Guru Shikhar

Guru Shikhar, at 1,722 m (5,650 ft), is the highest point of the Aravalli Range. It rises about 15 km from Mount Abu in Sirohi district, and on clear days the summit looks over forested ridges and valleys to the plains of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The name means the guru's peak and honours Dattatreya, a sage regarded as an incarnation of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, who is said to have meditated on the hill.

A small white-domed temple to Dattatreya, flying a red flag, stands at the top, and nearby caves are said to bear his footprints. Close to the shrine hangs a bell dated 1411 AD, which visitors ring when they arrive. A winding road climbs most of the way, followed by some 300 steps cut into the rock. Walking trails lead off around the peak, where langurs, birds and wildflowers are often seen, and the Mount Abu Infrared Observatory stands nearby.