Pushkar has been an important place of
worship for the Hindus. The city came into existence when Lord Brahma, the
creator, dropped his lotus flower to earth from his hand to kill a demon.
The legendary colour of the camel mela, combined with the beautiful desert
scenery and heady religious atmosphere of the temples and ghats have
inevitably made Pushkar a prime tourist destination. In fact it is hard to
think of anywhere else in India that has been so thoroughly transformed by
mass tourism over the past decade.
See & Do
Pushkar Temples -
There are about five hundred temples in and around Pushkar. The splendid
Vishnu temple is very much open to the Hindus. However Pushkar's most
important temple is the Brahma Mandir whose layout is superb. The temple has
marble floors and stairs and coins have been put by the devotees to mark the
birth or deaths of the loved ones.
The main sanctuary , raised on a a stepped platform in the centre of a
courtyard, is surrounded on the three sides by chambers and smaller shrines
topped with flat roofs providing views across the desert west to Savitri
Mandir.
The Savitri Mandir is dedicated to Savitri, wife of Lord Brahma and is
located on the top of the Ratnagiri Hills. Gayatri Mandir is set on a hill
east of the town, facing east and is an ideal at sunrise.
Other temples in Pushkar are -
- Varaha Temple
- Rangji Temple
- Mahadeva Temple
The Pushkar Lake - This is an important attraction
of Pushkar because it has an immense significance for the followers of
Hinduism.This lake has been dedicated to Lord Brahma after a lotus fell from
his hands and dropped into this picturesque valley. From this very spot a
lake sprang up which is since then considered very holy. The lake is
surrounded by about 500 temples, 52 palaces and 52 ghats. On the occasion of
Kartik Purnima in November every year the several devotees take holy bath in
the lake.
Pushkar Fair - The
Pushkar Fair is actually two great fairs piggy-backed together. One is to
worship Lord Brahma- Lord Of Creation and the other is the largest camel
fair in the world. It is held every year in the month of Kartik. Previously
only the traders, cattle breeders and buyers used to flock the place but
today it has turned out to be a major tourist destination. This fair lasts
for five days where camels, cows, goats and sheep are purchased and sold.
One can take back home large variety of intricate silver ornaments ,
hairpins, chains, nose pins, necklaces, anklets, waistbands and ivory
bangles from here. In the fair a special attention is given to the
entertainment needs of the tourists for which camel races, beauty contest,
musical chairs, exuberant folk dances and ladoo oonth are organised. Pushkar
fair is a complete exhibition of the culture of Rajasthan.
Enjoy Camel Safari - Anyone visiting the holy land of
Pushkar should not miss out on the camel safari ride. A camel safari in
Pushkar offers a luring opportunity to discover the desert's landscape.
Go Shopping
Pushkar is an important destination for all those who
love the excitement related to shopping. The visitors coming to this holy
town throng at the bazaars to shop for textiles, vivid embroidery,
jewellery, miniature paintings, leather goods, brass utensils, puppets and
pottery. Costume jewellery and embroidered clothes are the specialities of
the place. Pushkar fair also gives an unique opportunity to the travellers
to buy an extensive range of beads, bangles, embroidered clothes, camel
cover and so on. The shopping centres are
- Sarafa Bazar
- Baza Bazar
- Kedalganj Bazaar.
Eating
Food is strictly vegetarian in Pushkar. Meat, eggs and
alcohol are banned here. Being a tourist hot spot, Pushkar has a number of
restaurants which caters to both Indian and foreign palates.
Restaurants
» Krishna - This restaurant is located in the
Brahma Mandir Road and is famous for serving tasty Indian dishes , inluding
south Indian dosas and Israeli- style felafel.
» Moondance - This lies opposite the Vishnu Temple
and serves Thai and Mexican food.
» Rainbow - Lies in the Brahma Mandir road , this
restaurant serves veg curries, pasta, pizza, felafel, Chinese.
- Raju Restaurants
- Raju Garden Restaurant
- Sanjay Restaurant
- Sarovar Restaurant
- Sunset Cafe
- Venus Restaurant
Climate
Summer :- 45 C (Max) - 25 C (Min)
Winter :- 22 C (Max) - 8 C (Min)
Rainy Season : from July to Mid Sept, and very humid
(Upton 90%)
