Pushkar Travel Guide: Travel to Pushkar,Pushkar Fair,Pushkar Fair Tour,Pushkar Fair.org,Pushkar Camel Fair Tour,Pushkar Fair Package,Tours to Pushkar Fair,Pushkar Cattle Fair,Pushkar Camel Fair

Pushkar is a well-known Hindu pilgrim centre. It is just 10 km from Ajmer. The Pushkar lake and the Brahma temple are the most important sites here. Pushkar is better known for the cattle fair.

Location : Located in the state of Rajasthan in the north India.
Major Tourist Attractions : Pushkar Lake, Brahma Temple, Nag Pahar, The Ghats.
Best Hangouts : Pushkar Lake
Best Buys : Cattle during the cattle fair (Pushkar Camel Fair)
Best Activity : Camel Ride during the Camel Fair
Festival : Pushkar Camel Fair
Nearby Tourist Destinations : Ajmer, Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur.

About Pushkar
Pushkar is a sacred town for the Hindus, situated 11 kms. to the North-West of Ajmer. The charm of this sleepy, lakeside settlement so captivated the great Indian poet, Kalidas, that it found a place in his classic, Abhigyan Sakuntalam. The Great Hindu epics of Mahabharat and Ramayana make references to this religious place regarded to be Adi Tiratha. Evidence points to its having existed during the fourth century B.C. lake in the inhospitable surroundings of a desert is no less than a miracle.

The legend about the Creator God, Bramha describes the creation of this lake. When the demon Vajra Nabha killed Brahma's children, he in turn struck him with his weapon, a lotus flower. Vajra Nabha died with the impact, and the petals of the lotus fell at three places. One of them is Pushkar, where a lake sprung into being. Brahma is supposed to have performed sacrifice at this lake on Kartik Purnima (the full moon day of the Kartik month), hallowing the place. Sacred to Brahma, Pushkar boasts of its temple dedicated to him, which is the only one of its kind in the world. A dip in the waters of Pushkar and worship at his temple ensure salvation. So thousands flock to Pushkar to observe the ritual on kartik Purnima, or on any of the four days preceding it.

Tourist Attractions in Pushkar :

Pushkar Temples
One can see numerous temples of all sizes here. The most famous temple is the Brahma Temple, said to be only one temple dedicated to Brahma in India. Another important temple is that of Goddess Savitri Temple, wife of Lord Brahma located on a hilltop. It takes a one-hour trek to reach the temple, but it has an amazing view of Pushkar Lake in the morning.

The Ghats
You can have a great spiritual experience at the numerous ghats of Pushkar running down the lake. The holy lake has 52 ghats and piligrim taking a ritual dip in the lake is a common sight.

The Pushkar Lake
The Pushkar Lake is considered no less sacred than the Holy Ganges. The lake has a mythological significance associated with it. On the auspicious occasion of Kartik Purnima, devotees from all over the country throng the lake for a holy dip, which is believed to wash away the sins.

Pushkar Cattle Fair
Although a peaceful town, Pushkar bustles with life with the arrival of much awaited joyous celebration held on Kartik Purnima. Every year thousand of devotees pull into the town and throng the lake around the full moon day of Kartik Purnima in October-November to take a holy dip in the lake. A huge and colourful the Pushkar Camel Fair, is also held during this time. The festival is marked with dance, music and cultural events with several colourful shops springing up around to add more colours to this fair. Also on sale are mouth-watering traditional delicacies. Colourfully attired village folk enhance the fun of the occasion. Cattle auction and camel races are also a part of the festivities.

Accommodation in Pushkar
There are several luxury accommodations available in Pushkar. The Pushkar Hotels ranges between luxury and budget. We offer you best accommodation option available in Pushkar, keeping your interests and expenses in mind.

Temples in Pushkar & Ghats in Pushkar

Varah Temple
The Varah temple of Hindu was built in the 12th century and, and the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb is said to have destroyed it. Aurangzeb was understandably rather upset with the huge statue of Varah, the god with the body of a man and the head of a boar. However, Raja Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur thought differently, and in 1727 reconstructed the temple which now has a highly decorated inner sanctum where an idol of Varah is placed.

Mahadeva Temple
The 19th century Mahadeva temple with its five-faced statue of Mahadeva is made entirely of white marble. This Hindu temple is remarkable for its elegance of structure, and is perhaps the finest of all temples in and around Ajmer and Pushkar.

Ramavaikunth Temple
The Ramavaikunth temple is an intricately carved Hindu temple dating to the 1920 and has images of 361 deities. Its high stone spires atop pagodas and the rest of the temple were built by masons especially brought for this purpose from south India. The Savitri temple is located on top of a hill overlooking the lake. The hike up the hill is long and arduous via a stairway built in the 4th century, and if panoramic views are a necessity for you, the trek will be worth it. This temple is dedicated to Brahma’s wife Savitri and its origin dates back to over 2,000 years.

Gayatri Temple
The Gayatri temple on the other side of Pushkar is in honour of the wife who sat by Brahma’s side in Savitri’s absence during Brahma’s ceremonial sacrifice. Legend says that Gayatri was an untouchable and to purify her she was put into the mouth of a cow and taken out from the other end. To reach the Gayatri Hindu temple the best route to take is from behind the bus stand and walk up a hill. Both the Savitri temple in Pushkar and Gayatri temple in Pushkar are closed – so to say – during lunch hours and the best time to go is either before noon or in the evening.

Raghunath Temples
Two Raghunath temples exist in Pushkar; one is the old one and the other is relatively new. The Old Raghunath temple was built in 1823 and houses images of Venugopal, Narasimha (Vishnu’s fourth incarnation) and Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. But there’s a bit of a problem for foreign tourists visiting these two temples because of one little sign which says "Foreigners not allowed." These are probably the only binary temples in India where such segregation exists.

Pap Mochini Temple
Towards the northen section of Pushkar is the Pap Mochini temple, not really popular for its architecture or deity but for the simple belief that anyone who kills a Brahmin will be purified of this deed by visiting the Hindu temple, of course, all that was applicable in olden times, for today a murder is a murder and the law would hear nothing else.

Bathing Ghats
Where there is a mass of holy water there will be bathing ghats, and in Pushkar it is the same as all over India. Pushkar lake is surrounded by hundreds of ghats where Hindu pilgrims assemble to bathe, pray or just loiter around. Removing ones shoes would be a good idea unless you want to be glared or shouted at! Photography is a strict no-no, especially of bathing women. Pushkar is quite used to tourists, but unlike Varanasi, is home for orthodox Hindus, and a little care to observe Hindu traditions can help.

Shopping & Recreation in Pushkar :
The contrast to the blank desert is the riot of Colours - the large gaudy turbans of the native males arriving here to trade their animals or to set up the stalls to cater to the booming captive market, and the loud hues of the pleated ghagaras (ankle-length skirts) of the belles bangled by the armful, be jewelled from head to toe-adding charm and zest to the massive affair. A large number of traders gather at the Pushkar Fair and set up shops.

They sell a host of products like bead necklaces of Nagaur, woollen blankets of Merta, textiles printed in Ajmer and Jodhpur, brassware of Jodhpur and Jaipur etc. Also on sale are saddles, ropes, and assorted household items. Vendors peddle their dazzling range of wares at hundreds of roadside stalls. Small groups of men and women can be seen tatooing names and pictures on their hands and other parts of the body. During the fair, cultural shows and exhibitions are organized to enliven the event.

Getting There
Air : The nearest airport is Jaipur Airport (145 km), from where one can take flights for Delhi and Mumbai.
Rail : Ajmer is the nearest railway station from where one can take trains for the major destinations in Rajasthan and other parts of India.
Road : Pushkar is connected to Ajmer by road. Buses, jeeps and taxis are also available.

Pushkar Travel Guide

Pushkar Fair Programme

Pushkar Fair Programme Pushkar Fair is no less than an encyclopedia on the tradition and culture of the state of Rajasthan. It is the event when a better population of the state can be found at one place and at one time. It seems as if the whole state has come alive at Pushkar to stand witness to its pulsating cultural heritage. Villagers gather from all around the state to enjoy and make merry, breaking all the barriers of hectic schedules of their lives.

Colourful sights at the fair can touch and move even the sternest heart. Hindu pilgrims can be seen flocking the place to take a holy dip in the Pushkar Lake, washing away all the sins of the past. Devotees and worshippers can be seen surrendering themselves at the only Brahma Temple.

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.

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
climate in pushkar

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).

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Friday, September 4, 2009

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