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Pushkar Travel Guide
Pushkar Travel Guide
For a devout Hindu Pushkar is a very important pilgrim centre, for one visit
to this holy place in a lifetime is highly prescribed. Brahma forms the
great Hindu trilogy of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, each symbolising the lifecycle
of birth, preservation and destruction. Brahma the creator is depicted as
of four bearded heads and four hands each holding a book of Vedas (knowledge).
His vehicle is the swan and his consort is Savitri.
According
to the legend Pushkar means a pond created by flower, was formed when Brahma
dropped a lotus flower on the earth to determine a place for his yagna,
a holy sacrifice. The story goes that Brahma wanted to perform the yagna
at the most auspicious time but his consort Savitri whose presence at the
yagna was vital for its performance kept him waiting. Irritated by this
Brahma married Gayatri, a milkmaid and installed her instead.
Savitri on seeing someone else in her place was infuriated and cursed Brahma
that he would be forgotten by people on earth and never worshiped. She relented
on pleas from other Gods that he could only be worshiped in Pushkar, hence
there are no Brahma Temples elsewhere.
Pushkar is a much loved tourist destination, many who visit there just fall
in love with the place and overstay. Situated on the edge on the desert
it is separated from Ajmer by the Nag Parbat (the snake hill). The town
has very distinct tourist excitement with narrow lanes lined with shops
selling various accessories and rooftop restaurants. Despite its high tourist
profile the town maintains some mystical charm.
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. Games and circus shows also goes on. 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 India around that time.
Places to See in Pushkar
Savitri Temple
A temple dedicated to the first wife of Lord Brahma the Savitri temple is
located on the hill behind the Brahma Temple which can be reached by a flight
of steps. The temple offers a panoramic view of the lake and the surrounding
desertscape.
Man Mahal
On the banks if pushkar is the magnificent palace built by Raja Man Singh
1 of Amer now converted into the RTDC Hotel sarovar it offers a comfortable
accommodation to the visitors.
The Brahma Temple
It is the only temple in India dedicated to Lord braham. The temple is marked
by a red spire and over the entrance gateway us a beautiful statue carrier
of Lord Brahma.
Lakes in Pushkar
Pushkar Lake
The pious Pushkar Lake, believed to have 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 is equivalent to
performing yagnas for several hundred years.
The charming lake amidst the hills has fifty-two bathing ghats, built around
lake. The water around each ghat is supposed to have special powers. The
Naga Kund is belived to give fertility, Roop Tirth gives beauty and charm,
Kapil Vyapi Kund water helps in curing leprosy and a dip in the Mrikand
Muni Kund grants the boon of wisdom.
Temples in Pushkar
Nasiyan Temple
The red temple is a Digambar Jain temple which has a double- storey hall
adjacent to the main temple. The hall displays a series of large gold plated
wooden figures depicting legends from Jain mythology. The entire hall is
richly adorned by glass mosaic, precious stones, gold and silver work. The
place is also popularly called Soni Ji Ki Nasiyan.
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 Rangji 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. Artists, writers and
other individuals involved in creative endeavors have for millennia come
on pilgrimage to Pushkar to request the inspiration of Brahma and Saraswati.
According to a theory,the shrine myths are often metaphorical expressions
of the particular power of a pilgrimage place, the lake, hill and area of
Pushkar have a spirit or presence that awakens and stimulates the human
capacity of creativity.
Fairs & Festivals in Pushkar
Pushkar Fair
The famous Pushkar Fair is a great tourist attraction. People from around
the globe come to the ancient religious town of Pushkar which is transformed
into a spectacular fair ground in the month of Kartik. People bathe, worship
and delight in the dazzling wares of roadside stalls. Camels are bought,
sold, beautified, raced and parade. Most unusual are the small groups of
men and women seen busy tattooing their hands and other parts of the body.
The fair is predominantly a rural gathering. Villagers come from different
parts of the state and bring their cattle with them. On spectacular sanddunes
camel, horse and bullock races are great crowd pullers. All roads lead to
the lake, which is flooded with pilgrims. The movement of the crowd is like
a tide of colour with currents of crimson, yellow and turquoise.
Evenings at the Pushkar Fair have their own charm. The silent night is pierced
by calls of camels. Ballads are sung by actors in passionate tones. Folk
dramas, skits and folk dance are organised for the entertainment of the
tourists. The Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) puts up a
tourist village during the fair.
The tourist village is self sufficient and specially designed to complement
the natural beauty of the site. It has a Coffee Shop and Dining Hall which
can cater to 1 500 guests at a time. The village is arranged in blocks of
tents, each with its own identity, being named after the famous dances of
Rajasthan. The village also has huts with attached western style toilets
and running water. One can also stay in Sarovar Hotel, Pushkar and Khadim
Tourist Bunglow at Ajmer.
Destination Pushkar
Amongst the grandeur of Rajasthan, discover a unique gem - Pushkar. Lord
Brahma - The creator of the world in a search for his abode on earth, performed
the supremely spiritual vedic yagna at Pushkar. It is thus the site of the
only Brahma Temple in the world.
A city of Pilgrimage from time immemorial with over 500 temples and ghats
Pushkar begets a legacy of timeless architectural heritage. Pushkar radiates
an ambience of peace and spirituality that casts a lure to visit again and
again.
Pushkar has an immense hidden potential as a tourist
destination:
• Pushkar is "THE PARAM TIRATHSTAN"
( Supreme Pilgrimage Centre ) no pilgrimage is complete without a bath in
the Pushkar Lake.
• Pushkar is " THE GAYATRI
DHAM". The source of the supremely spiritual "Gayatri Mantra"
• The Pushkar fair is amongst the largest cattle fairs in
the world.
• Amongst the oldest cities in India,
with references in mythology and the Mahabharat
• Site of the only temple in the
world dedicated to Brahma - the creator.
• The site of the holiest lake in
the country.
•
52 bathing ghats, which are linked to the lunar calendar, enclose the lake.
Each ghat has its own miraculous qualities and powers of healing.
• This city of temples has over 500 temples built over different
eras with varied architectural styles.
• The rose garden of Rajasthan - the essence of the famous
Pushkar rose is exported the world over.
• The most varied terrain in Rajasthan with sand, rock,
hills, vegetation and lakes is ideal for adventure activities.
• Proximity to a number of heritage properties in the area.
• A number of fairs and festivals in Pushkar, especially
on the new and full moon days.
• The Dargah of Khwaja Moin-Uddin-Chishti amongst the most
sacred Muslims shrines is located at near by Ajmer.
• An opportunity to visit local villages still free from
commercialization.
Other factors that make Pushkar an attractive tourist
destination are:
• Proximity to Delhi.
• Located on the main tourist circuit of Rajasthan, Jaipur
- Jodhpur and Jaipur - Udaipur.
• Connected by the NH 8 road linking Delhi and Bombay.
• Ideally connected by rail - The Shatabdi connects Delhi
to Ajmer.
• An ideal extension to the Golden Triangle itinerary i.e.
Delhi - Pushkar - Jaipur - Agra - Delhi or alternately Delhi - Agra - Jaipur
- Pushkar - Delhi.
• A convenient start, mid or end point in an itinerary of
Rajasthan.
Pushkar, nestled amidst the Aravalli hills, retains
the charm and aura of peace and tranquility. A visit to Pushkar will leave
you with memories that will linger a lifetime.
Pushkar Travel Guide, Reservation Form
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