Pushkar is a small town of about 15 thousand people in the centre of Rajasthan state.
Climate
Pushkar has an extreme climate with high climatic variations between seasons. Summers have hot days, but nights can be chilly. Temperature is maintained in the range of 10 ° C in winter. Not much rain in Pushkar, even during the monsoon. The best time to visit the place is in the winter (September to March).
Location
The picturesque Pushkar is set in a valley just 14 km from Ajmer in the north Indian state of Rajasthan. Surrounded by hills on three sides and sand dunes in the fourth, Pushkar forms a fascinating place and a consistent backdrop for the annual religious and cattle fair.
Pushkar - History
There are numerous legends linked to the birth of Pushkar and Pushkar Fair. One thing is clear that most of them are related with Lord Brahma. It is said that in a battle, Lord Brahma killed the demon Vajra Nabh with a lotus flower, whose petals drifted down to earth and downed in 3 places in and around Pushkar where lakes arose.
According to another legend, back in a mythical time, Lord Brahma was flying over the Rajasthan desert on his swan, when some petals fell from his hand and let down. Miraculously, blue lakes, home of the flowers had touched the soft sand. At that time, Lord Brahma realized that this was the right moment to perform a fire sacrifice or yagna. His wife Savitri was not with him at that time and the yagna would be incomplete without it. So Brahma married a local girl and sat for without it.
Meanwhile Savitri landed on earth and upon finding this new bride sitting next to Brahma, which broke with fury and cursed him never to be worshiped in any other place on earth. Since then, when the full moon shines on Purnima during the autumn of Kartik, the desert tribes meet to commemorate this epic event. It is interesting to note that Brahma is not worshiped, despite being one of the Trinity of Hinduism.
Pushkar - Sightseeing
A big collection of travel attractions, Pushkar is well-known for its charming places as well as more than four hundred temples. The most significant of the temples is the Brahma Temple (only temple of Lord Brahma, the maker, in the world). Other main temples are Savitri Temple, Mahadeva Temple, Rangji Temple, and Varaha Temple. Pushkar Lake is the place of annual holy bath on Kartik Purnima. Pushkar Bazaar is well-known for its high range of handicrafts. An additional significant attraction in the city is Man Mahal worked up by Raja Man Singh of Amber.
Brahma Temple
This is the only temple in the world where Lord Brahma is worshiped and the main attraction of Pushkar. The temple has a special position in the Hindu pantheon. No size is four-armed idol of Lord Brahma - the creator in the lobby. The temple has marble floors and stairs and coins have been made by the devotees on the occasion of the birth or death of loved ones.
Pushkar Lake
Pushkar Lake is another important attraction of Pushkar and is of great importance for the followers of Hinduism. According to legend, the lake was dedicated to Lord Brahma after a lotus fell from his hand and dropped in the picturesque valley. A lake was built in the second place where it is considered sacred. The entire lake is supposed to be surrounded by 500 temples, palaces, 52 and 52 ghats. On the occasion of Kartik Purnima in November every year, devotees take holy dip in the lake and a fair is organized, worldwide known as Pushkar Fair.
Savitri Temple
The temple is dedicated to Savitri, the wife of Lord Brahma and located on the top of the Ratnagiri hill. According to legend, when Lord Brahma performed a (sacred fire dedicated to the gods) along with Gayatri Yagna, a local dairy, furious Savitri cursed her husband that should never be worshiped anywhere except in Pushkar and that too only once a year. Savitri left for the Ratnagiri Hill after cursing her husband and immolated herself there. There is beautiful statue of Goddess Savitri inside the temple.
Other Important Temples
Other significant temples in Pushkar are 19th century Mahadeva Temple is consecrated to Lord Shiva - The Destroyer, with 5 faces. It is known for the stylishness of its structure and ornamentation. Rangaji Temple is consecrated to Lord Vishnu - the preserver and constructed in the South Indian architectural style. There are 2 enormous dwarpals (gatekeepers) structure in front of the major gate and a picture of Garuda inside. A dissimilar significant temple is of Varaha - an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and constructed in 12th century.
Pushkar Bazaar
A hustling market, the Pushkar local market bids tourist as well pilgrimage linked products. A range of souvenirs could be bought including the Rajasthani costumes, jewellery, embroidered fabrics, decorative pieces and pleasing accessories. The market becomes a hub of activity during the annual Pushkar Fair.
Pushkar Fair
The most significant reason of Pushkar being on the international travel map is Pushkar Fair. The fair is held every year in the month of November during the Kartik Purnima (day of full moon) when hundreds of thousands of people take a sanctum dip in the sacred Pushkar Lake. This is also an event to organize the biggest camel fair in the earth. More about Pushkar Fair.
Pushkar Excursions
Kuchaman, Kishangarh, and Roopangarh are several of the better-known digressions from Pushkar. Ajmer is one of the main cities of Rajasthan and well-known for annual urs celebrated here.
Kuchaman
Known for its strength, a visit to Kuchaman takes you to the wonderful of a bygone era. You can see the life of Meera Bai in miniature paintings in the Meera Taj. In the Lok Dev Temple appreciate the gorgeous paintings of Lok Devatas as Tejaji Sant, Sant Sant Pabu Gogaji Rathore, Baba Ram Dev, Sant Kesaria Kanwarji, Jamboji Sant Sant Ravi Das, Sant Kabir, Guru Nanak and Khawaja Moinu-din-Chisti. The temple was built by Ranjit Singh to honor the sacrifices of the masses. Other attractions in Kuchaman include the Meena Bazaar (a bustling bazaar where merchants, traders and artisans to market their products for sale to the royalty) and the China Pole (with its exceptional elaborately painted interiors made by a Chinese traveler narrating his experiences during his travels in India).
Kishangarh
Kishangarh was a princely state ruled by the Rathores and situated on National Highway 8. In addition to its strength, the Kishangarh is known for the miniature paintings style known as Kishangarh art. Phool Mahal (Flower Palace), now convinced into a hotel is the main attraction inside the fort. Kishangarh is also known its rich source of marble.
Roopangarh
Roopangarh was constructed by King Roop Singh of Kishangarh in 1648. In the first place a nine-turreted fort, new additions were unceasingly made to in the coming years. Variation in the architectural styles can be simply observed in the fort.
Reach To Pushkar
By Air
Jaipur is the closest airport at a distance of 145 km. There are regular flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Ahmedabad, and Aurangabad from this airport.
By Rail
Closest railway station is Ajmer with direct trains for Jaipur, Delhi, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and other main destinations in the area. There are faster trains like Shatabdi Express who connect the Ajmer with Delhi.
By Road
Pushkar is connected to Ajmer by road, which is about 14 km. Buses in most cases leave Ajmer in the morning from Daulatabad Bus Stand. Jeeps and taxis are also available, but at a considerably higher cost. Distances from Pushkar to major cities of Rajasthan and India are 403 km from Delhi, Jaipur, 145 km, 289 km Udaipur, Mumbai Agra 285, Jodhpur 377, 214, and Chennai 1992.
Local Transport
Pushkar is a little place that could be simply visited on foot. A walk along the lake and in the hustling market of Pushkar gives good insights into the every day chorus of rural India. Biking is an additional good way of traveling across Pushkar.
