One of India’s oldest towns, the magnetism of Pushkar, its Rajasthan-esque charisma and beauty brings tranquility and joy beyond normal consciousness.
Pushkar – home to the country’s only Brahma temple is a famous Hindu pilgrimage, visited by Hindus at least once in their lifetime. Legend says, the holy lake here got created by a lotus flower thrown by Lord Brahma. Hence the entire town has 52 ghats, 400 milk blue temples resonating with chants, bhajan (devotional song) with drums and gongs. Despite commercialism, the city of Brahma continues to be captivating and faithfully mystic, enough to tickle a traveller’s fancy.
The Holy Lake of Pushkar
Amidst beautiful hills, Pushkar Lake is surrounded by 50 or more bathing ghats. As per legend, Lord Brahma on his search for a holy place to perform a Yagya (religious ceremony), dropped a lotus to guide him. The lotus fell on the site which is now the Pushkar Lake. Taking a dip here is believed to cleanse all sins. Nearby is sage Agastya’s cave where he had meditated for a very long time.
Jagatpita Brahma Mandir
One of the few Brahma temples in India, this 14th century temple is taken as a pilgrimage for Hindus from all over the world. The entire structure is constructed in marble and stone along with a majestic red pinnacle. Inside the temple, one would find images of Lord Brahma. The sanctum sanctorum is only for saints and hence married men are not allowed entry.
Varah Temple
One of the largest and oldest temples in Pushkar, Varah Temple, is dedicated to the Varaha (boar) incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Built in the 12th century, it was destroyed by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. It was later restored in 1727 by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II. A unique culmination of architectural elements, the temple brings forth the intriguing facets of Hindu mythology.
Savitri Temple
Built in 1687, on the top of Ratnagiri Hill, this temple is dedicated to Goddess Savitri who revolted with her husband Lord Brahma on marrying another woman. As per legend, the goddess after leaving her husband rested in this place on hill and later a temple was erected there. Devotees climb up on the hill to visit this temple and also take pictures of the area below.
Man Mahal
Built for Raja Man Singh-I, Man Mahal is the largest palatial residence in entire Pushkar. Once the king’s retreat centre, today it serves as a guest house for visitors. Here, one will find a beautiful amalgamation of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture.
Rangji Temple
Find a south Indian temple in Rajasthan dedicated to Lord Rangji, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It was built in 1823, under the aegis of Seth Puran Mal Ganeriwal. Devotees of Lord Vishnu gather here amass on various occasions.
Merta City
The birthplace of Meera Bai, poet, princess and devotee of Lord Krishna, is demarcated as the Meera Smarak. Here one can also visit a museum that exhibits cloth paintings. The area is dotted with many temples and palaces with impressive structures.
Activities in Pushkar
Pushkar is not just about faith and pilgrimage, the land of Lord Brahma is also a hotspot for adventure lovers. With a plethora of various fun activities, the town will surely make a visitor’s stay a memorable one.
The small and beautiful city of Rajasthan, Pushkar offers a splendid experience for any visitor with its bustling shopping markets. Known for its leather goods and rose products, one can pick some rose essences and perfumes from Sarafa Bazaar, Baza Bazaar and Kedalganj Bazaar to take back home. Another place for an ultimate shopping experience is the internationally acclaimed Pushkar fair. Held in November, it is thronged by tourists who come here to buy colourful bangles, beads, camel leather goods, brass utensils and embroidery clothes. Other things to look forward to are paintings, tie-and-dye fabrics, fine block printed textiles, enameled jewellery, finely cut precious stones, wood and ivory carving, lacquer work, pottery and garments.
Winter
November to February are the winter months in Pushkar, when the temperature ranges from 15 to 18 degree Celsius. This is the time when devotees come to this holy land to visit the temple of Lord Brahma.
Summer
March to June : The temperature at this time goes upto 45°C, hence a sunscreen and umbrella is highly recommended.
Monsoon
July to October: Considered an off season, some tourists do consider a tour during this time. Though Pushkar does not receive much rain but the climate is quite comfortable for travelling and adventure activities.
By Air
Pushkar does not have an airport hence one has to land at Jaipur, about 140 kilometres away. Jaipur airport is well-connected to cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata. From the airport, you can hire a cab or board a bus to go to Pushkar.
By Train
To go to Pushkar, one need to take a train to Ajmer, this is well-connected with major cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Lucknow, Allahabad and many other cities. From the railway station, one can hire a cab/taxi to reach Pushkar.
By Bus
The Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation runs deluxe and semi-deluxe buses (both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned) that connects Ajmer to nearby cities. One can also board buses from Delhi to Ajmer and then to Pushkar at a very nominal fee.
Self Drive
Pushkar allows vehicles only in certain areas. Driving can be a good option if one is driving from cities like Delhi and Jaipur.
