Located in northwest India, Rajasthan borders Punjab in the north, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in the northeast, Madhya Pradesh in the east andGujarat in the south. On the western side it shares a long stretch of border with the neighboring country Pakistan. Situated on the Thar Desert, Rajasthan protects the western border of the country standing as the sentinel who never tires. The art of Rajasthan ensures that people visit the desert.
Rajasthan is diagonally divided into the hilly and rugged southeastern region and the barren Thar Desert, which extends across the border into Pakistan. Within these divisions however, it is a storehouse of varied physical feature or topographical diversity. The arid Thar also boasts of Mount Abu the only hill station in the state famous for its flora and fauna. While the Aravali hills provide the much-needed relief to this arid land, the wide spread sand dunes of the desert and arid region make it one of the toughest terrains in the world. Jodhpur (the second biggest city of the state) is the edge of the dry and shifting desert land from where on the not so arid but cultivable land starts. It is a store house of the art of Rajasthan. Moreover, the rocky range of Amber, hilly range of Mewar, river basin of Bharatpur and fertile Aravali range gives the topography of the state a unique look.
Popular Tourist Attractions in Pushkar
Pushkar Lake Banks : The famous fair takes places at the banks of the Pushkar Lake. Colors, spectacle and a carnival — one of the last great traditional melas in India, Pushkar Fair brings livestock, farmers, traders and villagers from all over Rajasthan together. This fair is an excuse to experience the shades of rural India in its most organic form wherein one can interact with villagers, and buy Rajasthani handicrafts. The fair also organises a plethora of animal races, camel processions and cultural performances. Further, it has recently become a popular attraction among hippies and foreign tourists.
Mahadeva Temple : Pushkar is one of the prominent cities in India that is known for its amazing temples. The city boasts of several temples worth visiting These temples not only provide a spiritual getaway but also take one through the history lanes of this ancient city. One such temple is the Mahadeva Temple. Constructed in the 19th century, the Mahadeva Temple in Pushkar is one of the most visited places in the town. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva as its main deity and has a white marble statue of him in the inside. Polished flooring and wonderful wall paintings are a highlight of this temple. Another major highlight of its architecture is the embossed pink pillars.
Pushkar Lake :
Pushkar lake is closest to the temple of God Brahma. As per mythology, this place is where Brahma and Savitri offered their prayers. It is believed that a dip in this holy river is the harbinger of Moksha — freedom from birth. The lake has several ghats, designed especially for taking baths and offering prayers. Brahma Ghat is the most famous among many others like Varaha, Dadhich, Saptarishi, Gwalior, Kota, Gau, Yag, Jaipur, Karni and Gangaur Ghat.
Merta :
Merta is almost 400 years old and has been famous for Meera Temple — the Krishna devotee. Previously known as Medantak, this city happens to be the birthplace of Meera Bai and this connection has kept it among the pupular places to visit in Pushkar. Dadhimati Temple and Charbhuja Temple, located here, also attract a large number of devotees round the year. This city also holds a lot of historical significance owing to the large number of battles it has witnessed and hence, is among popular places to visit in Pushkar.
Naga Pahar :
Pushkar and Ajmer are divided by a hill — known as Naga Pahar. As per the legends, the hills at Naga Pahar continue to diminish till date and will eventually disappear totally. These hills are believed to be the residence of the famous Sage Agastya. The hills also house a lake called Nag Kund. Naga Pahar offers a spectacular view of Pushkar city from its top and has often been used as a vantage point for photographers.
Kishangarh :
A municipality on the outskirts of Pushkar, Kishangarh is famous for its magnificent forts and marble mines. The Phool Mahal and Roopangarh Fort here are a peep into the rich history of this region. The marble mines in Kishangarh are also worth visiting as they help you understand the processes involved behind those marble slabs in your home.
Man Mahal :
Built by Amber’s Raja Man Singh, this beautiful palace is located close to the Pushkar sarovar. The palace is built in traditional Rajasthani architecture and has a temple inside. The palace is maintained by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation and is used as a tourist bungalow. The key attractions for tourists are breathtaking sunset views of the lakes and temples around. Camel riding and camping arrangements can be made on request for guests.
Brahma’s Temple :
Situated near the Pushkar Lake, this is one of few temples of Brahma that now exist in India. Also known as the Jagatpita Brahma Mandir, the temple was built in the 14th century. The temple has been built with marble and stone and features a red pinnacle. The walls are decorated with bird motifs. Images of Brahma has been placed in the sanctum sanctorum. A unique tradition which is followed here is that this place is reserved only for ascetics or sanyasis and married men are not allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum. The architectural beauty of this temple is simply amazing, especially the pillared outdoor hall and the numerous marble steps leading to the temple. The temple can be visited throughout the year but October and November are the most important months with a festival dedicated to Lord Brahma.
Naga Pahar :
Pushkar and Ajmer are divided by a hill — known as Naga Pahar. As per the legends, the hills at Naga Pahar continue to diminish till date and will eventually disappear totally. These hills are believed to be the residence of the famous Sage Agastya. The hills also house a lake called Nag Kund. Naga Pahar offers a spectacular view of Pushkar city from its top and has often been used as a vantage point for photographers.
Varah Temple :
Varah Temple is one of the largest temples in Pushkar. It is one of the oldest temples in the town too. The temple is dedicated to Varaha, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu as a boar. Constructed in the 12th century, this temple is an architectural wonder. Varah Temple was destructed the then Mughal ruler, Aurangzeb as he was offended by the depiction of the body of a man with the head of a boar in the temple. In 1727, the temple was restored by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II.
Savitri Mata Temple :
Constructed in 1687, the Savitri Mata Temple is situated on the Ratnagiri Hill. It is believed to be the place where Goddess Savitri found some rest after revolting with her husband on marrying another woman. The temple is said to be built by her and it served as a lookout from where she could watch her husband’s moves. The temple homes the idols of Goddesses Savitri and Gayatri. The way to the temple passes through the hills so you can trek to the temple through the Ratnagiri Hill. This journey also has a religious significant as it is considered to be a penance of our sins.
Rangji Temple :
Rangji Temple is one of the newest temples in the town and was constructed in 1823 under the guidance of Seth Puran Mal Ganeriwal. A major highlight of this temple is its South Indian architecture, especially the high gopuram. The temple is dedicated to Lord Rangii who is related to Lord Vishnu. The temple also features other architectural styles including the Rajput and Mughal. The temple is located near many tourist attractions of Pushkar, and you can explore them on a bicycle.
Fairs and Festivals in Pushkar
Rajasthan is a land of festivities, and Pushkar is undoubtedly the hub. There are many national and international fairs held in this town. The most famous among these is the Pushkar Fair that is organised for a week in late October or early November. This includes a range of small stalls that sell traditional Rajasthani fabrics, food items and decor as well as a large camel and cattle market.
The International Hot Air Balloon Festival is also held in Pushkar during this time and attracts enthusiasts from all over the world. This is the busiest time for the town since the weather too is ideal. Pushkar is also a very devout city and celebrates all other festivals with great pomp. Dussehra, Diwali, Teej and Holi are major events that are filled with colour and joy and are a perfect opportunity for tourists to get a peek into the life of Pushkar.
By Air
Travelers who like to manage their time can catch a flight and reach Jaipur and enjoy their drive to Pushkar from any corner as Jaipur is well connected to major cities like Delhi, Agra, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.
By Rail
People with a plan to travel in a train can enjoy their trip by travelling in the most luxurious trains like Shatabdi and a few more express trains till Ajmer.
By Road
One can reach Pushkar from Ajmer within half an hour by road and enjoy seeing the alluring location. Another way to reach Pushkar is to travel with the well maintained luxury buses as this place has a better connectivity to all major cities like Ahmedabad, Bikaner, Jaipur, Mumbai, Delhi and a few more places.
Best Time to Visit Pushkar
The weather of Pushkar is typically dry with the nights being cool and days being significantly hotter. There is intermittent rainfall since this is a desert region and visiting in each season will expose you to different aspects of the city. Hence, the Summers and Monsoons in Pushkar can often be scorching and unbearable. This makes Winter (November - February) the best time to visit this enchanting city.
Pushkar in Winter (November - February)
With the onslaught of the winter season comes the range of tourists pouring into this old, religious town. As Pushkar is located in Rajasthan, much like the state, the town’s weather is synonymous to enormous heat waves. Due to this, Pushkar’s only respite from the heat comes in the winter months of October to March. During this time the weather in Pushkar is relatively cooler, and the temperatures range from 8 degree Celsius to 22 degree Celsius, which is the lowest that the town sees in the entire year. Nights bring forth the cooler temperatures, and this makes for perfect conditions for sightseeing and visiting the numerous temples in the city.
Novembers in Pushkar is also awfully crowded due to the famous Camel Fair which takes place in the town. The fair is known for not only its celebration of Camels and variety of shows but also as an important trade fair. During this time, several markets come together to trade their goods be it spices or clothing. Typical fair games, shows and other cultural activities are also displayed and open for all to enjoy.
Tips For Visiting Rajasthan
For travel to any destination, there are certain precautions that one needs to take before starting the exciting journey. There are certain tips that the travelers should follow while traveling to Rajasthan which include:
Check the itinerary: Every trip has an itinerary which the tourists follow during the travel. By checking the itinerary, you will get an idea about the duration of stay. This will help to pack enough clothes for the stay. Rajasthan is hot during the day and temperatures drop down in the night. So, take the suitable types of clothes.
Weather updates: Before packing for the trip it is better to check the weather forecast for the stipulated time duration. This will help during the travel and for selecting the types of clothes. If the climate is hot during the stay, then visitors should select the light-colored clothes. Also, if the trip is during the winter season carry winter wears.
Make a checklist: Make a list of all the things that you need during the trip. It helps to check it while packing the luggage and this way you do not miss out any of the necessary things. Strike off the item from the list once included in the luggage. Do not forget to pack important documents like identity proof, hotel and travel reservation documents, etc. in the checklist.
Pack only necessary things: It is important to take only the things that are really needed during the trip. Carry an extra set of clothes but avoid overpacking with unnecessary things.
Save some packing space: A trip to Rajasthan is incomplete without shopping. Every person who visits this beautiful land does some shopping. There’s a lot to shop from the Rajasthani markets which include clothes, artifacts or souvenirs. Anything that you purchase will be a part of the luggage. If you are traveling by air route, the luggage limit can be a problem. Hence, it is better to save some space while packing for accommodating the shopping items on the return journey.
Cash: As Rajasthan is a part of the golden triangle, many shops here accept the card for the payment purpose. But it is also necessary to carry some cash during the travel. Some small shops or exhibitions may not have the facility for card payment. At such places, the cash may become useful. Take precaution while handling cash. Do not keep all the money at single place. This will help to ensure that some money is safe even in case of theft or robbery.
Accommodation: Rajasthan is a major tourist center, it has many hotels and lodges to accommodate many crowds. But it will be better to do the prior booking. This will help to select the hotel as well as the type of room as per your needs and wish. The advance booking also helps to get the rooms at an economic rate as the last-minute bookings become more expensive.
Separate packing: Keep the toiletries and makeup material separately. If you are on medication, then pack of medicines and keep them handy so that the medication box is easily accessible in case of emergency. If you are on specific medication, carry those in sufficient amount. Being a tourist place, you will find a chemist shop but not necessarily all the medicines are available. Thus, it is necessary to carry all the important medicines along with the proper prescription.
First-Aid box: The first-aid comes handy if anyone gets hurt during the trip. Due to the change in the climate, you may suffer from cold or dehydration. The box should contain the disinfectant, bandages and common medicines for a cough, cold, etc.
Safety and Precautions: Rajasthan has hot and dry climate and thus, it is necessary that the visitors should carry proper protective gears like a cap, goggles, scarf, jacket, etc. Wear sunscreen lotion to protect them from the scorching heat.