A town that finds umpteen mentions in Hindu scriptures of Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Puranas, is the town of Pushkar. Referred to as Tirth Raj – the king of pilgrimage, Pushkar is as ancient as it is colorful. Soaked in the shades of spirituality, foodgasms, and nature, Pushkar is a hippie town that draws travelers from far and near.
Home to close to 400 temples, Pushkar is famous for its architectural marvels, the Brahma Sarovar lake, the famous Brahma temple, and the camel fair.
The Legend Of Pushkar
Pushkar is known as the seat of God Brahma- the Jagat Pita- The creator of the Universe, as per Hindu mythology.
The holy trinity- Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara are the three Gods of supreme significance in the Hindu religion. And the only place where Lord Brahma is worshipped is in Pushkar.
There is an interesting legend behind this – Savitri, wife of Brahma cursed Brahma for giving her rightful place to Gayatri. Savitri first cursed Brahma saying he would never be worshipped anywhere but later permitted his worship in Pushkar.
Road Trip To Pushkar
While there are several ways to reach Pushkar, nothing beats the road trip to that place. In the month of September, we passed through the highway, flanked by the green fields. It took us close to 5 hours to reach Pushkar from Gurgaon. We stopped at Hotel Highway King for our lunch break. The food was above average and the service was quick.
The Stay at Pushkar
While Pushkar offers many hostels, hotels, and resorts. We chose Pushkar Heritage for our stay.
The rooms were alright but what stole our heart was the greenery, the farms and the two pets at the resort. The food was fresh and yummy too.
Lord Brahma Temple
Considered to be around 2000 years old, this temple has survived the wrath of time. Perched at the shores of Pushkar, the temple as aforementioned finds mention in many anecdotes of Hindu scriptures. The temple’s rich architecture, history, and the devotion draw pilgrims from far and near.
Pushkar Lake
Considered as one of the most sacred lakes of India, Lake Pushkar is surrounded by 52 ghats. According to a Hindu mythology, this lake was created by the fallen petals of Lord Brahma’s lotus when he was destroying the monster Vajra Nabha.
The attraction of Pushkar Lake has also been mentioned in some ancient Indian classics like Abhigyan Shakuntalam, Mahabharata and Ramayana.
Savitri Temple
Savitri temple is located on the Ratnagiri hills. Perched on the hilltop, one can either trek up to the temple or take the cable cars. This ropeway ride is fun, offering you beautiful views.
In this temple, you will find the idols of both the wives of Lord Brahma named Savitri and Gayatri. But as per tradition Goddess, Savitri is always worshipped first and then prayers to Goddess Gayatri are offered. The panoramic view of Pushkar from the Savitri temple is a delight for the photographers.
Camel Safari
A trip to Pushkar is incomplete without a camel safari. Hop on to a vibrant camel cart to roam through the golden sands of Pushkar.
The cart would take you through the stalls of the local tribes who would sing, dance and even offer to rent out the traditional Rajasthani attires for a click or two.
The Temples of Pushkar
The holy town of Pushkar is replete with many temples.
While temples like Varaha Temple, Rangji, Raghunath Temple are a few famous ones.
Panch Kund Shiva Temple, located 2.5 km away from Pushkar, stands out because of its mythological context. The temple is said to be at least 5000 years old.
Panch Kund is a holy site consisting of five holy ponds and a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is said to be have been built by the five Pandav brothers, the protagonists of the Hindu scripture of Mahabharata.
The flip side
The only flip side to the town of Pushkar is the issue of cleanliness. It is sad to see that a holy town like Pushkar is not just filthy with cattle feces and dirt lying on the road, but also the roads are ill-constructed.
We really hope all the residents, travelers and the government take note of the situation.
