Pushkar

Pushkar is a sacred town for the Hindus, situated 11 km to the North-West of Ajmer. Captivated by the charm of this sleepy, lakeside settlement the great Indian poet, Kalidas found a place for Pushkar in his classic, Abhigyan Sakuntalam. The Great Hindu epics of Mahabharat and Ramayana make references to this religious place regarded to be Adi Tiratha. Evidence points to its having existed during the fourth century B.C. A lake in the inhospitable surroundings of a desert is no less than a miracle.

Pushkar is a town in the state of Rajasthan in India. Pushkar means born due to a flower. In Hindu mythology it is said that the gods released a swan with a lotus in its beak and let it fall on earth where Brahma would perform a grand yagna. The place where the lotus fell was called Pushkar. It is situated 14 Km from Ajmer and is one of the five sacred dhams (pilgrimage sites for devout Hindus.) It is often called "Tirth Raj" - the king of pilgrimage sites - and has in recent years become a popular destination for foreign tourists.

There is another legend about the Creator God, Bramha which describes the creation of this lake. When the demon Vajra Nabha killed Brahma's children, he in turn struck him with his weapon, a lotus flower. Vajra Nabha died with the impact, and the petals of the lotus fell at three places. One of them is Pushkar, where a lake sprung into being. Brahma is supposed to have performed sacrifice at this lake on Kartik Purnima (the full moon day of the Kartik month), hallowing the place. Sacred to Brahma, Pushkar boasts of its temple dedicated to him, which is the only one of its kind in the world. A dip in the waters of Pushkar and worship at his temple ensure salvation so thousands flock to Pushkar to observe the ritual on kartik Purnima, or on any of the four days preceding it.

Pushkar lies on the shore of Pushkar Lake. It has five principal temples, many smaller temples and 52 ghats where pilgrims descend to the lake to bathe in the sacred waters. Pushkar boasts temples, though few are as ancient as you might expect at such an important pilgrimage site, since many were destroyed by Aurangzeb, a Mughal ruler and subsequently rebuilt. One of the primary temples is the 14th century temple dedicated to Brahma, the Hindu god of creation. Very few temples to Lord Brahma exist anywhere in the world. Other temples of Brahma include those at Besakih in Bali, Bithoor in Uttar Pradesh, India, and Prambanan in Indonesia. It stands on a high plinth with the Marble steps leading up to it.

A silver turtle is set on the floor facing the Sanctum-Sanctorum or Girbha-griha. Around the turtle the Marble floor is inset with hundreds of silver coins. Coins engraved with donors names are also embedded in the walls. Peacocks adorn the temple walls as they are supposed to be the vehicle of Lord Brahma's consort Saraswati. A small image of the milkmaid Gayatri, flanks the four-faced image of lord Brahma and is called Chaumurti The sanctuary has silver doors inside a carved marble gateway.

Pushkar in Rajasthan is a favored destination of North India. Hundreds of foreigners throng this place all through the year. The Pushkar fair is an important occassion when tourists flock Pushkar, however it is not only at this time of the year when tourism flourishes. Pushkar is the flavour of every season. Pushkar is a pilgrimage site and is considered one of the holiest sites in India. The town of Pushkar is far from the noisy environment of the city. When he reaches the Ghats, particularly the Ghats near the Sarovar Tourist Bungalow, he gets refreshed and loses his tiredness of his journey. Pushkar is situated at the foot of the hills which add to its beauty. Five rivers, Suprabha, Kanaka, Prachi Nanda, and Saraswati flow here and make the place more beautiful and serene.

Major Attractions in Pushkar

Lord Brahma Temple :
The Brahma Temple is the most major attraction of Pushkar tour. This is the temple were Lord Brahma - the creator of the world, worshipped. The Brahma Temple is considered as the only temple of Lord of Brahma in the world. The temple is built in marble. Marble floor of the temple is worth visiting.

Pushkar Lake :
Another major landmark of Pushkar is Pushkar Lake. It is known for its religious importance. And it has a big position in the heart of Hindus. This sacred lake is dedicated to Lord Brahma. Here you will have chance to approx 500 temple, 52 palaces, and 52 Ghats. Don’t miss to take a holy dip into the sacred lake during your tours to Pushkar.

Savitri Temple :
The temple contains a beautiful statue of Goddess Savitri -the wife of Lord Brahma. Man Mahal Palace is located along the banks of Pushkar Lake. It was built by Raja Man Singh. At presently this palace is under the supervision of Rajasthan Tourism Department and served as a tourist bungalow.

Pushkar Palace:
The splendid Pushkar Palace is located near the Man Mahal. Now it has been turned into a heritage palace hotel.

Getting There

Air :
There is no any airport in Pushkar. But it is accessible from the city of Jaipur which is just 132 km away from the city. Jaipur is well-connected by air with cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Udaipur, Jodhpur, and Mumbai.

Rail :
To arrive in Pushkar the nearest railway station is Ajmer and Ajmer is well connected by rail with all the major cities of India.

Road:
The holy city of Pushkar is situated at the distance of 11 km from Ajmer Bus Stand. Ajmer is well connected to all the major cities of India.