Pushkar (Rajasthan)

Pushkar is an important pilgrimage city in the heart of Rajasthan. Just 11kms. from Ajmer and 143 kms from Jaipur, Pushkar is renowned for its annual Pushkar mela. With its many ghats and temples, Pushkar is a significant holy place.

 
The Pushkar lake is surrounded by over 400 temples and 52 Ghats built over a vast span of time by Kings & Nobles of different places of the country. Every year Pushkar fair is organised and celebrated at Pushkar. The Fair continuos for twelve days in the month of Kartika of Vikram year (October-November of the Gregorian Calender). During the Fair, people at large of the country seeking Salvation come for Holy dip and farmers of Rajasthan come here with their cattle for marketing
 

The Pushkar Ghat is holy to the Hindus and religious ceremonies are performed simultaneously as camels are being traded. The night at the fairground takes on a Carnival atmosphere. The ferris wheel attracts line-ups of giggling Rajput women in their richly coloured saris and sparkling bangles that stretch from wrist to shoulder. Roadside vendors sell pots, pans, bangles, saris, belts and other various items. Campfires dot the dark desert like bright stars as the evening meal is prepared.
 
Pushkar Camel Safari : Camel safaris are popular tourist activities. The Aravalli Range, one of the world's oldest, has sandy fields, small dunes, beautiful hills and superb sunrises and sunsets. There are small villages along the way and if you time your visit for crop harvesting time, it's particularly beautiful. Logging is banned in some areas, but poor policing has seen much of the once dense forest lost to building and fuel.
 
Pushkar Temples
 
Brahma Temple : The only temple of its type, the Brahma temple is an important pilgrim centre for the Hindus. The Brahma temple is nestled in the Pushkar valley, which lies beyond Nagaparvat and the Anasagar Lake. This place is considered sacred, as it is believed that Lord Brahma, together with all the gods and goddesses performed a Yagna here. Legends also have it that the ancient lake had appeared miraculously, when a lotus fell from the hands of Lord  Brahma and dropped into the valley. The Brahma temple, built with marble, is decorated with silver coins and there is a silver turtle on the floor of the temple.
 
Savitri Temple : The Savitri temple is dedicated to Goddess Savitri, Lord Brahma's first wife. It is located on the hill behind the Brahma temple. To reach the temple one has to climb a long series of steps. The site of the Savitri temple provides a panoramic view of the lake and

 
Rangji Temple : The Rangji temple is very gracious. It is considered very conspicuous, due to its south Indian style of architecture. The temple has a high rising 'Gopuram', typical of southern India.
 
Warah Temple : The Warah temple is another famous temple of Pushkar. It houses an image of lord Vishnu in the incarnation of the wild boar. The temples of Brahma and Warah are considered equally important. It is believed that king Anaji Chauhan built the Warah temple. According to mythology it is a very important temple and is believed that Vishnu came on the earth in the incarnation of Warah (wild boar) to kill the demon Hirnayaksh and liberate the land from his atrocities.
 
Apteshwar Temple : The Apteshwar temple is another important temple of the Pushkar town. It was built in the 12th century and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Event in Pushkar :
Makar Sankrati, Kite Festival, Sawarayian Vishnu Temple, Hanuman Jayanti, New Moon, Holy Bath, Guru Pujan, "Panch Kund" Fair, Lakshi Mela (Fair)- Naag Pahad, Naag -Panchmi, Jhule -Vishnu Temple, "Raksha Bandhan", Ajay Pal Fair of Hills, Janamasthmi, Pap Mochani Fair, Baijanath Fair, Fair of Ganesh Ji, Ajay Pal fair of Monastery,  Savitri Temple Fair, Ramdevji ka Mela (fair), Bairoji Fair, Navratra Puja, Dushera Mela (fair), Dushera, Barat Milap Mela, Diwali, Pushkar Fair