Jun 16 2016 : The Times of India (Ahmedabad) - A K Sharma, Mount Abu

The National Green Tribunal (NGT), New Delhi, has ordered a stay on implementation of a master plan for Mount Abu prepared by the Rajasthan government, giving a reason to cheer for the local green crusaders.

NGT's principal bench has asked the state government and the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) to respond to the petition filed by environment activist Arun Sharma within two weeks.

“We restrain the respondents or any other person from felling of trees. Constructions if any, raised presently would be subject to the orders that may be passed in the present application. The respondents would also not sanction any fresh plan for construction without specific leave of the tribunal,“ the NGT order stated.

The MoEF had declared Mount Abu as an eco-sensitive zone in June 2009 following recommendations of the Supreme Court-appointed Mohan Ram committee's recommendations that found the hill town to be an eco-fragile area and that immediate measures must be taken to stop ecological degradation.

The petitioner said that the master plan allows construction on the agricultural land and huge chunks of green hills would be destroyed for commercial construction considering a population increase by 2030.

Besides, any provision of buffer zone around any wildlife sanctuary or eco-sensitive zone has been thrown to the winds, where construction has come up right on the toes of Mount Abu.

Sharma said the master plan serves no benefit to the local denizens or hotel businesses, except to a handful of land satraps from various states.

Tiger Path is the last of the virgin forest trails left in Mount Abu,with all the excitement from the Jungle Tales and Tarzan comics,so much so one is rewarded with the Tarzan Hut atop a Mango Tree, at the end of the trail. It was one of the earlier paths to Mount-Abu also known as Old Cart Road. The ancient and the sacred hills of Arbud have been the abode of the Gods. They have also been the hermitage of the Vedic Rishiis, a place of pilgrimage-for the Hindus and the Jains alike and a place of military vantage throughout history.

Since 1835 AD, Arbud has been a jewel amongst the hill stations of India with its beautiful, ex-citing jungle trails like The Bailey’s Walk, Craig’s Path, Saal Gaon trail, Palanpur Path, and more arduous the Utroj path and Sher Gaon path etc. But, indeed, Tiger path takes the cake! It is also the way to one of the most ancient temples on earth, the Rishikesh Temple, nearly 7,000 years old - Mount Abu could well be the cradle of civilization!

During the Vedic times 10 narrow mountain foot paths led to the hills of Arbud. In historic times one pony track from the village of Anaadra was laid out on the Western hill face of Abu and another broad road along which even elephants could come was laid out on the Eastern slope of the hill of Arbud, which terminated at Achalgarh,the capital of Mount Abu. The marble for the thou-sand year old Delwara Temple was brought on the elephant back and in the bullock carts along this broad road.

In 1778 AD Prithviraj Chauhan, the last Hindu emperor of India climbed along this broad road to consummate his marriage with the daughter of Prahladan, the founder of Prahladanpur, which for the last 2-3 centuries is known as Palanpur. Prahladan was the younger brother of Dharavarsh Pramarg the mighty ruler of Arbud. The invasion of Mahmud Gaznavi in 1025 AD, of Sultan Allaudin Khilji of Delhi in 1298 AD, and the Sultan of Gujarat in the 15th Century AD came along this route, which is now in total disrepair and the thick over growth of forest prohibits any access along this route, but the pony track to Anaadra is very muchin use as of date.

In 1881 AD the new road was opened along the Eastern slope of the _hill from Mount Abu to Kharari Railway Station (Abu Road) via St. Mary’s High School, touching the plains at Rishikesh. This project was undertaken by His Highness Maharajdhiraj Maharao Sir Kesari Singhji Bahadur of Sirohi, GCSI, KCSI and British Engineers were deployed for the work. It is romantically reminiscenced as “Old Cart Road”. In 1917 AD the preseirt tarmac road that links Mount Abu to Abu-Road was laid out via Chipaberi (probably thewell of Chipa).

It is the month of Saturnalia, month of Hecate, month of Yuletide and even the month when Busho would have told of, "Lighting one candle/ from another/ winter night", while Garofalo would have moaned of, "Bitter wind/ autumn cold/ shivering lips" and someone would have exulted, "December sunrise/ the wind tries to deliver/ all of the postman's letters"! And for Mount Abu, it is time for the winter festival once again that promises vivid, vibrant renderings, juxtaposing purpose with pleasure.

The festivities will kick off on December 29 at 9 am with performers from across the country painting the hill resort with melody from their region, diverse raiment and traditional accessories. The streets of Mount Abu will don a festive look during this period. While shehnais will be played at, the toll barrier, their melody reaching every corner, the Army band will play every evening. Amid all this, a variety of contests will take place, including a cricket match with the proverbial Lagaan clash between visitors and administrators, on December 30. Gaiety and sobriety are assured to be hugging each other ili the best of bonhomie! While Indian Idols will rock the nights of December 30 and 31, santoor savouries and Sufi strains will intone their serene mist of calm in the cold of December! The former will be rendered by Dr Varsha Agarwal,the sole lady santoor maestro and the latter by Parveen Rangeeli.

Indeed, a tulle-fog would fill the sky, singing - 'Auld Lang Syne' to joyously bid farewell to the past and herald the new with the hope of peace and prosperity for one and all!

- An Article By : Dr. Arun Kumar Sharma, Mount Abu via Times Of India

Industrial and other developmental activities will soon be banned around famous cultural heritage and tourism hotspot Mount Abu nestled in the lapse of the Aravali range in Rajasthan.

The environment ministry has issued a draft notification to declare the area around the destination as a eco-sensitive zone so as to restrict industrial and other developmental activities for protecting its fragile environment.

The draft notification issued last month under the Environment (Protection) Act is applicable to Mount Abu Municipal Council area, sanctuary and adjoining forests regions covering 12 villages including Sanigaon, Jaogaon, Dilbara, Uriya, Jawal, Achalgarh, Salgaon, Torna, Dudhai, Hetamji and Arna to name a few.

"We have invited comments from the public in general. Final notification will be issued two months later," Deputy Director Neeraj Khatri in environment ministry told PTI.

Significantly, this is the first eco-sensitive zone declared in the Northen State wherein steps have been taken to protect the bio-diversity in the region particularly in Sanctuary spread over 288 kms which is visited by tourists in a large number every year.

Mount Abu, situated in Sirohi district comprising of tropical dry deciduous forests at lower altitude and evergreen forests at higher altitude is known for several endemic and rare species.

Besides, it has natural heritage as Nakki Lake and man made heritage like Dilwara temples. "Once the area is notified as eco-sensitive zone, the flora and fauna in the sanctuary-- there is a majority of Sloth Bears and endemic plants--will be protected," RN Mehrotra, Rajasthan chief conservator forest said.

Source : Archana Jyoti, New Delhi, Nov 9 (PTI)
UPDATE: Mount Abu Eco Sensitive Notification

It was about six years ago when the population of Chiropteran bats, were fast dwindling in Mount Abu. Was anyone alarmed? Probably not! Isolatedly, when it was brought to the notice of denizens like Harjeet Singh Gujral, the renowned curio shopowner, he wondered, "I remember there used to be thousand bats on the way to my school. Now there are hardly any". When a few denizens brought this to the administration's notice, they just demanded proof for the importance of these creatures. As exulted by the creator of Uncle Sam, the great punster Mark Twain, who was all praise for this truly flying mammal, "I do not know any creature that is pleasanter to the touch or is more grateful of caressing, if offered in the right spirit." Even DH Lawrence was all admiration for this badly threatened mammal in his poem, 'Bats'. Zoologists agree that bat is rather important in animal chain.

For naturalists, the bat is a very important link in the animal world and is of great service in pollination. Large Fruit Bats can spread seeds throughout forests helping to plant new growth. Vampire bats have a special blood thinning chemical in their saliva. Micro-bat's echolocation is being studied to see if we can duplicate it to assist blind people. There are many bats that live on the nectar from the flower of plants. There are some flowers that only bloom at night and the bat is the only animal that assists in the pollination of these plants. Cacti, like the agave, are an example. Bananas, avocados, dates, figs, peaches, mangoes, cloves and cashews are other trees that all benefit from bats as they pollinate or spread their seeds. Bats make up a quarter of all mammal species on earth!

Rampant construction, cutting of trees and blasting of rocks in past, the dwindling bat population in Mount Abu had become a matter of concern for some. Then came the directive of the apex court of India and things began to look up for the poor bat. Rampant construction came to a halt, save for some isolated aberrations. La and behold, the miracle began to take place the population of this winged handed mammal began to swell in Mount Abu. As its hibernation was less disturbed in winters, more bats began to see though the harsh winters of Mount Abu and since last six years, they have been helping in pollination in the wild, otherwise how one would explain the sprouting of many saplings in places where man seldom treads. Evening rollicking brouhaha near the Dell Bungalow is a sight to see for all passers-by - both residents and visitors, announcing happy days are back again, not only for the bats in Mount Abu, but also for the fragile eco-system of Mount Abu.

Tourism has flourished in Mount Abu. From leisure tourism, pilgrim tourism, adventure tourism, and even business and education tourism, everything has received a good response. However, there was a visible absence of eco-tourism. It was this column that first informed readers about the development of eco-tourism sites in Mount Abu by the Mount Abu forest department, piloted by the able and visionary DFO parmar with his dynamic team.

Soon after the news appeared visitors began to trickle in interestingly, the first visitor particularly for this genre of tourism, was from abroad. He came after reading this column. Now the trend is picking up.

Various locations like Sun Rise point at Kapoor Sagar at Achalgarh, Tarzan Huts at Aarna and also Gaumukh Hanumanji sites are attracting visitors in hordes, particularly students from Gujarat and other places. The other day, girls from Bhavnagar were taken by surprise by the Tarzan Hut at Gaumukh Hanumanji site. It was like a contest to enter the hut by all the girls. They were awed by the entire ambiance of the beautiful, serene site. Their guide Dr. Bharat Pandit said, "I have never seen such commitment for the welfare and promotion of eco tourism.” The girls said in unison, “The site has inspired us and we will try to contribute to the cause of environment destruction in our own way. We will plant trees all our life and request others to do so.” That probably was the preeminent distillate of the whole exercise.

Source: TOI

Eco-Tourism facility at Mount Abu can be arranged here.

In 1822, Col Todd, first British to set foot in mountabu, would have never thought that his rediscovery of mountabu would make it one of the most favored destinations both for tourism and pilgrimage. Undeniably he did caution to save these beautiful ranges from vandalism more so the area taken up by the British on lease from the then ruler of Sirohi state Kesri Singh Maharaj the salubrious invigorating verdant environs of mountabu was found to be so conducive that by 1850the British mountabu thought it most appropriate to make mountabu a recuperation destination for their ailing soldiers. With time they constructed the present road to mountabu now know as old cart road in those old days no one would have ever thought that the dusty road on which only a bullock cart plied once a day would have heavy vehicular traffic 24x7 throughout the year. By 1935 when Sanghi motors started their once a day service even the thought of round the clock traffic on this deserted road was a distant dreams. Today even after widening of the roads space constraint still pinches the rod users but the able planners of mountabu are dexterously maintaining a balance in development and the demands of local fragile eco system many new features are being added to make mountabu an attractive destination for all classes of visitors. In recent year innumerable activities have made mountabu a destination of choice revival of polo regular programms of Spic Macay arrival of mountabu own theater group. innumerable environmental activities by pfa and much more have taken place in current year, permission to shoot marble poems of Delwara, possibility of golf and aquarium near Nakki lake along with hand adventurous ropeway from honeymoon point to a Aanadra promise to make a memorable Deepawali for visitors the most up data addition is bikes on hire. The hottest feature has added a new class of tourism in mountabu a the youth tourism young souls from all over Gujarat arrive by train or bus and then hire bikes before setting off to mountains Sukant from Rajkot was all excited this is fantastic before this the exorbitant cost of travels discouraged us from coming to mountabu now.the story’s deferent we just wait for an excuse to be here and then it is all about taming the mountains on bikes true the bikers have added a new dimension to youth tourism in mountabu and mercifully the number s swelling by the day. Article By : Dr. AK Sharma

Visiting the Delwara temples in mountabu will now be much more exciting and rewarding instead of simply returning with images of the 1000 year's ‘young' spectacle etched in their minds visitors will be able to capture the poetry carved in marble in their cameras. Many a visitor has often commented that the temple is fit to be one of of the wonders of the world, no one has left the precincts without being craftsmanship of the temple complexes but all that is changing now with permission having been granted for photography so far no one was allowed to photograph the carving o the exquisite art work of the temple but this has been possible now because of sustained efforts of all concerned including the administration and Amrit Lal Jain and Rajesh Jain of Sirohi Photography will be allowed in the precincts of the hallowed com plexes of the temple with reasonable restriction. - TOI, Ahmedabad