Top Most Attractions in Pushkar
Pushkar Lake
The scenic lake of Pushkar is situated in a valley about 10 kms to the northwest of Ajmer. Pushkar Lake is enclosed by hills and desert. Pushkar Lake is one of the most holy place for Hindus. There are about 52 Ghats and 400 temples in Pushkar which are situated on the banks of the Pushkar Lake. It is considered that the famed waters of the Pushkar wash away the sins of whole life.
Pilgrims from all over come to take bath in the holy waters of Pushkar on the day of Kartik Purnima or on any of the four days before the day of Kartik Purnima and also worship at the Ghats. The spiritual water of the Lake is also considered to treat skin diseases, making Pushkar "the Lourdes of the East".
History of Pushkar Lake -
The history of Pushkar Lake dates back to 4th century BC. The creation of Pushkar Lake, as an artificial lake goes back to12th century. In 1615–16, the Mughal emperor Jahangir set up his hunting lodge on the shores of the Pushkar Lake. He came to this lodge for hunting when he was staying in Ajmer, about 20 kilometres from Pushkar. This act breaks the local custom of in which animals are not to be killed in the areas of the holy lake. Later, grandson of Jahangir named Aurangzeb (1618–1707) destroyed some of the temples of the pushkar which were built again afterwards. The Rajput rulers of Amber, Bundi, Bikaner and Jaisalmer put their maximum efforts to re-establish the significance of the lake and its nearby temples.
Ghats of the Pushkar Lake are also renovated and also temples are built around it by various rulers like Maharaja Man Singh I of Amber, Daulat Rao Scindia, Maha Rana Pratap etc.
Savitri Temple
The Savitri Temple Pushkar is dedicated to the desolated wife of Lord Brahma, Savitri. The temple was built in 1687, on the top of the Ratnagiri Hill behind the Bramha Temple. Both the idols of Savitri and Gayatri are installed here. The idol of Savitri dated back 7 century A.D and Bangar family built this temple in early 20th century.
It is believed that goddess rested upon this hill on her arrival to Pushkar. The temple has its route through hills, and it takes about an hour to reach the temple. Savitri temple also the best place for enjoying the scenic beauty and view of the lake and its surrounding picturesque villages.
Brahma Temple in Pushkar
Brahma Temple in Pushkar is one of the most famous and only few of the temples dedicated to Lord Brahma in the holy city of Pushkar, Rajasthan. This Pushkar Brahma Temple is the place of deep spirituality and thousand of devotees come here to pay homage to the many gods that reside in this temple town. Pushkar city has over 500 temples with the main Pushkar temple. It is dedicated to lord Brahma and the only Brahma temple anywhere in the world. Although the structures of the temple dates back to 14th century but it is believed that the temple is about 2000 years old.
Pushkar Fair
The sprawling annual festivities of the 100 year old Pushkar Mela through its dramatic collage of diversified pictures, mirrors the vibrancy of the gracious state of Rajasthan. It is celebrated for five days from the Kartik ekadashi to Kartik Poornima, the full moon day of Kartik (October–November) in Hindu calendar. The full moon day is the main day and the day, according to legend, when the Hindu god Brahma sprung up the Pushkar Lake, thus numerous people swim in its sacred waters. This iconic fair attracts thousands of livestock and almost a million tourists including many from across the world.
Images of silver bells making heart pleasing jingles, animals walking over sparkling sand dunes and beautifully decked up camels with their owners sitting on their backs has become the most fascinating norm at this stunning cultural retreat. A huge carnival is held, with an array of musicians, dancers, acrobats, snake charmers and carousel rides to entertain the world.
Thus, the grand occasion of the Pushkar Mela is definitely a priceless treat for those who wish to eye the vibrant culture and traditions of Rajasthan.
Panch Kund Shiva Temple
Centrally located in the town, the Panch Kund Shiva temple is just 2 to 3 kilometers away from the famous Pushkar Lake. If you’re interested to know more about the stories of Mahabharata, visit this beautiful Temple which is known to have been built by the Pandavas and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Ghats of Pushkar
Pushkar has 52 ghats around the lake, each one constructed for a Rajput Maharaja, who used to worship and pay respect to their local deities and other Hindu gods. However, two of them are the most notable. The Gau Ghat is famous because the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru, and Lal Bahadur Shastri were scattered into the lake here. The Brahma Ghat is where it’s believed that Lord Brahma himself worshipped.
