Pushkar travel guide

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Destination: Pushkar

Route: Delhi – Gurgaon – [NH-8] – Jaipur – Kishangarh – Ajmer – [NH-89] – Pushkar

Distance: 400 kms from Delhi and 140 kms from Jaipur.

Type of Destination: 3 days or more are required to properly explore Pushkar.

Description: Pushkar attracts all kinds of tourists, from village folks and animal traders to devotees hoping to wash away their sins by taking a dip in the holy Pushkar Lake, at the time of Kartik Purnima to photographers trying to capture all the vibrant colors and culture of Rajasthan amidst all the madness to people looking to chill out and relax amidst sea of tourists. Pushkar it seems has some thing to offer to every one and this is especially true at the time of Pushkar Camel Fair.

In fact it is during the Pushkar Camel Fair that the city of Pushkar comes alive, today it is no longer just a camel fair. It has in fact become a cultural extravaganza and in fact I would recommend any one thinking of visiting Pushkar, to visit it at the time of the camel fair.

Places to visit: Brahma Temple is the main attraction of Pushkar, since this temple happens to be the only Brahma Temple in the world. According to popular Hindu mythology, the Hindu god Brahma was once flying over the region when he realized that there is an important yagna he must perform and he landed in Pushkar. The yagna required his wife to be present, but as the god was traveling alone, he married a local woman and went ahead with the yagna. Meanwhile, Brahma’s wife arrived in Pushkar and seeing him married to another woman, she was enraged and she cursed Brahma that we would only be worshipped in Pushkar and that too for 4 days of the year during which he was performing the yagna.

Pushkar Lake is another major attraction; it has 52 ghats of which Brahma, Varaha and Gau Ghat’s are the most significant ones. Apart from that there is also Savitri Temple located on top of the Ratnagiri Hill.

Tips: Best time to go to Pushkar is at the time of the camel fair, dates for which keep changing because it is dependent upon Kartik Purnima. The fair this year (2007) would be held between 18th to 24th November.

In case you are more interested in seeing and photographing camels, then make sure that you visit the fair on the first and second day, because most of the camel trading is done on these days and after these buyers leave with the camels and only a handful remain for the rest of the duration.

Although a night time camel safari in the desert surrounding town of Pushkar is quite romantic and fascinating, nothing beats off roading on your motorcycle in the middle of the night under the cover of stars and moonlight. Do remember to keep a tube and foot pump/electric compressor handy, because the desert is littered with round thorns which not only get lodged in your bike’s tyres, but also in your cloths and are quite irritating.

For more on my experience in Pushkar, check out my Pushkar travelogue and photo gallery.

[garykris]

Really Pushkar is the great place. Thanks for the great information about Pushkar.

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Glad you liked it Gary.

[dark_horizon]

Thanx for the information. Had visited it 4 months back. Next time, i want to visit during Pushkar mela.

[kapil]

I am planning to visit ajmer & pushkar next weekend on my avenger. please suggest two days are fine delhi - ajmer-puskar-delhi

[Yogesh Sarkar]

It is doable in two days, provided you leave early in the morning (4am start), so that you can reach Ajmer by afternoon. However this isn't the best time to visit Pushkar, it would be terribly hot at this time.

[goodfornothing]

yogesh is right it is terribly hot in rajasthan

[Devil on Wheels]

Just an update:

The Pushker Lake had been completely drained out and had no water in it except for 1 or 2 puddles when I was there in Dec 2009. The city adminstration had plans of cleaning up the bed of the lake, but the locals told me like all Govt projects, no one know' when it will be completed.

I would suggest staying at Ajmer, which has much better civic amenities and better hotels, would be more convinient, as Pushker is just 30-40 minutes drive from Ajmer.

[rajivphoto]

Originally Posted by Devil on Wheels

Just an update:

The Pushker Lake had been completely drained out and had no water in it except for 1 or 2 puddles when I was there in Dec 2009. The city adminstration had plans of cleaning up the bed of the lake, but the locals told me like all Govt projects, no one know' when it will be completed.

I would suggest staying at Ajmer, which has much better civic amenities and better hotels, would be more convinient, as Pushker is just 30-40 minutes drive from Ajmer.

Right, i also visited last December. 2009. The pilgrims will have to make do with bath-tub-sized pools in parts of the lake, filled with water daily basis. It's hardly enough to be holy.

[invincible45]

Bro its easily doable but I wouldn't suggest anyone to visit Ajmer or Pushkar this time. I had been to that place last year in June. Its so hectic and hot to ride at this season and that too in Rajasthan. Though the weather did change for a while coming back.