PUSHKAR

Pushkar is a sacred town for the Hindus, situated 11 kms. to the North-West of Ajmer. The charm of this sleepy, lakeside settlement so captivated the great Indian poet, Kalidas,that it found a place in his classic, Abhigyan Sakuntalam. The Great Hindu epics of Mahabharat and Ramayana make references to this religious place regarded to be Adi Tiratha. Evidence points to its having existed during the fourth century B.C. lake in the inhospitable surroundings of a desert is no less than a miracle.

PUSHKAR FAIR 2015: 15TH NOV TO 25TH NOV

The Pushkar Fair occurs every year in the Hindu month of kartik (October /November),ten days after Diwali-The festival of Lights, During this period Pushkar and its environs come alive as the much awaited annual cattle fair begins at Pushkar. Hotels are full to their capacity, tents and campsites suddenly spring up to accommodate the thousands of pilgrims, tourists and villagers with herds of cattle, horses and camels who come here to participate in this grand annual event.

BRAHMA TEMPLE

An important pilgrim centre for the Hindus, the Brahma Temple is nestled in the Pushkar valley, which lies beyond the Nagaparvat and Anasagar Lake. This place, filled with natural picturesque beauty, holds a special place in the hearts of the Indians. It is believed that Lord Brahma, together with all the gods and goddesses, performed a Yagya here. Legend also has it that the ancient Lake Sarovar had appeared miraculously, when a lotus fell from the hands of Lord Brahma and dropped into this valley. Brahma Temple is the only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma (the creator of the universe according to Hindu mythology) in the entire country. You can identify it from far, by its red spire and the image of a hans (the goose considered sacred to Lord Brahma). Built in marble, the temple is decorated with silver coins and reveals a silver turtle on its floor.

SAVITRI TEMPLE

This is the temple dedicated to 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 destination. It gives a panoramic view of the lake and surrounding sand dunes.

MAHADEV TEMPLE

The 19th century Mahadeva temple with its five-faced statue of Mahadeva is made entirely of white marble. This Hindua temple is remarkable for its elegance of structure, and is perhaps the finest of all temples in and around Ajmer and Pushkar.

 

RANGJI TEMPLE

The Ramavaikunth temple is an intricately carved Hindu temple dating to the 1920 and has images of 361 deities. Its high stone spires atop pagodas and the rest of the temple were built by masons especially brought for this purpose from south India. The Savitri temple is located on top of a hill overlooking the lake. The hike up the hill is long and arduous via a stairway built in the 4th century, and if panoramic views are a necessity for you, the trek will be worth it. This temple is dedicated to Brahma’s wife Savitri and its origin dates back to over 2,000 years.

 

VARAH TEMPLE

The Varah temple of Hindu was built in the 12th century and, and the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb is said to have destroyed it. Aurangzeb was understandably rather upset with the huge statue of Varah, the god with the body of a man and the head of a boar. However, Raja Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur thought differently, and in 1727 reconstructed the temple which now has a highly decorated inner sanctum where an idol of Varah is placed.