Mount Abu was once a haven for the occupying British, who preferred to head to this remote hill station to escape the scorching heat of summer on the lower plains. Even the Maharajahs built summer palaces here! It's altitude ensures that year-round temperatures are significantly lower than the average – and that the landscape is much more luscious and green than in the rest of the State. At the height of winter Mount Abu is one of the only places in Rajasthan where you might actually see snow, making the winter festival an entirely different experience to the one held in summer.

The resulting flora and fauna (including many obscure varieties of orchids) and the crystal-clear Lake Nakki provides a refreshing change from the desert environment and Mount Abu has become a leading destination both for trekking and adventure activities. It's definitely a place for relaxing and enjoying nature, although this means that it is not generally on your itinerary if you are taking a whistle-stop tour of Rajasthan.