Holy Abu

Author(s): Jayantvijay
Publisher: Yashovijay Jain Granthmala

Page 94

'IL
General Information:]
At Aņādarā, there is an old shrine of Ādinātha, a Jaina Dharmashālā and a Post-office. The route however has now ceased to be the main route.
The second old route starting from Chandrāvatī was through the villages of Sāntpur and Umbaraṇī." From Umbaraṇī the ascent begins. On this pass one first reaches HỊşhikesha and Vasişhthāshrama on the slopes of the mountain. This route is now almost completely out of use since the construction of the new bus-route and the Ābu-Road Station.
In V. S. 1902 (1845 A.D.), the then king of Sirohi, Mahārāv Shivasimhaji, gave an extensive area on Mount Abu to the British Government for building as Sanatorium and developing Ābu as a hill-station. The Government established a Residency here for Rājputānā States, with a military Camp, constructed the 174 miles bus-road from Abu-Camp down to the Ābu-Road ( Kharāļi) Station on the Rājputānā-Mālvā Railway (now Western Railway) which last was started from 30-12-1880 A.D. Before this, transport was very difficult and huge stone slabs for shrines on Ābu were carried up with the help of elephants. It is said that the marbles for Delvādā shrines were carried up in this way.
In Kharāļi (now Ābu-Road) proper, there is a big Shvetāmbara Jaina Dharmashālā with a small private Jaina shrine built by Bābu Buddbisimhji Dudheờiā of Ajimganj. Pilgrims obtain here free boarding. There are besides a Digambara Jaina Dharmashālā and some Hindu ones nearby.
On the bus-road, at a distance of 43 miles from AbuRoad Station, near the milestone No. 13-2, is the śānti
1 For historical information on these villages, see, Arbudā. chala-Pradakshiņā ( Abu, Vol. IV) by Muni Jayantavijaya.