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 Pushkar is one
of the important places in Rajasthan, because it is one of the
five 'dhams' or pilgrimage centers for Hindus. The other four
are, Badrinath, Puri, Rameswaram, and Dwarka. The place is also
very popular with the foreign tourists who love to visit the
cattle fair that is held annually here. Travel to Pushkar and
enjoy the many colors and traditions of Rajasthan. Nestled in a valley, 14 kms from Ajmer is the beautiful Pushkar
town. It is a pretty little town surrounded by hills on three
sides in the state of Rajasthan in Western India.
Must See Places
While you are on a tour of Pushkar, you can visit the
Brahma temple, which is possibly the only temple dedicated to
Brahma in India. On the entrance of this temple is the sculpture
of Hans or goose, which is the vehicle of Brahma. Another temple
you can visit, is the Savitri temple. This temple dedicated to
the wife of Lord Brahma, is located on the hilltop. It takes
about an hour to reach the temple on foot, but it is really
worth a visit, for the temple site offers a breathtaking view of
the Pushkar Lake. Many say the best time to visit the temple is
dawn, since then one can see the sun rising which adds more
beauty to the view. You can also visit the various ghats by the
lake, which are considered sacred.
 Excursions
While you are on a tour to Pushkar, you can also travel to
Kishangarh, which is famous for its miniature paintings and
local crafts.
Pushkar is close to Ajmer, so you can also visit the Dargah at
Ajmer and check out all the tourist attractions there, including
the Adhai-din-ka-jhonpra and Taragarh Fort.
Getting There
The closest airport is at Jaipur, Rajasthan's capital, which is
at a distance of 145 kms from Pushkar. The airport has frequent
flights to Delhi and Mumbai.
The nearest railway station is at Ajmer, from where one can take
a train to major places in Rajasthan and other cities in India.
You can take a Shatabdi Express for Delhi, from this railway
station, which not only saves time but also is a very
comfortable way to travel. Jaipur-Bandra is perfect for those,
who wish to go to Mumbai.
Pushkar can also be reached by road. One can take a bus or hire
a cab or taxi from Ajmer, to reach Pushkar.
 Events
There is hardly anyone who has not heard of the Pushkar
festival. It is held annually on the 11th day of the bright half
of the moon. It is held in the month of October/November.
People and Hindu devotees flock to Pushkar when all the gods
visit this sacred place. People wash off their sins in the
Pushkar Lake, which is considered very sacred. During this time,
there are thousands of devotees and holy men who come from far
off places. The whole atmosphere during this time is so
devotional and pious that people find themselves in a strange
trance and many claim that it is the time they feel most close
to God. As for the cattle fair, it is a colorful and beautiful
celebration of rural way of life. Villagers come to this fair
with their cattle and animals from all over the state for
trading. An interesting event that takes place during this time
is the camel's beauty contest! Here tourists also get a chance
to interact with the villagers dressed in their traditional
turbans and colorful clothes.
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