North
India Travel Guide
Pushkar Tourism
Pushkar,a holy city devoted
to Hindu God Brahma. is a small tourist town surrounding a small lake which the
Hindus consider Holy and come to bathe in. Pushkar is only a short bus ride from
the city Ajmer, but seems a world away with only small roads with limited traffic
and surrounded by desert. It is a great place to walk around watching the street
vendors selling trinkets, langur monkeys running from roof to roof, and cows peacefully
eating trash along the side of the road.
Pushkar
Camel FairPushkar is also popular for hosting one of the most colorful
fairs of Rajasthan - the Pushkar Camel Fair. It coincides with the bright half
of the moon during the months of October-November. From time immemorial, people
have been gathering here annually during the month of Kartik to pray to Lord Brahma.
The Pushkar fair is known for its hospitable people with colorful veils turbaned
heads and colorfully dyed skirts. The cold nights are warmed with the sounds of
ektara and the soulful tunes of the Rajasthani folk songs.
Temples
in Pushkar Brahma TempleThis is the most revered shrine
in Pushkar, which happens t be the only temple devoted to The Lord Brahma, worshipped
as the Creator of the Universe in the known Hindu Trinity. According to legend,
Brahma performed a Yagya here.
Varah TempleThe Varah Temple
is devoted to the Lord Vishnu, the preserver in the Hindu Trinity of Gods. The
temple is houses an image of Vishnu in his fifth incarnation of wild boar and
was built by the King Anaji Chauhan (1123-1150) and is equal in importance to
the more well known, Brahma Temple. As per the legend, the Lord Vishnu came to
earth to kill the demon Hirnayaksh who had stolen the Vedas and then took the
shape of Varah (wild boar) and killed the demon thereby liberating the world from
his atrocities.
Savitri TempleThis temple is devoted to the
Godess Savitri, one of Brahma's wives, and is located on the highest hill above
the Pushkar town. One can climb a long series of steps to reach the shrine which
offers a panoramic view of the Pushkar Lake and surrounding sand dunes.
Shopping
in PushkarPushkar occupies an important place in Rajasthan as a
source of souvenirs and visitors who visit this holy town definitely go the bazaars
to purchase textiles, clothes with elaborate embroidery, ethnic jewellery which
is a speciality of Rajasthan, alluring miniature paintings, leather goods, lovely
brass utensils, mesmerising puppets and pottery. Pushkar is considered to be one
of the most interesting places in Rajasthan to buy costume jewellery and embroidered
clothes.
How to Reach By Air
The
nearest airport is Jaipur (145 km), from where one can take flights for Delhi
and Mumbai.
By Rail
Ajmer is the nearest railway station from where
one can take trains for the major destinations in Rajasthan and other parts of
India.
By Road
Pushkar is connected to Ajmer by road. Buses, jeeps
and taxis are also available.
