Pushkar

Pushkar is one of the oldest cities in India. Located to the northwest of Ajmer, the tranquil city of Pushkar is a favoured destination for thousands of tourists and devotees flocking to Rajasthan. Situated at a height of 510 metres, Pushkar is surrounded by hillocks on three sides. The ‘Nag Pahar’, literally meaning Snake Mountain forms a natural border between Ajmer and Pushkar. Known as ‘the rose garden of Rajasthan’, the essence of the famous Pushkar rose is exported all over the world. Along with an interesting mythological history, a legacy of timeless architectural heritage makes Pushkar a fascinating city.

Pushkar is not an unknown name, from the religious sights to the quirky cafes; there is an abundance of places to visit in Pushkar with hopeful surprises in every corner. The small shops lined up in the colourful streets are full of joy, vibrancy, culture, and warmth. Puskar is that corner of India where people get stunned by everything they see. The location is quite hilly and perhaps constitutes the reasons why Pushkar is the new spot to hit. The route from Ajmer to Pushkar presents you the most picturesque sights along the road. Pushkar is situated at a distance of 11 kilometres from Ajmer and there are tons of places to visit in Pushkar. Some of the intriguing factors in Pushkar are the camel safari that enables traversing the undulating sand dunes of the great Thar Desert atop a Camel, the one and only temple of Lord Brahma in the entire country lies in Pushkar and the sacred Pushkar Lake which is a major pilgrimage site.

According to legends, Lord Brahma, believed to be the creator of the Universe dropped a lotus to the ground leading to the immediate creation of a lake. He then decided to name the place after the flower, and thus the name, Pushkar. The city of Pushkar is home to the only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma in the whole world. Hindus consider a journey to Pushkar to be the ultimate pilgrimage that must be undertaken to attain salvation.

Puskar border the Thar Desert and hence desert safaris are the most common adventure activity that excites the visitors. The Pushkar Lake has 52 Ghats and where one can bathe. Jagatpita Brahma Mandir is the only temple dedicated to the Lord of creation (Brahma).The place is definitely not a big town but rustic village that has gone hippie in the last couple of years. There are tons of items that you can take back home from the pretty markets of Pushkar like stunning silver jewellery, palazzos, bangles, bandhani sarees, artefacts made of mud and lovely dupattas. People mostly combine Ajmer and Pushkar in one trip due to the proximity they share, however, it is not a bad idea. Take a traditional homestay for your sojourn in Pushkar and you will undoubtedly fall in love with Pushkar, the village that gives an unforgettable experience.

Brahma Temple
Although the city of Pushkar has 400 odd temples, the Brahma Temple is the most famous of them. Brahma is one of the Hindu trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswar - the three gods representing creation, sustenance and destruction. According to the myths, Brahma is the god of creation of this earth. The four heads symbolizes His presence everywhere. The most remarkable thing about the Brahma temple is that it is the only one temple on earth dedicated to Lord Brahma. Pushkar literally means a pond created by flowers. Legends have it that Lord Brahma, when wanted to perform a yagna, dropped a lotus to determine the place on earth. That is how Pushkar was created.

Savitri Temple
Savitri Temple in one of the most renowned one out of 400 temples in Pushkar. According to the Hindu mythology Savitri is the first wife of Lord Brahma. When He was all set to start a Yagna on earth in the place of Pushkar (determined by drooping a lotus flower), Savitri's presence was the prerequisite. But She had kept Him waiting. Lord Brahma, irritated at this, married Gayatri the milkmaid to start the yagna on the most auspicious moment. Infuriated Savitri cursed that Lord Brahma would not be worshipped anywhere else but Pushkar. Hence you find the only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma only in Pushkar.

Varah Temple
Varah Temple in Pushkar is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. One of the various incarnations of Lord Vishnu was that of Varah (boar). The temple worships the Varah form of Lord Vishnu. You would find ample references of Vishnu in the Hindu myths and legends. In several incarnations which numbers up to as many as 10, Vishnu has appeared on the earth and saved the earth from the hand of the evil. The temple has a significant historical past. Mughal emperor Aurangzeb destroyed much of the temple because he could not stand with the rather bizarre idol of human body with the head of a boar, housed in the temple. Later Sawai Jai Singh II, the Maharajah of Jaipur reconstructed the temple. Lord Vishnu is seen as one of the Hindu trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswar. Vishnu represents the Sustenance of creation while other two gods represents Creation and Destruction.

Mahadeva Temple
Mahadeva Temple in Pushkar is dedicated to Lord Mahadeva. The god is one of the Hindu Trinity that represents Creation, Sustenance and Destruction. According to the Hindu Puranas, Lord Mahadeva is the god of destruction. There are several myths and legends centering round Lord Mahadeva. Ash-smeared and clad in tiger Skin, He holds a Trishul in his hand and a bull is his pet. According to the legends, the river Ganges has been created from His locks of hair.

Pushkar Lake
Hindu pilgrims come for the holy dip in Pushkar Lake, which is considered most on Kartik Poornima.The highlight of the fair is the Camel Fair, the trading of camels. There are many ghats, which run down to the Holy Pushkar Lake whose waters are famed to wash the sins of a lifetime.