Ambaji

 Ambaji is a shaktipeeth located at the border of Rajasthan and Gujrat in the Banaskantha district.. According to legend , the heart of goddess Sati fell at this place. The goddess is worshipped at the new temple located about three km away.In the holy temple(new)  there is no image  of goddess. Only the holy "Shree Bisa Yantra" is worshiped as the main deity.This yantra is gold plated having sacred 51 letters are written in a mystical and spiritual way. This yantra is dressed in a special way to resemble the goddess.There are 9 kinds of decoration is done representing NavDurga, the 9 form of Devi .Even the vehicle of the deity is different each day. . No one can see the Yantra with naked eye. the photography of the Yantra is prohibited.The original temple is located at the Gabbar Hil which can be accessible through newly constructed ropeway or by climbing the stairs(just 900 steps :) ). Here the flame is lit continuously lit and one can witness the footprints of goddess at the front of the temple.This region is called as Arasur. As per another legend , Lord Rama and Laxman visited here to get the blessings of goddess and the goddess Ambaji blessed them a divine arrow called 'Ajay' which later proved important to kill his enemy Ravana. It is also believe that the mundan ceremony of Lord Krishna was performed here.
Important- during Bhadrapad mela and Navraatri days the place is totally packed with devotees. Before visiting, one must consider this factor into account. Make sure that even going via trolley to Gabbar hill, still it will consume at least 3 hrs minimum.

Location
20 Km from  Abu Road. Plenty of cabs are available at Abu Road station.

Not to be missed 
Apart from Gabbar Hill and new Ambaji temple, the following places should not to be miss
1) Kumbharia Jain Temples
2) Kamakshi temple
3) Koteshwar temple

Eating outlet
Apart from many options. US pizza outlet is safe bet for the travellers who are going along with children.

At the main gate of Ambaji

 The ropeway to Gabbar Hill

The Original place where the heart of goddess Sati fell

Power of Devi Anusuya

Anusuya was the wife of Sage Atri. She was famous in all the three world for his devotion and chastity. Sage Narad visited goddess Saraswati,Lakshmi ji and Parvati ji and praised Anusuya. The three goddess disliked it and decided to test Anusuya. They send their consorts to earth. Lord Brahma,Vishnu and Shiva in the guise of sage visited the hermitage of Anusuya when sage Atri was not present and asked for the alms on a condition that she had to give them alms without wearing clothes. This caused dilemma for Anusuya because if did not give the alms to sages then it would be a sin. She used her divine powers and sprinkled water on the three sages as a purification act and turned them into three infants. Now infants were crying as they were hungry. Anusuya came forward and gave breastfeed to three infants as a mother. On the other hand, Goddess Saraswati,Lakshmi and Parvati were worried about her husbands as they had not return to their abode. The three goddess visited Anusuya and she found the three infants were playing in the lap of mother Anusuya. They asked about their husband to Anusuya. She replied that they  are there in her lap as her children. the three goddess accepted their mistake and asked for forgiveness and to release their consorts. In the mean time Sage Atri returned to hermitage and witnessed the whole episode. Both Atri and Anusuya turned the three infants back to their original form. The three gods woke up  and asked Atri and Anusuya to demand any boon from them. Anusuya demanded that the trinity,Lord Brahma,Vishnu and Shiva , to be born as her son. Later Anusuya gave birth to Lord Dattatrey who was composite incarnation of Lord Brahma,Vishnu and Shiva.

Boon to Saraswati

It was the most awaited moment for the universe when the marriage between Lord Shiva and Goddess Sati was performed. It was the ritual that after the marriage couple had to perform   ‘Nadi Pooja’ in which pooja of river was to be done.  Lord Shiva and Goddess Sati went to the bank of river Saraswati  As per ritual the couple had to look into the river and the outcome of the marriage could be seen from the image form on the river water. The moment both looked into the river, violent waves started to come to the bank. Mother of Goddess Sati was very worried to see this supernatural phenomenon as it was ill omen as no image could be seen due to turbulent water. Lord Shiva guessed the anxiety of Goddess Sati too. HE put his foot in the river water. The moment the river water touched the foot of Lord Shiva, all the waves disappeared. River Goddess Saraswati   appeared and greeted Lord Shiva. Pleased with the devotion of river Saraswati, Lord Shiva blessed her that one day she would meet river Ganaga and that place would be called as “TeerthRaj”(the king of all Pilgrimage) and bathing at that place would free a persons from sins and it would be the gateway to heaven