Rajasthan's only hill station, Mount Abu, is best known for its cool valleys and the famous Nakki Lake, but just a short walk from its most popular spot, Sunset Point, sits a lesser known place with a genuinely strange past. It is called Moore's Cave, a rocky hideout carved into the hillside where, during the 19th century, a senior British army officer spent a long stretch of his life in near total isolation.
The officer who vanished and the messages he left behind
According to local residents and historical records, Major General Arthur Thomas Moore, an officer of the Bombay Light Cavalry, spent an extended period inside this cave during the 19th century. Historical accounts hold that Moore disappeared suddenly and mysteriously from his military headquarters, and for a long time neither the British army nor his close associates could trace his whereabouts. Hidden from the army's watch inside this remote cave, Moore is said to have used only a chisel and a hammer to carve a series of unusual inscriptions into the cave's hard stone walls, messages dedicated to his king and to god. Those centuries old carvings still draw history enthusiasts, researchers and curious travellers who come specifically to see them.
Rediscovered after nearly two centuries, thanks to one environmentalist
For close to two hundred years, this cave stayed completely forgotten, buried inside dense forest and effectively cut off from human access. That changed in 2006, when Dr Arun Kumar Sharma, an environmentalist based in Mount Abu, pursued the site through persistent effort and research, eventually bringing it to the notice of the local administration and the archaeology department. It took roughly seven more years for official action to follow: in 2013, on a special initiative by the then SDM of Mount Abu, the archaeology department took up the site and carried out a scientific renovation of the cave. Today, this entire heritage site falls under the protection of the Forest Department, and a very old, locally revered temple dedicated to Mataji stands right next to the cave.
From Bombay Light Cavalry to the Poona Horse Regiment
The military unit that operated before India's independence under the name Bombay Light Cavalry exists today as the modern Indian Army's Poona Horse Regiment, a name that carries considerable prestige. This regiment has fought in several historic battles both before and after independence in defence of the country, building a reputation for valour along the way. Within the regiment's long history, Major General Thomas Moore continues to be remembered as a uniquely respected figure, referred to as a Saint Soldier for having combined the discipline of warfare with a personal path of spirituality.
That combination is what makes the spot stand out for anyone visiting Sunset Point today: a short detour brings together untouched nature, a genuine 19th century mystery, and the neighbouring Mataji temple, all within walking distance of one of Mount Abu's busiest viewpoints.
