If you think “Rajasthan = desert food,” Mount Abu flips that script. Rajasthan’s only hill station has its own cozy, misty vibe, and its food scene reflects a delicious meeting point: classic Rajasthani staples side-by-side with Gujarati comfort food. Add the laid-back lakeside strolls around Nakki Lake, cool evenings perfect for street snacks, and a rabdi that’s the stuff of travel legend—and you’ve got a veg-lover’s paradise.

When most people think of Rajasthan, they imagine golden deserts, summer heat, and arid forts under a blazing sun. But here’s the secret: Rajasthan in monsoon is one of India’s most underrated travel experiences. From Bundi’s moss-covered forts to Mount Abu’s misty hills, from Udaipur’s overflowing lakes to Ranthambore’s lush green forests, the state transforms into a dramatic, romantic, and refreshingly cool destination between July and September.

Perched at 1,722 meters (5,650 ft), Guru Shikhar is the literal high point of Rajasthan—and of the entire Aravalli Range—offering a horizon-to-horizon sweep over forested ridges, granite domes, and the lake-dotted hill town of Mount Abu below. It’s a rare mix of sacred pilgrimage, easy-access hiking, and serious science, thanks to the venerable cave-temple of Lord Dattatreya at the summit and the Mount Abu Observatory nearby.

Mount Abu is Rajasthan’s cool, forested outpost—a granite island rising from desert plains, where leopards prowl, orchids bloom, and Jain temples glow white as moonlight. It’s also a walker’s paradise: a mesh of old forest paths and village trails weaving through one of India’s oldest mountain systems, the Aravalli Range.

Perched on a high spur of the Aravalli, Achalgarh (Achalgadh) is where Rajasthan’s martial past meets living faith. Just north of Mount Abu’s lakefront bustle, ruined ramparts, ancient gates, and a profoundly revered Shiva shrine create a compact heritage circuit that blends stone, story, and spirituality.

If there’s one place in Rajasthan that makes even seasoned travelers drop their jaws in awe, it’s the Dilwara Jain Temples of Mount Abu. Carved entirely from luminous white marble and perfected over centuries, this complex is equal parts spiritual center, living heritage, and architectural school in stone.

Mount Abu’s heart beats in a blue oval. By day it glints with paddle boats and palm shadows; by dusk it turns molten gold, ringed by dark hills. This is Nakki Lake—a serene, storied waterbody that anchors Rajasthan’s only hill station with folklore, festivals, and everyday life. What follows is a complete guide to its origins and legends, cultural and historical significance, what to see and do, and how to plan your visit like a pro.