Mount Abu is a hill station featuring top attractions like the Dilwara Temples, Nakki Lake, and Honeymoon Point, drawing many visitors.

On October 17, 2024, I set off for Mount Abu from Ahmedabad station with my parents, uncle, aunt, sister, and brother.

We slept on the train, and when we woke up, it was 4:30 AM; we had arrived at Mount Abu a bit early.

We reached the dharamshala (pilgrim's rest house) in an uncle's jeep, but the issue was that it hadn't opened yet due to the early hour. We had to wait outside in the biting cold.

We sat on the footpath in that freezing weather; my brother was eating Maggi, and when I tasted it—wow, what an experience! The cold and the Maggi—it was certainly uncomfortable, yet the moment was memorable.

If we got everything easily in life, we wouldn't truly value it.

The dharamshala opened right at 7 AM; everyone was exhausted, but no one complained or vented their frustration.

Rooms were booked; my parents and I went to one room, while my uncle, aunt, sister, and brother went to another.

The rooms were nice—no complaints there.

After freshening up, we went downstairs for breakfast; the sun was out by then.

After breakfast, we booked a jeep and headed to our first stop: the Celebrity Wax Museum.

Stepping inside was an amazing experience—there were statues of Modi-ji, Mother Teresa, Baba Ramdev, Amit Shah, Swami Vivekananda, and many others.

Those were truly wonderful moments spent with family; even today, I miss that day.

Our next stop was Guru Shikhar and the temple of Lord Shiva; after that, we visited Achalgarh and its temple.

Mom and Dad didn't make the climb up to Achalgarh.

It was 12 PM—the sun was blazing, yet the scenery was absolutely magnificent. After some time, we visited the site and then headed to 'Honeymoon Point' in a jeep.

There was a crowd there, especially of honeymooning couples.

Other families were present too, and everyone was busy taking selfies; the view was truly special—honestly, the day just flew by.

Next, we visited the Dilwara Temple.

It is an ancient temple dating back to the 11th and 13th centuries; people come from far and wide—even from abroad—to see it. It is usually crowded, though it wasn't too packed at that time.

Admission is free, and it is open all day until 5 PM.

Photography is not allowed; you have to deposit your mobile phone, and leather items are prohibited.

You also have to deposit your purse outside.

Skirts are not permitted; if you are wearing regular jeans or trousers, you must take a chunni (scarf) provided there and cover your head with it.

This is because, according to Jain traditions, one must cover one's head while in the presence of the deity inside the temple.

Men are required to wear full-length trousers; they are not allowed to enter wearing shorts or three-quarter pants.

We entered the temple; despite the marble being ancient, the temple radiated a vibrant aura.

Not everyone was allowed to get close—specifically those from other communities—but since we were Jains, we were permitted to go a bit closer and perform rituals like lighting incense and diyas (lamps).

A rope barrier was in place to prevent others from entering that area.

We met a Punjabi guard there who asked, "Are you Jain?"

We replied, "Yes, we are Jain." The Punjabi guard showed us the ancient idols; specifically, there is a spot they usually don't let anyone enter because it is considered secret, but we got to see an old idol there—an idol of Lord Adinath. Honestly, it didn't look like it was centuries old; we paid our respects.

We viewed several other idols as well.

After that, we returned to the jeep and headed to another location.

It was surrounded by nature; we saw fish there, specifically.

We fed them, and then a lot of monkeys showed up. Being amidst nature like that—it was truly a wonderful atmosphere.

Then it was time for the jeep ride to end; they dropped us off near Nakki Lake. The day flew by before we knew it.

We hadn't had lunch yet—caught up in the excitement of traveling—so we went straight to a restaurant.

We ordered Pav Bhaji and Masala Dosa.

After everyone finished eating, we

headed towards Nakki Lake.

The view was absolutely stunning.

The sun was setting, so we didn't go boating; instead, we stayed outside and enjoyed the scenery. We fed flour to the fish and ducks.

We really enjoyed ourselves. As the sun slowly set and evening fell, the air grew colder.

We bought a shawl and an elephant showpiece.

Honestly, the whole day in Mount Abu was spent sightseeing, and we didn't really get much time for shopping because the next day we had to undertake the 'Panch Tirth' pilgrimage, with a final visit to Ambaji.

The next day, we had an early breakfast; I befriended a child there and truly lived in the moment—the scenery was breathtaking. Afterward, we checked out of the hotel.

We boarded the vehicle—a Traveller van—and I must say, the driver’s behavior was excellent.

We visited Bhefutarak and Jhirawala Parshwanath; honestly, the dharamshala at Jhirawala Parshwanath felt no less than a grand *haveli* (palatial mansion). After offering our prayers there, we proceeded to Pawapuri Tirth. The scenery at these pilgrimage sites in Gujarat is always beautiful—lush greenery that brings a sense of inner peace—though wearing a *chunni* (scarf/stole) is mandatory inside.

After completing the *Panch Tirth* (five pilgrimage sites) journey, we finally arrived at Ambaji.

We offered our prayers there and took group photos together.

The day flew by, and on the third day, we witnessed the stunning view of Gabbar Parvat; we took the ropeway up to seek blessings from Mataji. From there, we took a direct bus to Ahmedabad. The trip ended before we even realized it.

It was a wonderful trip that taught us so much.

We faced various challenges and ups and downs during the trip, but at the same time, we were excited to explore, sightsee, and learn new things.

We wanted company on this trip because having someone along multiplies the joy of the journey manifold.