Mount Abu has got wonderful trekking routes and rock faces that attract rock-climbers. I myself have done a Basic and Advanced Mountaineering Course from Uttarkashi and Darjeeling, respectively. I particularly got enticed to do trekking and rock climbing. My friend is one of the certified guides there who guides his clients through various treks, rock climbing, caving, and rappling. He took me with him for assistance with his clients (newly married couples) for trekking and various other stuffs. He charges Rs. 200 for a single activity.
Mount Abu is an upcoming adventure destination and people are still unknown of it. I went with him to a trek route which was four-km-long (chosen on the preferences of his clients). Mount Abu has a wildlife sanctuary in its vicinity. So there is always the fear of encountering a bear and my friend was very cautious of it. Mid-way, we passed through three caves, one of them being quite dark. This place was not at all meant for claustrophobic people. This trekking route was going up and down a hill and when it got over, we made our way to one of the finest rock climbing faces in whole of Asia, according to my friend. I demonstrated and instructed his clients about the climbing techniques and holds on rocks while my friend climbed above for fixing the rope to belay them from above.
Belaying is a method of keeping our climbing partner safe by arresting him mid-way through a rope attached to his or her harness in case of a fall. Rappling is a fast method of descending down a rock face through a rope using one’s own body weight and gravity. When the climber goes up climbing a rock, he or she can come down by a method called rappling.
After having an amazing adrenaline rush-time doing all these activities, my friend took me to Gurushikhar, the highest point of the Aravalli Range. It is 18 km from the Mount Abu city center. We went there on a motor bike and had to climb about 150 stairs in the end. On the top is a temple of Guru Dattarey. During a clear day, you can have an amazing view of the plains down and the beautiful horizon. Big private buses are not allowed on the road going to Gurushikhar as there is a dead end and big buses can be a cause of traffic jams up there as it had happened in the past. There are only two places in India according to my friend where there is no further route to a place and one has to retrace his/her route in order to get back, one of them being Gurushikhar.
It was such an amazing day doing all these adventure activities which rejuvenated my soul. I was very tired but I could not have enjoyed my time in Mount Abu any better!
