Achalgarh in Mount Abu is the only place in the world where the thumb of Lord Shiva is worshipped. The thumb impressions of Lord Shiva can be seen in the temple. Mount Abu is also called Ardhkashi. Evidence of Lord Shiva’s abode in Arbudanchal is found in Skand Puran. Even today hundreds of sadhus meditate in the caves of Mount Abu. It is said that Lord Shiva resides in the caves here, who gives a real darshan when he is pleased.
Achalgarh Temple, situated on the hills, 11 km from Mount Abu, is a mythological temple whose grandeur is made on sight. According to the legend, when Nandivardhan situated on Mount Arbud started shaking, then the penance of Lord Shankar, who was doing penance in the Himalayas, was broken.
Lord Shiva’s beloved cow Kamdhenu and bull Nandi were also there on this mountain. So Nandi and the cow had to be saved along with the mountain. Lord Shankar extended his thumb from the Himalayas and stabilized the Arbud mountain. Nandi and the cow were saved and the Arbud mountain also became stable. The footprints of Lord Shiva are still present in the Achaleshwar temple built in the 15th century at the foot of the hill.
The Achalgarh Fort was built on top of a hill by Rana Kumbha, the king of Mewar. Achaleshwar Temple is located near the fort. In the sanctum sanctorum of the Achaleshwar Mahadev temple, the Shivling is visible in the form of the Patal Khand, on which the right toe impression is embossed on one side.
Grand stone idols of Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Kachhap, Matsya, Krishna, Rama, Parashurama, Buddha and Kalangi incarnations are installed outside the sanctum. Here a natural pit is made under the thumb of the Lord. No matter how much water is poured into this pit, it never fills up and where does the water offered in it go, it is still a mystery.
There is a huge Champa tree in the square of the Achaleshwar Mahadev temple complex. On the left side there is a Dharmakanta on two artistic pillars. The rulers of this region, at the time of sitting on the throne, taking blessings from Achaleshwar Mahadev, used to take an oath of justice to the subjects under the thorns.