It’s a dusty drive up the dry
and dusky mountains of Rajasthan … the hills a backdrop to a rural life that
has been unchanged for centuries.
Starting from the south west from
Udaipur and driving through Sirohi, up
to the small town of Bundi. These
are old hills, Kipling's hills, driving up past rivers and waterfalls and
rhododendrons in bloom, scattered with temples, their heights are crowned with
palaces in gorgeous decay, guarded by monkeys and where Rudyard Kipling wrote
his classic ‘Kim’ in a pavilion on nearby Jait Sagar Lake…. and onto
Tonk and Ranthambore. Drive on onward north east to Jaipur and Ramgarh. I am
reminded of words from John Denvers song ‘Country Roads’ …..
“Life is old there
Older than the trees
Younger than the mountains
Blowin' like the breeze
Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong”
The Aravalli Hills
are a different world from West Virginia but mountains evoke nostalgia. The mountains of Rajasthan are full of secrets and a
journey into adventure. Within its shadowy folds and peaks, you can
follow old paths to new parts, to tucked-away treasures. It’s a hidden Rajasthan, a world away from the
madding crowds till you come to Rajasthan’s only hill station, Mount Abu. There
you find the madding crowds …from here venture into the upper reaches on
big-cat safaris and heritage hotels in quiet hidden palaces and havelis with
raj-era flair without the crush.
All around are the sights and sounds of the people and
animals embedded into the slopes and valleys of this beautiful range the
backdrop of life busily continuing , crops being harveste and the women in colours evocative of Rajasthan in pinks, reds and
yellows.
The only hill station in Rajasthan, Mount Abu is located in the Sirohi district on
the highest peak of the Aravalli range and is known for it’s Dilwara Jain
temples. With coniferous trees and flowering shrubs covering the hillside, the climate in Mount Abu remains quite cool
making it the summer capital of Rajasthan. According to legend …. sage Vasishta performed
a great Yajna at
the peak of Mount Abu, to seek from the gods a provision for the defense of
righteousness on earth. In answer to his prayer, a youth arose from the
Agnikunda … fire-altar … the first Agnivansha
Rajput!
The Aravalli range are the oldest fold
mountains in India and one of the oldest hill systems of the
world and form the most dominant geological structure in the formation of the
North Indian terrain and drainage system.
This range forms the main water divide of the North Indian drainage
system. It bisects Rajasthan into two major geographical units on its two
sides. The western part occupying about two-thirds of the state, is almost
desert-like and the eastern part is comparatively well drained and fertile. At a few places in the Aravalli range, the
hills are discontinuous and gaps exist. The
Aravalli hill region extends in parts of eighteen districts of Rajasthan and
covers fully or partly 120 Development Blocks of the State.
Mines in Aravalli hills in Rajasthan contains immense
mineral wealth. Nearly 25 years ago large scale mining began here for marble
and granite. Due to this large scale mining the forest cover has been depleted
by 90%.
Our last stop is Jaipur, the
capital of Rajasthan, once situated in the Aravalli Hills …. shifted from the
majestic Amber Fort to it’s present location at a distance of 11 kilometers
owing to the growing population and dire scarcity of wate r … it is stunning
with the backdrop of the magnificent Amber Fort atop the Aravalli Hills !
