Gaumukh is situated at a distance of about six kilometers from the Bus stand at Mount Abu.Sage Vashishtha lived here with his wife and a wish fulfilling cow, gifted him by the Devas, after they obtained it from the churning of the ocean, with eight other jewels! The holy river Sarswati Ganga has been flowing here since the ancient days of Viswamitra and Vashistha, two great Rishis of India.

As legend has it, once, when two sages were engaged in a metaphysical debate, the holy Sarswati chose to support Vashistha. This enraged Vishwamitra who cursed the river by saying "your flow shall always be bloody and unholy".

And so it happened. The dejected Saraswati went to all gods and goddesses but no one would help her. Finally she approached Vashistha and prayed,"O Rishi ! I have attained this state, because I had sided you. So please help me and restore my purity.

"Whereupon Vashistha replied, O Goddess! Touch my feet and flow near my ashram and you shall be purified." From that time, the river Saraswati has been flowing endlessly at this Ashram. A faithful king installed the 'Gau Mukh' near this flow and built a small pool. One who bathes here and performs the Gaudan Pooja invokes the blessing of gaulok.

Sage Vashishta is credited to brought Nandi Vardhan Mountain, the youngest son of Himalayas,to Mount Abu. The incredible flying snake, Arbud Naag, who brought the gargantuan mountain from the south on its back demanded the mountain to be named after him as “Arbudanchal” for recogination of his services in bringing the mountain from the south to its present address. As usual the British could not pronounce the tongue twister hence tarnished the glorious name to be Abu.

Wonder of wonder is that in this ranges the Pine of Tundra and the Date Palm of desert amicably grows side by side.