Cold wave to continue in Mt Abu ushering in 2021.( 28/12/2022 )

Cool, dry conditions to continue well into New Year’s 2021.

The temperature at 9/30 

Last night's temperature reflecting -1C

Frozen Dew, Mount Abu

India’s Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the cold wave situation will continue for some time. Right now, as I write this blog, the temperature is 6 degrees. 

Last night it had dipped to =-5 degrees. 

Temperature last night

Pipelines in Abu froze, and the residents had to wait till the sun was up to thaw them. Imagine having your morning wash in icy cold water, more- so, for us who do not use toilet paper. FROZEN BUTT!

Mount Abu’s cold wave situation is worse with the icy wind blowing over. Quite a few folks leave for the plains to avoid staying here through the winter months. The wind right now is chilly. I have taken this opportunity to bang off a few lines to upraise you about our situation. 

Welcome to all those heading here for the New Year. Because of the pandemic this year, the winter festival will not take place. Wish All a pleasant stay BE SAFE.

29 Dec 2020.

An update on the weather in the Abode of the Gods 

-5 degrees last night 

And right now 🕗 8:26 it's 

Sit in the sun ☀ 

GOOD MORNING ABU

Christmas in the year of the Pandemic. Mount Abu.(22/12/2020 )

 "There's no place like home for your Christmas bash in this pandemic year."

Mount Abu 22 Dec 2020.

Celebrations for Christmas will be low-key, just like our other festivals. COVID-19 has put a damper on all Social gatherings and mass merrymaking. This year the traditional midnight mass on the eve of Christmas that ushers in the celebrations of Christmas will not happen because of guidelines laid down by social distancing guidelines.

It's jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way oh, one slip in social distancing, will destroy your ride, and send you packing in an ambulance to the gateway to .......!

Every time a bell rings, the coronavirus goes for a swing, 

Every time we hear cheers, the virus looks at us with fear,

The lights on the trees act like beacons wishing you all,

 A stress-free magical holiday season.

Spread your Christmas Cheer, singing loud for all to hear.

"MERRY Christmas"

MERRY Christmas 

Mount Abu presently is not under LOCKDOWN, but social distancing guideline is a must. Tourists who come to Abu for their holiday season adhere to.

>  Avoid physical contact, no hugs or handshakes 

>  Keep your distance in your merrymaking and avoid close face-to-face contact

>. Following the social distancing rules

.> Avoid roaming in large groups. 

>  Abu will levy a fixed fine of Rs 500 for those who do not wear a mask 

>  Buy Your Alcohol will in time to avoid last mine buying as the place outside the liquor shops gets overcrowded, and this is not desirable.

.> Tourists don't forget your woollies as the temperature after sundown drops to 0 at night. 

"BE SAFE BE HAPPY TAKE CARE ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY CHEER"

CHEERS 🥂

Mount Abu shivers night temperature down to 0 C. [ 17 Dec 2020.]

 Mount Abu Freezes at 0 degrees.

Mount Abu Freezes at 0 degrees.

Abuites woke up to a frosty morning. Last night was chilly and the chilly wind made it worse. A wonderful time to sit out in the garden and bask in the sun. November was exceptionally chill this year. The first week of December was pleasant.

With the return of the retreating monsoons, Abu goes back to face the cold wave that is sweeping Rajasthan. Night temperatures have fallen constantly. Last night Abu saw its first 0 degrees for this winter season.

Temperature Mount Abu 16 Dec 2020
(Snapper kind favour Anil. Babbar's Den-An Elegant Homestay.)

"Greetings from Mount Abu "

May you be immune and safe from the COVID-19 virus this winter.

Greetings to our graduates and students in the Year of the Pandemic.

Hopefully, with the rollout of the vaccines, life will normalize.

[18 Dec 2020 ]

Cold wave in full swing. 

Last Night's Temperature

Frozen dew

Frozen dew

(Snapper kind favour Anil. Babbar's Den-An Elegant Homestay.)

Frost 18 Dec 20

Frost Polo ground Mount Abu 18 Dec 20

(Snapper kind favour Deepesh: WHY HOTEL Agroha?

DIWALI in the PANDEMIC's [ YEAR 2020 ] MOUNT ABU.

 ABUITES FIRED NOT A SINGLE CRACKER ON Diwali NIGHT A RECORD FOR THIS ECOZONE.

Mount Abu

COVID-19 has dampened the fun of all the festivals. Many places and some states here in India have banned the use of fireworks for this Diwali. People all over the world use fireworks and firecrackers to celebrate various life events such as marriages, Independence Day, New Year’s Eve, and the Olympics closing ceremony, not just in India where it is a prominent tradition, particularly during Diwali. Even though firecrackers produce crazy noise smoke and pollution, the public at large enjoys firecrackers.

The pandemic on our lives over these last few months with lockdowns, face masks, social distancing and the FEAR of contacting the virus has reduced our lives to a frizzle. Once humanity was like the firecrackers bursting with life and always on the bang and now FIzzzzzzlllleeee. The year 2020 has witnessed the ULTIMATE fear psychosis that the COVID-19 virus has plunged us into, but for how long? Next week Mount Abu will buzz and the hillsides will probably witness traffic jams and the crowds that will descend here will make the pandemic seem insignificant. The tourists who land here seem to forget the precautions and protocol that they have to follow, and this could invite hazards for us Abuites.

To all our esteemed guests, I wish you all a stress-free and safe passage and hopefully; you enjoy your Diwali holiday to the hilt. Welcome to Mount Abu. Please treat it as your HOME. Avoid littering and throwing booze bottles on the hillsides.

Wishing you all a happy Diwali.

Kanjari deer Park, Ahmedabad.[ 24/09/2020 ]

The Kanjari Deer Park is  7 km from the Thol bird sanctuary. 

ALBINO Blackbuck Kanjari Deer Park  

When I go to Gujarat, I become a wandering eagle searching for fresh places to watch birds. Since I’m here now, I visited a few places in and around Ahmedabad. I phoned a few birding guides and Sherwin, who’s based in Ahmedabad, to get the latest on the migratory birds. They informed me that all sanctuaries and wildlife parks were closed till the 15 of October, because of the pandemic. Sherwin suggested I visit a place close to Thol Bird Sanctuary where the wild Blackbuck roams free. This place, although only 25 to 30 km from the city of Ahmedabad, is relatively unknown to the public at large, as it is slightly off the beaten track and not so popular.

Yesterday we left early so we could be at this not-so-famous place called the “Kanjari Deer Park”, This place is a vast open grassland with clumps of Keker bushes. We parked on a dirt road going through this semi-wilderness and within minutes were fortunate to spot a few small herds of blackbucks grazing at a distance. I took some photographs of these majestic animals and the prize was I bagged an albino among them.

I did a bit of birding but wished it was a clear day, photographing birds under subdued light leaves one slightly disappointed. I took photos of some species such as the Zitting Cisticola, Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark, Painted Stork, Indian Roller, and Siberian Stonechat.

The sun over Kanjari Deerpark Sept 2020

Blackbuck Male Kanjari Deer Park

Blackbuck Kanjari Deer Park scampering 

Blackbuck Kanjari Deer Park  

Blackbuck Kanjari Deer Park  

Blackbuck Kanjari Deer Park  albino

Blackbuck Kanjari Deer Park  

Blackbuck Male  Kanjari Deer Park

Blackbuck Male  Kanjari Deer Park

Painted Stork 

Check my birding blog to see the birds.

Mount Abu Birds