Day 64 - Pushkar

Pushkar in the Ajmer District of Rajasthan is a small town with ample religious beliefs attached to its existence. Pushkar derives its literal meaning from the Sanskrit word ”Pushkar”, which means blue lotus flower. One of the most ancient cities in India, Pushkar is located on the banks of Pushkar Lake. The date when this place came to existence may remain unknown; But Lord Brahma is known to be the creator. The mythology associated with this place narrates a legend that Lord Brahma performed sacrament here for 60000 years to have a sight of Lord Vishnu. Pushkar is one of the five sacred Dhams that are revered pilgrimage centres and it's importance is often referred as “tirth- raj”, which means the king of pilgrimages. Pushkar with its ample and glorified religious significance is the centre for many famous temples. Many of these temples, which were destroyed by Muslim conquest in this area, were rebuilt. The distinct feature of Pushkar is presence of Brahma Temple here, which is a very rare finding and is very few in India. The Pushkar Lake here has 52 ghats and attracts many pilgrims who descend here to bathe in the sacred water. The name of this place links to a mythological tale. It is believed that the gods in Hindu religion released a swan with a lotus in its beak and let it free. Lord Brahma performed a Yagna and the place where lotus fell from beak of the swan was called Pushkar and has been called the same, since then.


How to reach here:

By Air: Sanganer Airport located at Jaipur is nearly 130 km from the heart of the city Pushkar. Jaipur airport is connected to metro cities Mumbai and Delhi.

By Rail: Ajmer is the nearest railway station to Pushkar. This railhead is on the Broad Gauge line and is connected to all cities in India by trains.


Best time to visit: October to March.


Languages spoken: Hindi, Rajasthani, Marwari and English.


Must eat: Bhuna Kukda, Methi Ke Gatte, Papad Subzi.


Famous Restaurants: Funky Monkey, Honey and Spice, Sixth Sense, Rasta cafe, Sunset.


Places you must visit:


Pushkar Lake is surrounded by hills on three sides and desert on the other side. The cave of Saint Agastya is also located on the snake mountain in Pushkar. Pushkar has also held a major place in the Kalidasa's Sanskrit drama, Abhigyan Shakuntalam. Pushkar is one of the major sacred places for the Hindus. There are about 400 temples and 52 Ghats in Pushkar which are located on the banks of the Pushkar Lake. On the Pushkar lake you can view various pilgrims bathing in the holy waters and worshipping at the Ghaats. It is believed that the famed waters of the Pushkar wash away the sins of lifetime. So thousands of pilgrims come to Pushkar on Kartik Purnima (full moon day of the Kartik month) or on any of the four days preceding it and take a bath in the holy waters of the lake.The mystical water is also believed to cure skin diseases, making Pushkar "the Lourdes of the East".There is a great story about the creation of the Pushkar Lake by the Creator God, Bramha. When the demon Vajra Nabha killed Brahma's children, he in turn struck him with his weapon, a lotus flower. Vajra Nabha died with the impact, and the petals of the lotus fell at three places. One of them is Pushkar, where a lake sprung into being. Brahma is supposed to have performed sacrifice at this lake on Kartik Purnima (the full moon day of the Kartik month). According to a legend, the lake was formed when Lord Brahma wanted to perform a yagna here.













The Brahma temple is an important pilgrimage centre for the Hindus which is situated in Pushkar. This temple is situated in the beautiful Pushkar valley which lies beyond Nagaparvat and the Anasagar lake. This place holds a special place in the hearts of Indians as it is believed that Lord Brahma, together with all the gods and goddesses, performed a Yagya here. In the Brahma temple the image of Lord Brahma is in a seated Palthi position. This temple is built by marble and decorated with silver turtle on the floor of the temple.Built in the 14th century, the temple comprises a raised platform, red spire, stone slabs, marble floors and an image of ‘hans’ or swan, Lord Brahma’s vehicle. A life-sized four-armed idol of Lord Brahma and a silver carved turtle is situated inside the temple. It is customary for pilgrims to stand on the steps and put coins to mark the deaths and births of their loved ones.

Rangji Temple is dedicated to Rangji, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Hindu Trinity. In 1823, the temple was built by Seth Puran Mal Ganeriwal and has a South Indian architectural style, though Mughal architecture peeks from some points.It comprises two big structures of gatekeepers in front of the main gate and the high rising ‘Gopuram’. The temple houses an image of Garuda, Lord Vishnu’s mount and is considered one of the holiest temples of Pushkar.

The Varaha Temple in Pushkar was built by King Anaji Chauhan in the 12th century and is dedicated to Varaha, Lord Vishnu’s incarnation in the form of a wild boar. The temple houses the idol of Lord Varaha that is white in colour and has a height of 2 feet.Various sculptures, elegant carvings, life-size statues of door men and gold-styled pillars depicting Garuda, the mythical bird are situated within the temple. The temple was destroyed by Emperor Aurangazeb but in 1727, it was reconstructed by Raja Sawai Jai Singh of Jaipur.

Savitri Temple is situated on the peak of the Ratnagiri Hill and is dedicated to Savitri, Lord Brahma’s consort. It was built in 1687 and pilgrims need to trek up the hill in order to reach the shrine of the temple. The temple houses the statue of Goddess Savitri and offers good views of the surroundings, including the sand dunes of nearby villages and of the Pushkar Lake.Legend has it that the presence of Savitri was required in a ‘yagna’ that was done by Lord Brahma but she kept Him waiting. Lord Brahma irritated with her behaviour, married a milkmaid named Gayatri. Savitri became furious at this and cursed Him that he will only be worshipped once a year and only in Pushkar.

The Mahadeva Temple was built in the 19th century and is dedicated to Lord Mahadeva or Shiva. The temple is popular in and around Pushkar and Ajmer for its elegance of structure. The temple has a statue of Mahadeva with five faces that is entirely made of white marble and is adorned with ornaments.The temple is also decorated with numerous sculptures or carvings. As per the Hindu Puranas, Lord Mahadeva or Shiva is known as the God of Destruction and the Ganges River has been created from the locks of His hair.





The Nag Pahar or Snake Hill stands as a divider between the city of Ajmer and the Pushkar Lake. According to a legend, the height of the hill will keep on decreasing over time and one day, the hill will completely disappear.Pilgrims often visit the cave on the hill that was once the residence of Agastya Muni and the Nag Kund that is believed to have been the home to Brahma’s son, Vatu, after being cursed by Rishi Chyavan for creating mischief.




The Raghunath temple was built in the year 1823 and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple housed images of Narasimha, the fourth incarnation of Vishnu; Venugopal and Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth but the presiding deity of this temple is Rama, another incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the God of preservation in the Indian Holy Trinity.The other Raghunath temple houses deities like Lakshmi and Vaikunthanath. Only Indian pilgrims can visit these temples. The Raghunath Temples comprise of seven shrines, each with its own shikhara, a peak over the reigning deity’s sanctum sanctorum.



Originally built by Raja Man Singh of Amber, the Man Mahal presently serves as the tourist bungalow of the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation. It is located to the east of Sarovar and is considered one of the greatest palaces of Pushkar. It is built in the Rajasthani architectural style and depicts the features of the royal era. The palace also offers views of the surrounding temples and lake.