Aravalli Range

The Aravalli Range is a folded mountain range in western India that runs roughly across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and the National Capital Region. It is one of the oldest mountain ranges in India and consists mainly of very old crystalline and metamorphic rocks.

The range contains a number of discrete hill stations and prominent peaks, the best known being Mount Abu with its summit area including Guru Shikhar at about 1,722 metres. The Aravallis are not high compared with the Himalaya but form a continuous chain of ridges and escarpments that influence local drainage and vegetation. Many towns and historic forts sit along or beside the range and it has long been a source of building stone and minerals.

The Aravallis were formed during Precambrian tectonic events and have been deeply weathered since, producing a landscape of low rounded hills and narrow valleys. Human activity over centuries has included mining, forestry and agriculture adapted to the ridge-and-valley topography.

Geographically the range extends from near Delhi in the northeast down into Gujarat in the southwest, crossing several Indian states and forming a distinct physiographic boundary between plains and the more arid interiors.

• Geological Age: The range is among the oldest in India, composed largely of Proterozoic and older rocks and heavily weathered over geological time.
• Local Influence: The Aravalli ridge influences local climate and river catchments, creating distinct valleys and pockets of forest within otherwise arid regions.

What to See#

• Guru Shikhar (Mount Abu): The highest summit of the range is **Guru Shikhar** on Mount Abu, reaching about 1,722 metres and forming the most prominent tourist hill station in the Aravalli belt.
• Range Structure: A long, discontinuous band of low to medium-height hills running across western India, composed of older crystalline rocks and forming local watersheds and hill stations.

• Visit the Aravalli foothills in cooler months (November-February) or early morning to avoid extreme heat common in summer across much of the range.
• Target specific protected areas or sites rather than the whole range - well-known, accessible sections include the Delhi Ridge around the capital, Sariska and Kumbhalgarh sanctuaries in Rajasthan - and check entry rules for wildlife areas before you go.
• If you plan hikes on less-developed stretches, hire a local guide familiar with seasonal tracks and water sources; many rural tracks are unmarked and conditions vary dramatically after monsoon rains.