________________
182
t Holy Abu (50) Dhundhai Choki.
It is a choki or a tolt and customs house on the abovementioned road situated about a mile and 2 furlongs from Delvādā. (51) Abu High-School.
At a distance of about 3 furlongs from the Customs Choki are the buildings of the Abu High-School, built by the B. B. & C. I. Rly. ( now W. R. Rly. ) in 1887 A. D. (52) Jaina Dharmashâlâ ( Aranā Taleți ).
On the road to Abu-Road Station from Mount Abu, near the milestone No. 4-2 is the village of Araņā. Being situated on the slopes of Ābu mount, at a much lower level, it is known as the Āraņā Taleți ( taleți = foot of a mountain.) There is a Jaina dharmashālā at this village of Āraņā and a small Jaina grha-chaitya ( = worship of Jaina deities kept in private house ) wherein is worshipped a Chovīsi metal image. Facilities are provided in this dharmashālā
for Jaina pilgrims to the mount especially for the Jaina monks and nuns who do not use any vehicles and climb the mount on foot. As the pious Jaina laymen and women, as also the monks and nuns, drink boiled water, facilities for such water are provided here and fried grains are also distributed. The dharmashālā is managed by the Achalgadh Jaina Kārkhānā, Deep valleys on this slope of the mount present a beautiful sight to the traveller. (53) Sat-Ghūma ( Sapta-Ghūma).
On this road while going up-hill from the foot of the mountain, an ascent begins from milestone No. 9, when the road goes winding up on the side of the mountain, like a spiral stair, taking seven turns one above the other; on one side is the rock, on the other is presented the delightful scenery of the deep valley with its thick growth of trees