About Pushkar

Every November, the sleepy little township of Pushkar in Rajasthan, India comes alive with a riot of colors and a frenzied burst of activity. The occasion: PUSHKAR FAIR. Very few, if at all any, fairs in the world can match the liveliness of Pushkar. Most people associate the Pushkar Fair with the world's largest camel fair. But it is much more than that. It is an occasion for villagers from far and near to gather together and enjoy a welcome break from their harsh life of the arid desert. And enjoy they do! In dazzling style and colors. It is an occasion for Hindu pilgrims to converge for a holy dip in the sacred Pushkar Lake to "wash away the sins of a lifetime" and pay obeisance at the ONLY Brahma temple in the world. LOCATION The small and beautiful town of Pushkar is set in a valley just about 14 km off Ajmer in the north Indian state of Rajasthan. Surrounded by hills on three sides and sand dunes on the other, Pushkar forms a fascinating location and a befitting backdrop for the annual religious and cattle fair which is globally famous and attracts thousands of visitors from all parts of the world. CLIMATE Pushkar has an extreme climate. The maximum temperature during the summers can go up to 40-45°C while in the winters it can be below 10°C. There is not much rain during the monsoon. The best season to visit this place is in the winters (October to March). IMPORTANCE Pushkar is among the five dhams or pilgrimages that are held in high esteem by Hindus, the others being Badrinath, Puri, Rameswaram, and Dwarka. It is said that in battle lord Brahma killed the demon Vajra Nabh with a lotus flower, whose petals floated down to earth and landed in three places in and around Pushkar where lakes sprang up. According to legends, Pushkar Lake was surrounded by 500 temples and 52 palaces (several rajas and maharajas maintained palaces here for pilgrimage) at one point. The Brahma temple is the most important temple here and is, in fact, the only Brahma temple of India. How To Reach Pushkar Pushkar is a sacred town for the Hindus, situated 11 kms. (7 miles) to the North-West of Ajmer. By Air The nearest airport from Pushkar is Jaipur. Jaipur is well connected to all the major cities which includes Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Jodhpur, Udaipur. Recently, flights to Dubai has also started from Pushkar by Indian Airlines. By Bus Pushkar is 11 km from main Ajmer bus stand. Rajasthan Roadways run very comfortable deluxe buses from Jaipur. There are buses from Jaipur to Ajmer every 15 minutes, some nonstop. The roads are very good, and it takes around 3 hrs from Jaipur. You can also come by hire private cars. By Train The nearest railway station for Pushkar is Ajmer, which is on the Broad Gauge and hence connected to all the metro cities of India. There are daily trains from Delhi in morning (Shatabdhi Exp).

Tourist Attractions Of Pushkar

The city of Pushkar is one of the prime pilgrimage places in India. Pushkar, Rajasthan sightseeing tour will consist mostly of the temples in the city, the most revered one being the Brahma temple. Other tourist attractions of Pushkar include a lake and a fort. Some of the famous places to see in Pushkar are:

Pushkar Camel Fair
The venue of the Pushkar fair is the Pushkar Lake. This fair is renowned throughout the world. The fair is an annual event, organized during the month of November. Pilgrims, from far and wide come to attend this fair and take sacred dips into the Pushkar Lake. Apart from having religious significance, this fair is also the largest camel fair in the world.

Brahma Temple
The most famous and visited tourist attraction of Pushkar is the Brahma Temple. It is the only temple of Lord Brahma (creator of the world) in the whole world. The temple was constructed in the 14th Century. It houses a life-size statue of Lord Brahma. The temple is made up of marble and is its floor is decorated with silver coins, donated by the pilgrims.

Pushkar Lake
The legend behind the Pushkar Lake is that the lake originated when some Lotus petals fell on Earth from the hands of Lord Brahma. Surrounding the lake, are 52 ghats, each having water with special powers. The Pushkar Lake also serves as the venue for the renowned Pushkar fair held every year.

Savitri Temple
The Savitri temple is dedicated to Goddess Savitri, the wife of Lord Brahma. Positioned on the Ratnagiri Hill, this temple holds a legend to itself. It is believed that once Lord Brahma had to perform a Yagna immediately. However, the performance of the Yagna required the presence of his wife. So, he married a local milkmaid, Gayatri for the purpose. When Brahma's wife, Savitri, found out, she cursed Lord Brahma that he would be worshipped only in Pushkar and only once a year. Then, she immolated herself at the Ratnagiri Hill, where the temple now stands.

Warah Temple
The Warah temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu (preserver of the world). King Anaji Chauhan built this temple. The temple has an image of lord Vishnu in the incarnation of a wild boar. The legend has it that Lord Vishnu came took the form of a Warah (wild boar) to kill the demon Hirnayaksh.

Pushkar Information Guide

Nestled between spectacular mountain ranges and trespassed by a scenic lake, the city of Pushkar is home to a number of tourist attractions. Known as a 'pilgrim city', Pushkar is renowned for Pushkar Temples and serene surroundings that combine to present a perfect holidaying experience.

With The Rajputana Experience, travel to Pushkar becomes all the more interesting and lucrative. The various tourist attractions of Pushkar are straddled around the beautiful Pushkar Lake.

Some major Tourist Attractions In Pushkar :

Pushkar Lake : One of the most sacred sites for Hindus, Pushkar Lake is the most famous tourist attraction in the holy town of Pushkar. It's a beautiful semi-circular lake with 52 lovely ghats surrounding it. According to beliefs, a dip in the Pushkar Lake on the auspicious occasion of Karthik Poornima brings salvation to devotees.

Brahma Temple : It's the only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe according to Hindu temple, in all over India. The beautiful marble temple is famous for its four-headed idol of lord Brahma. It's decorated with silver coins and a silver turtle on its black and white chequered floor.

Savitri Temple : Dedicated to goddess Savitri, the first wife of Lord Brahma, it's the second most important temple in Pushkar. Located just behind the Brahma Temple on a hilltop, it provides a panoramic view of the scenic Pushkar Lake and exotic sand dunes nearby.

Rangji or Rangnath Temple : Rangji Temple is known for its gracious south Indian style of architecture. The temple houses a huge image of Lord Vishnu. It has a high rising 'Gopuram' (large gate) and Garuda pillars studded with a mythical bird styled in gold.

Varah Temple : One of the most sacred temples in Pushkar, Varah Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It has an image of Vishnu in the incarnation of wild boar. According to a legend, Lord Vishnu visited the earth in the incarnation of a Varah (Wild boar) to kill an atrocious demon Hirnayaksh.

Jagat Pita Shri Brahma Temple :
The only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma, the universe's creator, is housed in Pushkar, Rajasthan. Standing on a high pedestal, this 14th century temple can be reached through marble steps.

Pushkar Camel Fair :
One of the biggest fairs in India, the cattle fair of Pushkar attracts buyers and sellers from all over the country who travel to Rajasthan to participate in this annual event.

Held in October or November on Kartik Purnima, the five-day Pushkar Fair is the ultimate showcase of the Rajasthan. Cultural performances, folk music and dance, camel and horse races, etc light up the festivities during the fair. It is indeed a boon to travel to Pushkar during the peerless Pushkar Fair.

Apteshwar Temple : Another important temple in Pushkar, this 12th century temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Saraswati Temple : Saraswati is the wife of Brahma. Literally her name means 'the flowing one' . In the Rig Veda she represents a river deity and is connected with fertility and purification.

Ramavaikunth Temple : The Ramavaikunth temple is an intricately carved Hindu temple dating to the 1920 and has images of 361 deities.

Bathing Ghats In Pushkar : Pushkar town is setup around a tiny little lake that has 52 bathing ghats around it and is surrounded by three mountains.

Man Mahal : The Man Mahal palace is very close to the Pushkar lake and Pushkar Temples, as well as within walking distance from here.

Pushkar Palace : Pushkar Palace was built about 400 years ago by the Maharaja of Kishangarh. Situated on the edge of the lake it offers a panoramic view of 400 temples, banks, sand dunes and the Aravalli hills.

How to Reach Pushkar :

By Air : The nearest airport to reach Pushkar is Jaipur Airport, which is about 138 kms from Pushkar. One can get direct flights from /to Delhi and other cities in India.

By Rail : Ajmer is the nearest railway station (about 11kms) and is connected to Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Udaipur and Jodhpur by regular trains. Two of the best trains of the Indian Railways, Pink City Express and Shatabdi Express connect Ajmer to Delhi and Jaipur.

By Road : Pushkar has two bus stands--The Marwar bus stand which has buses to some long distance places including Delhi, Jodhpur and Bikaner while the Ajmer bus stand is located east of the Pushkar town and offers bus services to Ajmer and Jaipur. There are regular buses from Pushkar to Ajmer.