Location of Pushkar: - Pushkar is a very famous Hindu teerath (religious place)in the desert state Rajasthan located at just 10 kms from the famous city Ajmer. Pushkar is around 145 kms from Jaipur the state capital. Pushkar is located amidst the low level hills of the Aravali range.
Pushkar By Road : - Pushkar lies just twenty minutes drive from Ajmer. You can hire a taxi cab from Ajmer, even a city autorickshaw(tuktuk)) from Ajmer will easily leave you at Pushkar. The state government buses also ply on the Ajmer- Pushkar route these buses go further to small cities like Merta ,Barunda,Jodhpur etc. Ajmer is well connected with Jaipur via a four lane highway which further goes to Udaipur.
Pushkar By Air: – The Jaipur airport is the nearest airport from Ajmer and Pushkar, the Jaipur airport is an international airport very well connected with all Indian cities via domestic flights. Jaipur airport has operating international flights to USA, Middle East, UK, Germany, Canada, Bangladesh etc. The other airport also in vicinity is the Jodhpur airport it is a little far and has lesser flights in comparison.
History of Pushkar: – The core Hindu philosophy believes that almighty God created the trinity of Brahma Vishnu Mahesh the creator, sustainer and the destroyer. There are two important cults in Hinduism, the Shaiva who worship Mahesh (Shiva) the destroyer, the Vaishnava who worship lord Vishnu who’s the sustainer of all life in this universe. The third God Brahma doesn’t have a cult following, Brahma is believed to ride a full bloom lotus flower, you won’t come across many Brahma temples in entire India,perhaps Pushkar is the only religious place where a temple of Brahma exists, Mythology says Lord Brahma while on his tour passed across this place and the lotus flower in the hands of Brahma ji fell down, Pushpa is the reference to the Lotus flower and Kar means the hands, the place where the lotus flower landed is the site of Pushkar lake, A temple dedicated to Brahma was constructed on the banks of the holy lake. The lake has bathing ghats and a bath at Pushkar lake is considered very auspicious and destroys the bad karma. In the ensuing time Pushkar became a very important teerath (pilgrimage) on the Hindu Charts. Some other very important Hindu Temples came up in the town of Pushkar the Hindu Pilgrimage site.
Mehrangarh Fort: – There are a number of worth visit places in Jodhpur. Mehrangarh Fort is one of the top sightseeing places of Jodhpur. Occupying a prominent position in the sky line of Jodhpur is the Mehrangarh fort. The entire city of Jodhpur is visible from the high Mehrangarh fort. This high hillock known as the abode of the eagle was selected by Rao Jodha for the construction of an impregnable fort. A hermit used to stay on top of this hill who abandoned it after a sage Sri Karni Mata requested him but it is said he cursed Rao Jodha that Jodhpur will always suffer deficiency of water, Scion of the rathore clan of Rajputs Jodhpur still remains in the hands of the Rathore Rajput rulers. The 122 meters high walls of Mehrangarh Fort appear an impossible feat accomplished by the stone cutters belonging to the Meghwal community. There are seven gates leading to the interior of the Mehrangarh fort. Jaipol, fatehpol, Dedhkangra pol, Lohagarh, are names of the famous gates. The inside of the Mehrangarh fort is occupied by a museum where various period articles and artifacts are displayed This collection includes palanquins, howdahs (caparison) of elephants, period arms , swords, turban gallery displaying various sorts of Rajputani turbans (head gear). Apart from the museum the tourists are enthralled by a series of palaces MotiMahal, PhoolMahal, Sheesh mahal, Silehkhana and Daulatkhana. A tour through these palaces gives you a vivid description of the royal life style of the ruling clan of Mehrangarh.
Brahma Temple Pushkar:- This temple is very important as it is only one of its kinds, built in reverence to the creator the Brahma, the temple is situated on one corner of the Pushkar Lake. The devotees seek the blessings of the Jagat Pita Brahma Ji after a holy dip in the Pushkar Lake, The winding alleys lead to the Brahma Temple after a flight of steps you land into a huge Pillared hall with a red coloured pinnacle. The sanctum sanctorum has the effigy of Lord Brahma, this is the Garbagrah of the temple with a towering spire (Gopuram) the mandapa or the pillard hall is coloured blue and rests on the pillars with classic Hindu architectural designs. The circum ambulation (parikrama) path has temples of other hindu deities like a temple of Ambey Mata, Ganesh, Lord Indra, Kuber, Lord Krishna and lord Shiva. The gates of the temple are made in white marble. The temple is made with stone slabs. Maharaja DayanandSaraswati a famous Indian sage also visited the Brahma Temple a room with his name inscribed is there in the temple.
Pushkar lake:- Rajasthan is a desert state but here in Pushkar we have a lake which is always full to the brim fed by the Aravali mountains, in the vicinity the Pushkar lake is supposed to be the sacred place where a lotus flower was dropped from the hands of Lord Brahma thus the name Pushpa (Flower) kar (hand) came in vogue. There are fifty bathing ghats at the Pushkarlake where the devotees take a bath while they are on the religious tour of Pushkar Teertha. The most important festival at the Pushkar is the Pushkar fair which happens in October-November every year.Though this flow of devotees has been stopped during the Covidpandemic but soon we hope Pushkar willrevive and normal flow of devotees and tourists will starts at Pushkar. Guru Gobind Singh the tenth Sikh Guru also visited Pushkar a Ghat in his name exists at the Pushkarlake. A Gurudwara is also there in his memory atPushkar. The lake has many varieties of fish and also is the favorite spot of the migratory birds, many exotic varieties of Migratory birds have been spotted at the Pushkar Lake.
Pushkar Fair:- Camel is perhaps the most important animal in the desert state not only it serves the purpose of transportation but it serves many other purposes, camel carts ferrying and carrying goods can be seen in traditional convoys, Camel was also used to plough land. Border security force the Indian security force which looks after the security of the long international border with Pakistan employs camels for its regular patrol, there is a formal camel battalion. This camel battalion has taken part in the annual republic day parade and it’s a wonderful sight to see the camel mounted jawaans giving a formal salute to the Indian president. The camels are taste fully decorated for the occasion. The camels are traded and a fair is held annually at Pushkar in the month of kartik (October- November) for eight days, camel breeders, traders come from far and wide to buy and sell the camels, not only camels there are horses and other animals on sale. Apart from the regular business now this venue has become a favorite hot spot of the folk performers who entertain the wide variety of guests coming to attend the pushkar camel fair, there are gypsy dancers, snake charmers, and puppet shows in factt its full entertainment for eight days at Pushkar. Now this fair attracts lots of foreign guests so usually the hotels in Pushkar and in vicinity are booked in advance to avoid the last minute rush. The narrow alley parallel to the Pushkarlake is the site of the famous bazaar of Pushkar, There are hundreds of small shops selling apparel, handicraft in wood, brass, marble etc, there are shops selling swords,toys. this market is quite an attraction for the tourist as they get to buy so many artifacts at one spot. Due to a large inflow of foreign tourist there are small restaurants offering French/Italian cuisine.
Varha Temple Pushkar:- Varha or the boar has been one of the incarnation of lord Vishnu its chronicled that lord Vishnu bailed out the planet earth during the great flood as a boar. A temple exists in Pushkar where the varha incarnation of Lord Vishnu is revered by the devotees. The present temple was constructed in the eighteenth century by Raja Jai Singh,its said the present temple was built from the rubble of the earlier temple which was destroyed multiple times by the Islamic rulers. The present temple has been constructed from the red sand stone and tell tale signs of ancient architecture exist at this temple.
