Pushkar : Ajmer Excursions
Pushkar: Pushkar is 11 km from Ajmer, Pushkar is one of the most important Hindu pilgrim places. Pushkar is sacred to the Hindus and the lake is believed to have been created by Lord Brahma himself and has the same sanctity for Hindus as Mansarover in Tibet. No pilgrimage is complete without a visit to Pushkar. For most believers it is essential to visit Pushkar at least once in their lifetime. Today, there are as many as 400 temples in Pushkar and the lake is circled by 52 ghats built over several years by several kings and nobles. The most important temples are dedicated to Lord Brahma (This is the only temple in the world where Lord Brahma is worshiped and the main attraction of Pushkar. The temple has a special position in Hindu pantheons. There is life-size four-armed idol of Lord Brahma - the creator in the vestibule. The temple has marble floors and stairs and coins have been put by the devotees to mark the birth or deaths of the loved ones), Shiva, Badri Narayan, Varaha, Gayatri and Savitri. The important ghats are the Varaha, Brahma and Gau. The lake is situated on the edge of the desert, surrounded by hills on three sides, and is separated from Ajmer by ‘Nag Pahar’-the snake mountain. On this mountain are situated the Panchkund and the cave of the saint Agastya. It is believed that Kalidas-the 4th century Sanskrit poet and playwright, chose the setting for his masterpiece Abhigyanam Shakuntalam in this forest heritage. The pilgrims take a holy dip in the Pushkar Lake.
It is also the site for one of the largest cattle fairs in the world. For 12 days in the month of Kartik, (falls sometime in November), the sleepy little town is taken over by lakhs of animals and visitors. The cattle fair and the mela are believed to be the most colourful animal fair in the world. The beauty of rural Rajasthan gets concentrated within the radius of a few miles and the fair is overwhelming in its magnitude and visual impact. The fair attracts many people many of whom are tourists. It prides itself on being the site of the only temple of the Hindu God of Creation, Brahma. Its location near Delhi, yet at the heart of Rajasthan, makes Pushkar the perfect destination for travelers. A night safari to the desert in the colourfully decked up camel buggies is a most romantic experience.