Pushkar is 11 Kms from Ajmer, along the picturesque Pushkar Lake lies the tranquil town with the deep religious significance. 'Nag Pahar' or Snake Mountain forms a natural boundary between Ajmer and Pushkar. The main Attraction is Pushkar Lake, The Lake with 52 Ghats and an array of temples along the banks is an important pilgrimage centre.

Located just 11 kms from Ajmer, the holy lake of Pushkar is believed to have been created by Lord Brahma himself. It is as important as Benaras or Puri. Devout Hindus believe that it is essential to visit Pushkar at least once in their lifetime.

No pilgrimage is considered complete without a dip in the holy Pushkar Lake. Pushkar has as many as 400 temples and 52 ghats and the only temple in the country that is dedicated to Brahma is to be found here. While Pushkar is a heaven for the religiously inclined, it is also the venue of one of the country's most colourful cattle fairs - the Pushkar Fair of Hindus.

History of Pushkar - RajasthanPushkar became a favorite residence of the great Mughals. One of the first contacts between the Mughals and the British occurred in Pushkar when Sir Thomas Roe met with Jehangir here in 1616. The city was subsequently taken by the Scindias and, in 1818, it was handed over to the British, becoming one of the few places in Rajasthan controlled directly by British rather than being part of a princely state.
 

Transport And Communication

Air : Nearest airports are Udaipur and Ahmedabad.

Rail : Nearest railhead is Abu Road- 27 km.

Road : 214- km, Bombay- 835 km, Delhi- 768 km, Jaipur- 515 km, Udaipur- 182 km, Jodhpur- 291 km, Ranakpur-168 km.

Festivals

Pushkar Fair - Pushkar is world famous for its cattle fair normally held in the Hindu month Kartika, which is around Oct-November. At this time the town jam-packed with tribal people from all over Rajasthan and tourist. It is commonly known as Camel fair, bringing with them several camels and cattle to the pilgrimage. A Fair ground is fashioned and is packed with shops selling souvenirs and eateries. And villagers come sell camels, horses, elephants and cattle and other livestock. Elaborate arrangement for staying of visitors is made including luxury tents. Just don't miss the Pushkar Fair if you are in India around that time.

Places of Interest

Forts & Monuments

Pushkar Lake - The pious Pushkar Lake is believed to having been created by the falling of lotus from the hand of Lord Brahma. It is considered to be as old as the creation. The lake is considered as one of the most sacred spots, and believed that one dip in the waters of lake on Kartika Poornima ocassion is equivalent to performing yagnas for several hundred years.

Brahma Temple - This is the only existing temple dedicated to lord Brahma and was constructed in the 14th century, standing on a high plinth with marble steps leading up to it. A beautiful carved silver turtle sits on the floor facing the sanctorum or Garbha Griha. The marble floor around the silver turtle is embedded with hundreds of silver coins, with donors name engraved on them

Old Rangji Temple - Lord Rangji is an carnation in of lord Vishnu. This temple was built in 1823 by Seth Puran Mal Ganeriwal of Hyderabad.This temple is unique due to confluence of South Indian style (Dravid) Rajput and Mughal style of architecture.

New Temple - The gracious temple is very conspicuous, due to its south Indian style of architecture. It has a high rising Gopuram typical of southern India Pushkar has more than 400 temples, the other important temples are Balaji la Mandir and Man Mandir.

Savitri Temple - The temple of Lord Brahma's first wife. It is located on the hill behind the Brahma temple and one has to climb a long series of steps to reach the shrine. It commands a panoramic view of the beautiful lake and the picturesque surrounding of the villages.

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. She is considered the personification of all knowledge - arts, sciences, crafts and skills. She is the goddess of the creative impulse, the source of music, beauty and eloquence.

Excursions

Camel Safari - There are quite a few people in Pushkar who operate horse or camel safaris. Camel safaris are a splendid way of taking in the sights and experiencing the rugged beauty of the desert. The camels may look aloof, but they are known as the lifeline for the desert people, whose major mode of transportation depends on camels only, also known as the "Ship of the desert".

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