Rajasthan
Top Places To Visit In Pushkar, The Rose Garden Of Rajasthan!
Pushkar, a religious city in the Ajmer district of Rajasthan, is prevalent for the Jagatpita Brahma Mandir, the only temple in India enthusiastic to Lord Brahma, and several other temples. It also has 52 ghats across Pushkar Lake, another tourist lure in this city. The religion and culture in Pushkar, you could say, are woven into the fabric of the town.
While there is adequately else you could do here, the major reason you would come to Pushkar is to see the temples and the lives of the priests and several others who live there. Apart from temples, there are a lot more stimulating places to visit in Pushkar and if you plan intelligently, you can relish both the religious fervor and the laid-back, hippie charm of this city.
With its close immediacy to the Thar Desert, like other cities in Rajasthan, certainly is the hub for desert safaris as well. And since it is situated just 15 km from Ajmer, you can even check out all the tourist places to visit in Pushkar and Ajmer and plan a short getaway with your friends and family.
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Places To Visit In Pushkar
Pushkar Lake
Enclosed by more than fifty bathing ghats, this lake is situated in the Ajmer district of Rajasthan. Legend has it that Lord Brahma was looking for a place to conduct a spiritual ceremony. He unconfined a lotus to guide him. The lotus fell on the site which is now Pushkar Lake.
It is a revered water body for Hindus and is where the Pushkar Fair is held. Thousands of travelers visit here to take a holy dip throughout the fair which is said to rinse sins. Pushkar lake is commonly full throughout the year and has dissimilar diversities of fish. The surrounding regions are home to unusual flora and fauna. Different migratory birds visit the water body throughout certain seasons. Enclosed by good hotels and resorts, you are never short of accommodation amenities when here.
Set amidst attractive hills, the lake is one of the major tourist lures of Rajasthan. These hills are where Saint Agasthya’s cave is, which is amongst the fascinating places to see in Pushkar. It is supposed that in these touching hills, this great saint pondered for a good part of his life.
Varaha Ghat
Among the enormous ghats that one can find in Pushkar, the Varah Ghat is an attractive place better known for its evening glory and dazzling views of the lake. Well-known for the countless Aarti ceremony conducted here every night, visitors can experience the warmth and tranquility in the vivacious colors of the sky and lake along with the chanting of hymns and prayers.
One can also find different food stalls and local vendors selling artistic handiworks and Rajasthani artifacts along the ghat. It is a must-visit place if you wish to see the genuine vibe of Pushkar after sunset.
Man Mahal
The major royal place of residence in Pushkar, Man Mahal is one of the places to visit in Pushkar. Situated beside the Sarovar Lake, the view from here is employing. You can see the complete expanse of Sarovar Lake and the surrounding regions. It was constructed for Raja Man Singh-I, who visited this place as a retreat center. Now the one-time royal guest house is a public guest house.
It is open for visitors who can stay here and relish the different facets of Pushkar. Man Mahal has an impressive architecture that integrates traditional Rajasthani architectural elements. There is a touch of Mughal inspiration in the structure of the building. The palace is also named the Sarovar Hotel carried that it is a world-class stay proposing an international ambiance to suit all types of visitors.
Varaha Temple
One of the most well-known of all Pushkar tourist places, Varaha Temple is situated in the heart of the city. With Pushkar being the land of magnificent dynasties and religious temples, this good-looking temple does complete justice to its name.
The Varaha Temple is enthusiastic to the chief Hindu God, Lord Vishnu’s avatar Varaha, who was embodied in the form of a boar. The temple is constructed superbly with remarkable architecture comprising a dome, white walls, and pillars. Owing to its religious sanctity, it appeals to a lot of Hindu devotees from around the country.
Brahma’s Temple
Located near Pushkar Lake, this is one of the few temples of Brahma that now exist in India. Also better known as the Jagatpita Brahma Mandir, the temple was constructed in the 14th century. The temple has been constructed with marble and stone and features a red pinnacle.
The walls are adorned with bird motifs. Pictures of Brahma have been placed in the sanctum sanctorum. An exclusive tradition that is followed here is that this place is reserved only for ascetics or sanyasis and married men are not permitted to enter the sanctum sanctorum.
The architectural attractiveness of this temple is simply astounding, especially the pillared outdoor hall and the different marble steps leading to the temple. The temple can be visited during the year but October and November are the most imperative months with a festival enthusiastic to Lord Brahma.
Gurudwara Sahib Pushkar
This attractive Gurudwara is situated in the heart of the town and is one of the most prevalent places to visit in Pushkar for Sikhs. It is supposed that two of the Sikh gurus called Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Gobind Singh relaxed at this place on their visit to Pushkar. Also, there is the Gandhi Ghat here, which was earlier better known as Gobind Ghat. It is the place where the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh stayed for a long duration.
There is a stone slab adorned as Gobind Ghat present here under a kiosk, with four dissimilar scripts, involving Devanagari, Gurumukhi, Persian as well as Roman. In addition, the major priest here also has a handwritten copy of the Guru Granth Sahib, which is the most imperative religious scripture of Sikhism.
Pushkar Camel Fair
The Pushkar Camel Fair, also better known as Kartik Mela, is one of the most attractive camel festivals in the country. The festival is an 8-day long vivacious and colorful affair held during the month of November every year. This fair is prepared every year to encourage the local camel and cattle traders to do business during the holy Kartik Purnima.
Different shops around the fairground are set up which feature Rajasthani handicrafts, art, and culture. Also, the great part about this fair is that each day of the fair has an exclusive set of activities involving magic shows, snake charmers, puppet shows, camel parades, gypsy dance, and ghoomar.
Rangji Temple
Rangji Temple is one of the up-to-date temples in the town and was constructed in 1823 under the guidance of Seth Puran Mal Ganeriwal. A foremost highlight of this temple is its South Indian architecture, particularly the high gopuram.
The temple is enthusiastic to Lord Rangii who is connected to Lord Vishnu. The temple also features other architectural styles involving the Rajput and Mughal. The temple is situated near different tourist attractions of Pushkar, and you can discover them on a bicycle.
Gayatri Mata Temple
Gayatri Temple of Pap Mochani Temples is one of the greatest places to visit in Pushkar. It is enthusiastic to Goddess Gayatri who is believed to forgive all the sins of mankind and guard them. The temple is built in the Rajasthani architectural style.
Each day the temples see hundreds of visitors who come with profound faith to offer prayers and pay respect to Devi Gayatri. The hill near the temple is often optimized by outdoor fanatics for hiking.
Savitri Temple
The Savitri Temple is one of the most well-known pilgrimage places to visit in Pushkar. As the name specifies, this temple is enthusiastic to Gayatri, the distraught wife of Lord Brahma. One requires to reach the Ratnagiri hilltop by climbing nearly 200 stairs to reach this temple.
However, one can also take the assistance of the ropeway to reach the temple. The story behind this beautiful temple is that Goddess Gayatri relaxed here on her visit to Pushkar. This temple is also better known for its architectural and picturesque beauty.
Gau Ghat
Pushkar is better known as the land of ghats. Of the 52 ghats it has, the Gau Ghat is visited the most. It is an enormous ghat enclosed by the Raj Babra temple which sets its ambiance. This ghat is prevalently visited by individuals to function the religious rituals specifically the pind daan ceremony for the ones who are dead.
In addition, the Gau Ghat is prevalent because the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru, and Lal Bahadur Shastri were dispersed into the lake here. The lanes near the Gau Ghat are swamped with tiny street shops which suggest leather products, jewelry, pieces of artwork, and handicrafts.
Best Time To Visit Pushkar
With a discrete magical aura around it, the tranquil and holy town of Pushkar allures pilgrims and tourists from all across in huge numbers. Pushkar Fair, Pushkar Lake, and Brahma Temple are the prime lures of this place. The best time to time to visit majorly these beautiful places in Pushkar is between the months of October and March when the winter season knocks on the town.
Winter
The winter is a good 8°C to 22°C makes it enjoyable outdoors. November highpoints the well-known camel fair at Pushkar where trade merges with fun, games, tradition, craft, jewelry, competition, man, animal, people, and culture. Two things to be kept in mind are crowds and classy accommodations. Accessibility of hotel bookings may be an interference so booking in advance would be wise. October, December, January, and February would be great times to visit Pushkar serenely.
Summer
Pushkar has hot summers and is a scratchy 40°C, very hot and dry in the daytime, while nights turn a little cooler. The aridity conserves monuments but parches the throat. An economical visit in summer can happen but you want to remain hydrated, circumvent the midday sun, and use sunscreen bigheartedly to avoid sunburn. A summer evening amongst the humdrum of temple bells and prayerful smell and sight would remain an agreeable experience.
Monsoon
Pushkar monsoons are cool, green, and rain-fed. It is agreeable to view the attractive landscape centered by the massive Pushkar Lake. Plants, grass, and saplings sprout up in different shades of green. Squish in puddles, or stand under awnings to cool your soul drinking hot tea or coffee and relishing spicy Rajasthani snacks. The monsoons can only add to the excitement of your journey.
How To Reach Pushkar?
By Air
Sanganer Airport, in Jaipur, is the closest airport linking Pushkar to the rest of India and abroad. Situated at a distance of 146 km from Pushkar, this airport is well-linked to the key cities of India involving Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Indore, Jodhpur, and Udaipur.
By Rail
Ajmer is the nearest railway station from Pushkar at a distance of just 11 km. Being an imperative destination itself, Ajmer is suitably linked with the foremost cities of Rajasthan and India. Pink City Express and Shatabdi Express are the best trains to choose from while traveling to Ajmer from Delhi and Jaipur.
By Road
Pushkar is conveniently connected to the key roadways and national highways of Rajasthan and India. The Marwar bus stand is located in the north of Pushkar and is linked to long-distance places, such as Delhi, Jodhpur, and Bikaner. The other stand is the Ajmer bus stand, at a distance of 11 km in the east of Pushkar. Unvarying buses ply from Pushkar to Ajmer, Jaipur, Indore, and Nagda every 15 minutes.
Conclusion
Spend some evenings inactive at the ghats while tasting chai or taking a stroll through slim alleys while listening to the chants from temples around the ghats. An enjoyment for street-shopping lovers, Pushkar has shops on the major street selling everything from silver oxidized jewelry to merchandise swaddled in different colors.
The Pushkar Mela fascinates millions of visitors from across the world. With folk performances, rides, stalls, and even magic shows, the complete town is lit up, music blares from every house, and everyone is in a cheerful mood. Thus, Pushkar has slowly progressed from a spiritual destination to a multi-cultural hotspot with travelers around the globe.
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