Gaumukh Temple Mt.Abu
Gaumukh Temple, or Vashistha’s Abode (Ashram), is a place used as a retreat by sages.
Throughout its long history, we believe sage Vishisthu performed the famous ‘yajna’ from which sprang the Agnikula clans off the Chauhans. Solankis, Parmars, and Pratihara. In 1532 AD, the Maharaja Akshay Raj I of Sirohi constructed the Kund at Gaumukh. He also installed the marble ‘Gaumukh’ through which the perennial flow of water from a natural spring flows even to this Day. After the installation of this, this place became popularly known as ‘Gaumukh’.
Lord Rama and his brother Laxman had their schooling under the competent guardianship of the erudite guru, Vashishtha Muni. The place is well preserved, even though it’s off the beaten track. Donations are made by maharajas, and the average person maintains them. In 1336AD Maharaja Kanhad Dev built the present temple of this ashram, he installed the statue of his Kul Guru Vashistha along with his wife Arundhati, flanked by his pupils Ram and Laxman. They installed the statue of his cow, Nandini, outside the sanctum sanctorum.
Gaumukh temple is about 5km out-of-town, one can traverse to this place by a vehicle on a hired bike or simply legs eleven (the best mode of travel to enjoy the splendour of Abu). On the way, one would pass the Gujarat Bhavan, the mountaineering institute (formally a monastery) and further just before the tiny hamlet of Gaumukh, a road that leads to an official government camping site. This camping site does not function as per forest rules “No camping in forest area”.
There’s a gradually cemented road to the final landing where one can see nature in its entire splendour. The hallowed ashram lies 700 to 750 steps below.
The trek down is like walking to paradise, but the trek up could finish up being a living hell for those not physically fit. Have a skilled masseur on hand to give relief to your aching calves if you have not been walking daily.
The statue of Nandani the sacred cow
Perennial flow of water natural springs
