Mount Abu for Couples: Rajasthan's Only Hill Station Weekend
- boookmytravel
- Apr 23
- 9 min read
Most of Rajasthan is heat and horizontal. Sand, forts, wide sky — beautiful, but relentless. Mount Abu is the one place in the state where the land decides to climb, where the temperature drops ten degrees before you even notice the trees have changed.
At 1,220 metres above sea level, tucked into the southern end of the Aravalli Range, Mount Abu sits inside a wildlife sanctuary, beside a lake that someone apparently scooped out by hand (the legend is absurd, which is probably why it sticks), within a short drive of four of Rajasthan's major cities. It is Rajasthan's only hill station. For Indian couples who have done Udaipur, who want something quieter and less photographed, this Mount Abu couples weekend has a particular appeal — the appeal of a place that hasn't been over-produced.
The weekend here tends to go like this: you arrive in the afternoon, the air hits you immediately, and you slow down before you've even decided to.
What Mount Abu Actually Feels Like for Couples
The standard description — 'hill station, Rajasthan's only, scenic lake' — doesn't quite get at it. What it actually feels like is an old-fashioned weekend: slightly unhurried, mostly on foot, with nothing that urgently demands your attention.
Nakki Lake sits at the centre of town and anchors almost everything. It is small enough to walk around in 20 minutes, wide enough to feel like an event at dusk. Paddle boats and row boats are available for rent. Nobody is in a hurry to return them. The promenade fills up around 5pm with couples, street food vendors (corn, bhutta, masala chai), and the particular low light that makes the Aravallis go blue at the edges.
Guru Shikhar, the highest point in the Aravallis at 1,722 metres, sits about 15 kilometres from the main town. The drive up through forest is the point, not just the destination. The Dilwara Jain Temples, built in the 11th to 13th centuries, are among the finest examples of marble carving in the country — the kind of place that stops a conversation mid-sentence.
The town itself is manageable. Main market, a handful of good restaurants, the lake. Nothing is far from anything else. That compactness is part of what makes it work as a couples destination: the days have a natural rhythm without requiring a schedule.
Who This Trip Is For
Mount Abu works best for couples who live within 5–6 hours by road or rail — Jaipur, Jodhpur, Ahmedabad, Udaipur, Surat — and want two or three days that feel genuinely different from the city without a complex itinerary.
It's a strong choice if one of you has been to Udaipur and feels that the havelis have started to blur together. It's a good choice if you want a hill station without the crowds of Shimla or the altitude anxiety of Ladakh. And it's a particularly good choice if the goal is less 'see things' and more 'just be somewhere together.'
For honeymooners specifically: Mount Abu is understated in a way that some couples find relieving. The town isn't set up to perform romance at you. It's just a pleasant place where the weather cooperates and the evenings are genuinely cool.
Season | What to expect | Good for couples who... |
Nov – Feb (Peak) | 10–18°C. Clear skies, cool air, misty mornings. Higher hotel rates. Busy weekends but manageable midweek. | Want the classic hill station atmosphere. Book 4–6 weeks ahead. |
Mar – May | 20–32°C. Warmer but still pleasant compared to the plains. Fewer crowds, better rates. | Don't mind warmth. Sunset Point is spectacular in April. Good value. |
Jun – Sep (Monsoon) | Heavy rain, intensely green, some viewpoints slippery. Road access can be slow. | Love rain and fog. The sanctuary trails are extraordinary in monsoon. |
Oct (Shoulder) | 22–28°C. Excellent weather, pre-season rates, fewer visitors. | Want peak-season conditions at off-season prices. Ideal. |
A 2–3 Day Itinerary for Two
Day 1 — Arrive. Find the Lake.
Most couples arriving from Jaipur or Jodhpur reach Mount Abu by early afternoon via Abu Road station (28 km, 45 minutes by taxi) or by direct road. Check in, drop the bags, walk to Nakki Lake. That's the full programme for Day 1 afternoon.
The promenade around the lake is best between 4pm and 7pm. Rent a row boat if the evening is still, walk the perimeter if it isn't. The Toad Rock, a natural formation that resembles exactly what it sounds like, sits a short walk uphill from the northern end of the lake — good views of the water below and the hills behind.
Dinner in town: the Rajasthani thali at one of the lakeside restaurants, or the rooftop at Kanak Dining Hall, which has a short menu executed with care and no pretension.
Day 2 — The Hills and the Temples.
Start early for Guru Shikhar. The drive takes about 40 minutes from the lake, through wildlife sanctuary forest. At the summit, a small temple dedicated to Dattatreya sits at 1,722 metres — the highest point in the Aravalli range. The views on a clear morning extend far enough to feel worth the drive.
Back in town by midday: lunch, then the Dilwara Temples in the early afternoon (they close at noon, so arrive before 11:30am on your first day if you want to see them). The marble carvings are extraordinary — ceilings, pillars, doorways, every surface worked with a patience that is hard to understand from a photograph. Allow an hour.
Afternoon: Honeymoon Point (also called Anadara Point), a viewpoint 3 kilometres from the lake at around 1,200 metres, looking out over the valley and the old gateway to Mount Abu. Arrive an hour before sunset. The light and the silence do most of the work.
Day 3 — A Slow Morning. Then Home.
Don't rush out. The mornings in Mount Abu are genuinely worth staying for: cool, birded, quiet in a way that most hill stations have traded away. Breakfast at your property, a final walk around the lake, and then the drive down.
From Abu Road station: direct trains to Jaipur (approx 6 hours), Jodhpur (approx 4.5 hours), and Ahmedabad (approx 3.5 hours). From Udaipur: a 185 km road journey of around 3.5 hours.
Where to Stay
For heritage and quietude
WelcomHeritage Connaught House is the most characterful property in Mount Abu: a colonial-era bungalow with mountain views, a classy lounge, and a dining area that serves complimentary breakfast without ceremony. 14 minutes from Nakki Lake, 3 kilometres from Dilwara. The rooms are not vast. The setting makes up for it.
For resort atmosphere with lake access
Sterling Mount Abu is the reliable 4-star choice — situated between the Dilwara Temples and Nakki Lake, with a pool, indoor activities, and the kind of staff-to-guest ratio that makes a weekend feel genuinely looked after. Good for couples who want the hill station experience without roughing any edges.
For something more private
Cawood Resort sits in the foothills with private pool villas, well-maintained gardens, and a billiards room — a better fit for couples who want the Aravallis outside their window and nobody else's itinerary inside their day. Private candlelit dinners available on request. Rates fluctuate; book direct.
How to Get There
Mount Abu's nearest railhead is Abu Road station, 28 kilometres and about 45 minutes from the hill station by taxi or shared jeep. Abu Road is well connected: direct trains from Jaipur (around 6 hours), Jodhpur (around 4.5 hours), Ahmedabad (around 3 hours 30 minutes), and Mumbai.
By road: Udaipur is 185 km (about 3.5 hours). Jodhpur is 235 km. Ahmedabad is around 220 km. The final stretch up from Abu Road to Mount Abu is a ghat road — winding, scenic, roughly 45 minutes.
The nearest airports are Udaipur (185 km) and Ahmedabad (220 km). Neither is inconveniently far if you want to fly in and hire a car.
BMT EXPERIENCES · ADD TO YOUR ITINERARY |
Sunrise walk in the Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary A private guided walk through the lower sanctuary trails at first light, when the mist sits at knee height and the sambar deer haven't moved yet. BMT arranges this with a local naturalist who knows the bird calls — not a resort guide who will show you to Trevor's Tank and back, but someone who will stop for 10 minutes beside a particular tree because a flame-throated bulbul is likely to appear. |
Sunset at Achalgarh Fort An evening at Achalgarh Fort, 11 kilometres from town, arranged so the two of you have the battlements and the valley view without a crowd. BMT includes a local storyteller who knows the fort's Paramara and Mewar history well enough to make the stones feel inhabited. |
At a Glance
Best time to visit | October to February for cool weather and clear skies. Monsoon (June–September) for dramatic green and fewer tourists. |
Ideal duration | 2 nights / 3 days. Enough to feel the pace shift. |
Nearest railhead | Abu Road Station — 28 km, 45 minutes by taxi. |
Nearest airports | Udaipur (185 km) · Ahmedabad (220 km) |
Budget range | ₹8,000–₹20,000 per couple for 2 nights, depending on property. Off-season rates are significantly lower. |
Must not miss | Nakki Lake at dusk · Guru Shikhar at sunrise · Dilwara Temples before noon · Sunset from Honeymoon Point |
Organised by | Book My Travel, Jaipur — bookmytravelindia.com |
Plan Your Mount Abu Weekend With Us
The difference between a good hill station weekend and a genuinely restful one usually comes down to where you stay and what you're not doing. We know which Mount Abu properties deliver on the quiet they promise, which local experiences are worth carving time for, and how to pace two or three days so neither of you feels like you're moving through a checklist.
Tell us your travel dates and whether you'd rather stay lakeside or higher in the hills — and we'll build the itinerary from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the best time to visit Mount Abu for a couples trip?
October to February is the classic window — mornings around 10–15°C, clear air, the hills green from the monsoon but the roads dry. November and December are peak months; book accommodation 4–6 weeks ahead. Monsoon (June to September) suits couples who enjoy fog and empty trails and don't mind occasional rain-closed roads. March and April offer warm but pleasant weather with far fewer visitors.
Q2. How many days are enough for a Mount Abu couples trip?
Two nights and three days is the sweet spot. Day 1 to settle in and find the lake. Day 2 for Guru Shikhar, Dilwara Temples, and Honeymoon Point. Day 3 for a slow morning before heading back. Anything shorter feels rushed. Anything longer requires either a deep interest in the wildlife sanctuary or a willingness to simply sit, which is also a legitimate choice.
Q3. Is Mount Abu better than Udaipur for a romantic trip?
They do different things. Udaipur is grand: lake palaces, candlelit rooftops, heritage hotels that perform romance with full commitment. Mount Abu is quieter, more personal, cooler in temperature. Couples who want something understated and less photographed often prefer Mount Abu. Couples who want the full Rajasthan romance treatment should go to Udaipur first and add Mount Abu as a companion leg.
Q4. How much does a Mount Abu couples weekend cost?
Budget between ₹8,000 and ₹20,000 for two people for two nights, covering accommodation, meals, and local travel. A mid-range stay at a property like Sterling Mount Abu runs roughly ₹4,000–₹7,000 per night for a double room. Heritage properties and private pool villas (like Cawood Resort) range higher. Off-season (April to September) rates are 30–40% lower than peak.
Q5. Can Mount Abu be visited as a day trip from Udaipur or Jodhpur?
Technically, yes. Practically, it defeats the purpose. The drive from Udaipur is around 3.5 hours each way; from Jodhpur, closer to 4. A day trip leaves you with perhaps 4 hours in the hill station, which is enough for the lake and one viewpoint — not enough to feel the place change your pace. If you're going to Mount Abu, stay at least one night.
Q6. What should couples eat in Mount Abu?
The Rajasthani thali is the answer to most meals here: dal baati churma, gatte ki sabzi, and kadhi, eaten with enough ghee to understand why the winters here feel manageable. For street food, the lakeside promenade vendors do bhutta (spiced corn), samosas, and chai that are worth standing in line for. Rabri and malpua, a warm sweet made from fried pancakes in sugar syrup, are the right way to end an evening.
Q7. Is Mount Abu suitable for a monsoon trip?
It is — with caveats. The wildlife sanctuary trails become genuinely beautiful between July and September, and the mist that settles over the Aravallis in the morning is unlike anything the plains offer. The risks: ghat roads can be slow after heavy rain, some viewpoints get slippery, and the leeches on forest trails are real. Waterproof footwear, a light jacket, and flexible plans are non-negotiable. Book a property with a fireplace if you can find one.
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