your social distancing. Coronaviruses are not a joke, there is no cure. If you contract it prepare to die.

Misty Mount Abu

An accident waiting to happen at waterfall Mt Abu

(Photo via WhatsApp )

Waterfall Mt Abu

(Vid via WhatsApp )

"A beautiful waterfall on Mount Abu, with water tumbling down the rocky terrain and surrounded by lush foliage and trees."

I will post updates on wildlife, and other events shortly 

Tourism sector open from today [ 22 June 2020 ] Mount Abu.

Oh, to be in Abu in the coronavirus year Pandemic. 

Mount Abu

The Mount Abu Administration, headed by Dr Ravindra Goswami Subdivisional Officer, Held a meeting with the Hotel Association, The Municipality and others yesterday to take stock of the situation and ensure that the smooth opening of the hotel industry, the restaurants and other related tourist outlets opened securely with the "Does and Donts" laid down so that the safety of tourists is ensured and the situation does not spiral out of control.

It's been three months now since Abu finally opened its gate to the public at large. Today it has given hotels and restaurants the green signal to open up and function by the Recent RULES that are implemented by the Administration.

Institutions should follow common procedures for safety.
1. NO SITTING ARRANGEMENT AT RECEPTION
2. EVERY GUEST WILL HAVE TO FILL OUT A SELF-DECLARATION FORM. IT IS COMPULSORY FOR EVERY GUEST.
3. ARRANGEMENT OF HANDSFREE SANITIZATION ON ENTRANCE AND EVERY FLOOR
4. THE ROOM SHOULD BE SANITIZED AFTER CLEANING DAILY.
5. 3 DISPOSABLE MASKS AND 3 SETS OF DISPOSABLE GLOVES ARE TO BE PROVIDED IN EVERY ROOM.
6. TEMPERATURE SCREENING IS COMPULSORY FOR EACH GUEST AT THE TIME OF CHECK-IN AND EACH TIME HE COMES FROM OUTSIDE AND PROPER RECORD TO BE MAINTAINED
7. ANY CUSTOMER WHOSE ROOM IS PREBOOKED AND HAS TEMPERATURE CHECKIN TO BE DENIED AND TO BE INFORMED TO ADMINISTRATION.
8. IF ANY CUSTOMER DENIES TO FOLLOW BASIC RULES HE SHOULD BE ASKED TO CHECK OUT AND TO BE INFORMED BY THE ADMINISTRATION
9. NEED TO BE STRICT ON GUESTS WHO SPIT HERE AND THERE.
10. ROOMS BOYS SHOULD BE TRAINED TO WEAR HALF SLEEVES, MASKS AND GLOVES DURING SERVICE. DEVELOP A HABIT OF WASHING HANDS FREQUENTLY.
11. ROOM SERVICE TO THE ROOMS ONLY DESIGNATED FOR THEM
12. REGULAR SCREENING OF STAFF AND DATA TO BE MAINTAINED.
13. STAFF NOT TO BE RECRUITED WHO IS CARRIERS OF ANY DISEASE OR ABOVE 60 YEARS OF AGE,
14. MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY OF 2 ADULT+2CHILD OR 2 ADULTS EVEN IF YOU HAVE ROOM OF OCCUPANCY MORE THAN DOUBLE BED
15. RESTAURANTS WITH SITTING ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD HAVE 3 FEET GAP BETWEEN TABLES AND STANDING ARRANGEMENTS 6 FEET GAP BETWEEN TABLES.
16. TABLES WITH 3*2 FEET 2 SITTING AND 6*4 SITTING OF 4 PEOPLE ALLOWED
17. FOR TAKEAWAY SANITIZE AFTER THE BOX IS SEALED
18. ACCEPT PAYMENTS THROUGH DIGITAL MODE ONLY
19. EVEN IF THERE IS A CUSTOMER WHO IS NOT DIGITALLY SMART TAKE PAYMENT WITHOUT DIRECT CONTACT
20. AROGYA SETU APP SHOULD BE THERE IN EVERY GUESTS MOBILE
21. NO ENTRY OF GUESTS IN HOTEL AFTER 9 O CLOCK AT NIGHT
22. THERMAL GUN IS MANDATORY
23. DISPLAY OF COVID GUIDELINE BOARD WITH HELPLINE NOS.
(02974-235900,8306591122) 

Solar Eclipse photos from Mount Abu [ 21 June 2020 ]

Mount Abu #SolarEclipse2020 as seen in the overcast skies of The Abode of Gods.

SolarEclipse2020 as seen in the overcast skies of Mount Abu.

Solar eclipse 

Solar eclipse through the clouds

Overcast skies and Solar eclipse

Monkey watching the solar eclipse

Monkey watching the solar eclipse

WHAT A DAY
The longest day in the Northern hemisphere
For some do YOGA as it is Yoga day
Father's Day Fathers have to contend with the Surya Grahan
Today is SOLAR ECLIPSE DAY
and finally 
SUN Day
According to the Mayan calendar, it's supposed to be DOOMSDAY TODAY. 

😳

Date palm trees Mount Abu [ 14/06/2020 ]

The Abode of the Gods is where the wild date palm trees grow.

Langoor eating dates 

Langoor eating dates 

Langoor descending the trunk of Date Palm

According to legend, the tree of knowledge was the date palm tree. Was this the fruit offered to Adam and not the Apple? The Jews and the Islamic religion have stressed the holiness of the date and date palm. It remains uncertain when the date palm was brought to Mount Abu. The Abu date palm is wild. It grows throughout our little hill station here in Rajasthan.

We do not harvest wild dates here as the fruit bears no pulp. The date comprises a large seed with a fine mess of coating. Wild bears (sloth bears) feast on the fallen fruit. Our local tribal uses the leaves of the date palm to feed their cattle in periods of drought. Some use the leaves to make brooms. Previously, our locals tapped the trees for their sweet neera. 

Seeing a langoor scale up a tree to feast on these wild dates surprised me. The monkey ate a few of the dates and shortly afterwards descended. The fruit did not hold a fascination for his hungry stomach. 

Troupes of Monkeys have invaded the fruit gardens here in Mount Abu. Scores of monkeys, who depend on handouts from the thousands of tourists visiting Abu, have come to a standstill after the COVID-19 lockdown.