project shergaon
The Climbing Wonderland
Mt. Abu | Rajasthan
Bouldering | Trad Climbing | ROute Opening | Adventure Photography | Wildlife Exploration
Mount Abu is the only a green hill station in the whole state of Rajasthan. It is, in fact, a green land in the dry landscape of Rajasthan. Located in the south of the Aravalli Hill, Mount Abu is well known for climbing, vacations, treks and its natural habitate. Mount abu is a land of many great temples such as Dilwara & Achalgarh temple.
Often called the Good for beginners, Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary also encompasses some of the highly technical and steepest Granite wall and boulders. Aravalli, a composite Sanskrit word from “ara” and “vali”, literally means the “line of peaks”. The can be the country’s another most beautiful climbing destination. There are hundreds of boulders and technical climbs in the 5000 ft high world’s one of the oldest mountain range. Some climbs will have to be “sport wall climbs” meaning there is almost no approach and you can bail at any point on chain anchors. Other climbs involve intense bushwhacking through cactus-covered slopes followed by massive commitment in a parched land. There are a lot of climbs in every gully .What stands out about Shergaon is just how many unclimbed lines and boulders where some of them are above grade 8 or above V8.
Shergaon is a huge farming field, with approx 300 registered residence and couple hundred cattles. However, only few of them
stays in shergaon, as most of them migrated to cities in the search of better employment and stable earnings. While mount abu has 51 marked routes and approx dozens of options for crack and multi pitch climbing with 3 to 7a grade, which has been climbed before, in other hand almost the ENTIRE Shergaon village is surrounding with endless possibilities, from bouldering to multipitch and from jug holdes to small cracks. There are hundreds and thousands of rock climbs, and nearly endless bouldering, possibilities.
This ain’t Mount abu! Shergaon’s climbing is intense and adventurous. Prepare to get a little pumped up and amused. A lot of experienced granite climbers would be stun when they will first climb here. It’s hard to know exactly how strong the rock is so even strong-looking holds are sometimes suspect. It’s not that the rock is terrible, it just takes a little time getting used to. Here you must develop a sense when the rock is strong and when it’s crap. Watch for loose blocks in cracks and on walls. Solid climbing skills are necessary. Climbers should use athletic tape to protect their hands from abrasion. Taking permission from locals is must as most of the rocks are resting on someone’s farms. Also the whole region comes under eco sensitive zone. The magical granite rocks of Shergaon, located deep into one of the oldest folded mountains in the world, hide literally thousands of excellent routes and boulders, with a variety of lengths & commitment; sure to intrigue climbers of all tastes & abilities. Routes range in difficulty from 3rd-grade scrambles to world-class grades like 8. With the very high visibility of the night sky, Shergaon is one of its kind, where you can find solitude, coupled with a gentle neighborhood within just 4-hour of a mesmerizing hike. It is famed as an oasis in the middle of the desert and is home to one of the best wildlife sanctuaries of the state, the Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary, famous for Birds, Sloth bear, and Leopards. In a nutshell, this place offers a sense of accomplishment through its naked Rock faces and boulders. Challenge yourself to unleash on of these!
Phase I - Exploration of the Area
Walking into the Climbing wonderland
We were truly captivated by the unique rocks in Shergaon Village, nestled in Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary. Their diverse and challenging formations provided unparalleled climbing opportunities. So enthralled were we by this experience that we decided to make frequent visits to Shergaon for our climbing excursions. Its stunning scenery combined with excellent climbing routes makes it an ideal location for us. Initially, we wanted to keep this area exclusive to our group, but realized it would be unjust to both the local community and fellow climbers. Therefore, after our initial four visits, we decided to create a guidebook and begin filming a short documentary in the upcoming phase.
Phase II - Documentation & Further Exploration
Documentary Shoot to Promote the Area
We put together a small team and started filming a documentary we named “Abu’s Rockmine.” This was our way of sharing the amazing scenery and rock climbing spots in Shergaon Village, Mount Abu. But we’re not stopping there. As we keep learning more about these rocks, we plan to find even better climbing routes. Our goal is to keep improving our project, helping climbers enjoy everything Shergaon has to offer.
Our documentary, “Abu’s Rockmine,” has been released on YouTube. This film provides viewers with all the necessary information about Shergaon and its striking rock formations, making it a must-watch for adventure enthusiasts who are interested in climbing in the village. The project was a collaborative effort involving us, Rana Eco Tour – a local adventure tour operator, and We Are Kalakar, a media house. The documentary dives into the details of the diverse and challenging rock climbing opportunities that Shergaon offers. It also sheds light on the region’s unique beauty, showcasing why it has become a favored spot for our climbing trips. It’s an insightful visual guide to Shergaon, aiming to inspire more climbers to explore this hidden gem. Click on the image to watch the documentary on Youtube.
Phase III - Development Of the Area
Development of the Sport and Multipitch routes and Documentation
We’ve finished the second part of our project. Now, it’s time to put some sport routes to the list. We have done lots of bouldering in previous 2 phases and recent 6 visits. This time, it’s going to be very challenging yet more exciting as we are targeting to open atleast 40 sport
routes. Stay tuned for more information!
Warning!!!!
This place falls under a highly sensitive ecozone. Plentiful encounters with wild animals include Sloth bear, Leopard and others make it much more dangerous than it may sound. Even the local castles and domestic animals in off-road villages are dangerous as they get triggered anxiously by strangers, they might attack you in a lethal way. Specially Cows and Buffalo on the trail can prove life-threatening. Also, the sighting of the Local Bandit group has been reported from time to time. Its highly suggested that you hire a guide, who can help you to negotiate through the region incorrect time and also Bandits usually don’t harm locals.
Guide Service (Highly Suggested)
Rana ECO Tours (+91 97997 80703 | +91 94142 01763)
Prem Rana & Bharat Alika are the lead guides and also the owners of the company. They are among the first few who started digging into the wilderness & keen potential of Mount Abu and encouraging people to experience the same. Also Prem Rana is the current president of Mount Abu Mountaineering Association (MAMA). Bharat, among the first who realise the climbing potential of region, is not a climber, but he knows the area like back of his hand, Friendly and polite he make sure you have safe and great time.