Things to Do in Pushkar

Anybody residing in India would be well aware of Pushkar Lake. It is considered to be a holy lake that attracts a lot of pilgrims who come here to carry out their religious rites. The lake is close to the famous temple of Sri Brahma, one of the very few in India. This was a place where Lord Brahma (the creator of this world) prayed with Mata Savitri. What makes this lake conspicuous that it is surrounded by 52 bathing Ghats and more than 500 Hindu temples are situated around its borders. Pilgrims throng in large numbers to take a sacred bath here, especially around Kartik Poornima (October–November) when the Pushkar Fair is held. A dip in the sacred lake is believed to cleanse sins and cure skin diseases. Apart from its religious significance, this lake also adds beauty to the city of Pushkar in Ajmer.

Man Mahal is one of the best preserved palaces of Pushkar that has now been converted into a heritage hotel. This palace was constructed as a guest house of Raja Man Singh I and was mostly used by the royal family during their trip to Pushkar. This palace displays Rajasthani architecture and various features of the royal era of Rajasthan. The hotel is currently run by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation. Located in the east of Sarovar, the view of this palace is really breathtaking.

Rajasthan is full of monuments and cities that date back to several centuries. One such city is Merta near Pushkar. Most of the people who visit Pushkar make a day trip to Merta to get acquainted with its legendary beauty.

This 400-year-old city houses attractions such as:

• Meera Bai Temple, the poetess who wrote verses in dedication to Lord Krishna.
• Aurangazeb Mosque
•  Bhanwal Matta Temple

The place also holds a lot of historical and political importance, as this was where Marathas defeated Jodhpur and Jaipur. The city ultimately came under the rule of Emperor Akbar.

This is one of the few temples in India that is dedicated to Lord Brahma and perhaps the most prominent one. This temple is one of the pilgrimage sites for Hindus and every year innumerable devotees visit here during the Pushkar Mela. Although the present temple structure dates to the 14th century, it is believed to be 2000 years old. The temple is mainly built of marble and stone stabs. It has a distinct red pinnacle (shikhara) and a hamsa bird motif. The temple sanctorum holds the central images of Brahma and his second consort Gayatri.

This is one fair in India that is completely dedicated to the land of Pushkar. Infact Pushkar city is seen as synonymous with Pushkar Mela, one that attracts a number of tourists’ very year, both from India and abroad. This fair is marked with taking a plunge into the sacred lake of Pushkar, pay obeisance at the Brahma temple and then watching the cattle display here. As you visit this fair you shall come across the varied hues of the land of Rajasthan and get acquainted with its rich culture.

Vignettes of Rajasthani culture that you can witness here are:

• Local tribes jazz the aura with organizing traditional dances and songs and invite visitors to participate in the live show against the beautiful backdrop of Pushkar Fort and the Pushkar Brahma temple.
• Besides, the interactive sessions, you can also witness the world largest camel fair. Around 50, 000 camels are showcased every year for the purpose of race and exhibition. The camels are made attractive with embroidered cloth tailored in intricate mirror work.
• Other fun-filled activities on Pushkar fair are puppet shows, cattle fair, shopping and competitions of indifferent themes. These events are organized in open air near the number of shops that display ethic jewelery, dresses and household items. The collections lures fashionistas and compel them buy some to take back home.

This fair takes place around November every year.

Savitri temple is located beautifully on the southwest hill of Pushkar. The legend behind this historic temple is that when Brahma performed the yajna at Pushkar, his wife Savitri could not reach the yajna in time. So Brahma performed the pooja with the help of a local girl, Gayatri – who then became the second wife of Brahma. This enraged Savitri and she sulked off to the hilltop and was pacified only with the agreement that she would always be worshiped first. This tradition still continues, first the aarti is performed at Savitri temple and then at Gayatri temple. Idols of both Savitri and Gayatri are now installed at the Savitri temple. Since this temple is located on a hill it can be bit difficult to reach up there but then you will be welcomed with beautiful views of the city and the surrounding hills.

Pushkar is a great gateway to explore the golden sand dunes of Thar Desert. While you are here, contact any safari tour operators who will offer you both half-day and full-day itineraries to explore the desert on the camelback. The safari tour takes you to many villages through the desert and by sunset, you will find yourself on the sand dunes, a perfect place to be at that time of the day. You can opt for the sight of sunrise as well. It offers you the chance to meet villagers who are busy with their routines but happy to see you. A friendly atmosphere and overall a very pleasant experience awaits you here. This tour might take up your most of the day but then this is essential to your itinerary of Pushkar.

This is a fortified temple in Pushkar and is considered to be the most ancient of temples in the city. According to Hindu mythology, Varaha the Boar is said to be the third avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu. Legend has it that the Varaha rescued the earth from depths of the primeval water, where it had been dragged down by a demon. This temple was rebuilt by the Hada Rao Chatrasal of Bundi upon the original one which was further destroyed the armies of Ghazni and subsequently by Jehangir and Aurangzeb.

This temple is also known as the old Rang-Jee temple and was built in 1844 by Seth Puranmal Ganeriwal of Lakshmangarh of Shehawati. The main deity of the temple is the four armed Venugopala (Krishna) made out of the Black Kadappa stone from Tamil Nadu , surrounded by the statues of Ruhkmani and Satyabhama. Apart from its religious significance, this temple is also a beautiful piece of architecture which is a combination of the Gopurams and the Shikharas highlighting the South Indian tradition and the usual “jharokhas” that highlight the Rajasthani form of architecture.

The entire temple complex is enclosed by a fortified wall decorated by chhatris and jharokhas with fresco paintings. The major themes of the paintings and carvings in the outer Parikrama are religious and mythological stories such as Krishna Leela, Ramayana, Sagarmanthan and other puranic texts.

Pap Mochini temple in Pushkar is located on the Northern peak of the city. This is considered to be the sacred temple of Hindus where all sins are absolved. The temple is dedicated to “Gayatri” the Gujjar girl whom Brahma married to perform a Yagna instead of waiting for his wife Savitri. The temple is also known as Gayatri Peeth. The temple offers the most spectacular and panoramic view of Pushkar Town. There is also a mythological association to this temple. Lord Krishna once cursed Ashwathama, a character in the Indian Epic, Mahabharata, to roam about in the earth for Three Thousand Years. In order to seek salvation, his soul comes to the Pap Mochini Temple in Rajasthan once in a year. 

Apart from preserving the relics of Hindu religion, Pushkar is also credited with housing one of the famous emblems of Sikh faith, Gurudwara Singh Sabha. It is considered that Pushkar was once visited by Guru Gobind Singh(around 1706) and Guru Nanak Dev. It operates as a subsidiary of Singh Sabha, Ajmer. Gurudwara Singh Sabha is actually located in a double-storey building close to main bus stand. Guru Gobind Singh was adequately served by a pastor named Chetan Das. A stone slab under a kiosk still has Gobind Ghat inscribed on it, in Gurumukhi, Devanagari, Persian and Roman scripts. Moreover, the exact spot sanctified by Guru's stay and living was named Gobind Ghat.

What makes this Sikh temple even more interesting to visit is its location. It is located beautifully against the backdrop of Pushkar’s hills and is definitely a must visit as you make a stay in Pushkar. 

For an insider’s view of the Pushkar city, enter its colorful bazaar and sample some of the best pieces of art works here. Rajasthani items are renowned throughout the world for their creative and dexterous display and striking colours. The Pushkar Bazar is famous for Rajasthani handicrafts and clothes and has as a result, created a buzz amongst both Indian and foreign tourists.

Some of the items not to be missed here are:

• Bags
• Bandhani dupattas
• Salwar suits
• Sarees or even a beautiful skirt.
• You could also buy some show pieces, bed sheets and mirror work bed covers.
• Rajasthani puppets

Also known as Pataleshwar caves; this is an underground shrine of Lord Shiva’s lingam. After descending down the steps, you reach the Shiv lingam that is encircled by snakes made of cooper. The shrine is supposed to have come into existence during 10th century AD. People also believe that the temple has been sinking deeper into the earth over the years. The original temple is believed to be destroyed by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's while attempting to create an Islamic city.

Pushkar is probably the only city in India that houses temples of holy trinity within its landscape: Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.

Mahadeva temple in Pushkar is a relatively new temple if we compare it to the other ancient ones that adorn this city. Built back in the 19th century, it is one of the most famous temples in Pushkar. Dedicated to Lord Mahadeva or Lord Shiva, this temple displays beautiful architectural style. Inside the temple, there is a statue of Lord Shiva with five faces. The entire statue is made of white marble and is decorated with beautiful ornaments. There are numerous sculptures and carvings around the shrine that display a pantheon of Hindu deities. 

Translated as the snake mountain, it is the Nag Pahar that separates the town of Ajmer from that of Pushkar. According to the local belief, this mountain was originally of a colossal height, though with the passage of time its height kept on decreasing. It is also believed that one day the mountain will disappear altogether leaving no trace of its existence. As per the Hindu mythology, this hill houses a Nag Kund where Vatu, Brahma's son had lived after he was cursed by Rishi Chyavan for committing mischief. The visitors usually visit this mountain to have a look at a cave that is supposed to be Agastya muni's residence. A visit to both this mountain and the Kund is considered extremely auspicious to ward off evil, as per the scriptures.

Apart from its religious significance, this mountain also offers beautiful views of the Pushkar city and its surroundings.