History of Guru Shikhar
Guru Shikhar translates to 'the peak of the guru' and was named after Guru Dattatreya who is believed to have resided on the peak during his days as a monk. The cave atop the peak has been converted to a temple in his remembrance. His name, Dattatreya is a combination of two words: Atreya and Datta. In Sanskrit, Atreya means the son of Atri and Datta means given, thereby making Dattatreya the son given to Atri and his wife by the Trinity, i.e. Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma. Atri is a sage from the Hindu mythology who composed a large number of hymns. There is another temple nearby dedicated to Dattatreya's mother, Anasuya.
Guru Dattatreya was believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu thereby making this temple a very holy place to visit. It is believed to house the footprints of Dattatreya and Swami Ramnath, the sheer who shrined the statue in the Raghunathji Temple in Mount Abu. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is believed to be an essential pilgrimage spot for His devotees.
The peak is also home to the Mount Abu Observatory. It has been fully functioning since November 1994 and is a facility of the ISRO. The observatory is specifically designed to study ground-based infrared observations of celestial objects. This observatory is one of the most important infrastructures of ISRO.
Things To Do at Guru Shikhar
The mornings draw hikers for two reasons, the breathtaking sunrise and the breakfast served by the shops. The shops along the route of the hike sell absolutely delicious breakfast and are well known for their tea too. You can get good food at any time of the day and binge on your regular packaged chips and chocolates if you're craving them. There are also shops that sell beautiful souvenirs. If you're going with your family, you can plan for a picnic at the top. The view gives plenty of photograph opportunities for everyone. This can be clubbed with a visit to the temple of Dattatreya which will add a pious touch to the whole experience.
Places To Visit Around Guru Shikhar
Visitors must surely visit the temple of Dattatreya who is believed to be God and a reincarnation of Lord Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Towards the northwest of Guru Shikhar lies the shrine of Ahilya who was the mother of Guru Dattatreya.
Some other must-visit temples in the region include Chamundi temple, Shiva temple, and Mira temple. By the side of these temples is the Mount Abu Observatory situated which is taken care of by Physical Research Laboratory. There is a Peace Park also close to the peak which draws a lot of tourists.
Best time to visit Guru Shikhar
The best time to visit Guru Shikhar is during the months of October to March.
How to Reach Guru Shikhar
The peak is 15 kilometres away from Mount Abu, a cab can be hired very easily. After that, it is a short hike on 300 steps to reach the topmost point. Two wheelers are also available for rent.
Top Tourist Places in Mount Abu
Nakki Lake
Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary
Guru Shikhar
Achalgarh Village
Trevors Tank
Toad Rock
All Tourist Places in Mount Abu
Tips
1. After the road ends the steps towards the peak are very uneven, thereby you need to be cautious while bringing elderly and children along.2. Comfortable footwear which holds to the ground is suggested as the hike can get a little steep at places, but it's not difficult at all.
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