Information Pushkar
Pushkar History
Pushkar travel & tourism is mainly famous as one of the most famous and revered pilgrimages of India. Pushkar city is regarded to be the abode of Lord Brahma. Brahma is one of the three Hindu gods forming the great Hindu trilogy. Lord Brahma symbolizes birth and is regarded as the creator of the world. He is also supposed to be a storehouse of knowledge and is depicted with four hands, a book of Vedas (knowledge) in each hand. Lord Brahma's wife is known as Savitri and a swan serves as his vehicle. Read on this Pushkar City Guide to know more about the holy city:
There is a great legend behind the city of Pushkar. The word Pushkar means a pond created by flower. The city along with the lake was created when Brahma released a Lotus from his hands on Earth, for the purpose of deciding the venue for his yagna. It is believed that Lord Brahma had to perform the yagna at a very short notice, the time of the yagna being very auspicious. The presence of his wife was very much required and necessary for the performance of the yagna. However, Savitri did not turn up on time and kept Lord Brahma waiting. He got so much angry and annoyed that he married a local milkmaid, Gayatri and sat with her for the yagna.
Savitri, incensed and enraged on seeing someone else take up her place, cursed Lord Brahma that he would not be remembered and worshipped by the people on Earth. On hearing her curse, other gods pleaded to Savitri to take back her curse. She conceded and said that Lord Brahma will be worshipped only in Pushkar. This is believed to be the reason why there is only one Brahma temple in the whole world.
Apart from the famous Pushkar Lake and numerous temples in the city of Pushkar, it is also famous for the Pushkar Fair. The fair is held annually and holds much religious significance. Also, organized at the same time, is the largest Camel fair of the world. Pushkar is a much loved tourist destination, many who visit there just fall in love with the place and overstay. Alienated from Ajmer by the Nag Parbat (the snake hill), the city of Pushkar holds mystical allure for the numerous tourists and pilgrims visiting it every year.
How to Reach Pushkar
By Air The Sanganer Airport at Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan is the nearest airport from Pushkar at a distance of 154 km. Jaipur itself is connected to all the major parts of India like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai. Cabs are available from Jaipur that takes tourists directly to Pushkar, however, during festivals, the fares might just be hiked up a bit more.
By Rail Ajmer Railway Station at a distance of 11 km is the nearest railhead for reaching Pushkar. Ajmer is connected to Delhi by Ajmer Shatabadi and Mumbai by Aravalli Express.
By Road Pushkar is closeby the National Highway No - 8 (11 kms) which joins Delhi and Mumbai via Jaipur and Ahmedabad. Frequent buses leave Ajmer for Pushkar from the Daulatabad Bus Stand. Private taxis can also be hired.
Places of Tourist Interests
Brahma Temple This is probably the only important Brahma Temple in the country where the Creator of Universe is worshipped with immense faith. Located on the Brahma Ghat of Pushkar Lake, the temple has a four faced idol of Brahma installed in 1809.
Savitri Temple This temple is built atop Ratnagiri hill and pays respect to Brahmas wife, Goddess Savitri. A one hour trek takes tourists up the temple from where a splendid view of the surroundings - Pushkar Lake and sand dunes of nearby villages- can be enjoyed. The temple was built in 1687.
Raghunath Temples Two Raghunath temples adorn the city of Puskar. The old one has the deities of Narsimha, Laxmi and Venugopal in it and was built in 1823. The newer temple has deities of Vaikunthanath and Laksmi.
Pushkar Lake This lake is believed to have appeared all by itself when the lotus flower fell off from the hands of Brahma. The lake is surrounded by 52 ghats and 400 temples. A holy dip in the water of the lake, especially during Kartik Purnima, is considered extremely auspicious to purify human soul. Today, after a bad monsoon the water of the lakes dries up which takes away half the attraction of Pushkar city.
Man Mahal Built by Raja Man Singh of Amer, stands on the banks of Pushkar and is now a tourist bungalow known as RTDC Hotel Sariver. It is the convenient place for visitors to stay.
Temperature Max 43.7 °C, Min 37.7 °C (summer) Max 23.5 °C, Min 15.5 °C (winter)
Languages English, Hindi, and Rajasthani
Ideal Time July to March