Pushkar

Pushkar is a well-known Hindu pilgrim centre. It is just 10 km from Ajmer. The Pushkar lake and the Brahma temple (see picture) are the most important sites here. Pushkar is better known for the cattle fair.
Pushkar is among the five dhams or pilgrimages that are held in high esteem by Hindus, the others being Badrinath, Puri, Rameswaram, and Dwarka. It is said that in battle lord Brahma killed the demon Vajra Nabh with a lotus flower, whose petals floated down to earth and landed in three places in and around Pushkar where lakes sprang up. According to legends, Pushkar Lake was surrounded by 500 temples and 52 palaces (several rajas and maharajas maintained palaces here for pilgrimage) at one point. The Brahma temple is the most important temple here and is, in fact, the only Brahma temple of India. It is interesting to note that Brahma is not worshipped, even though he is one of the Holy Trinity of Hinduism. Brahma, it is said, had descended on earth to perform a Yajna (fire-sacrifice). His wife Savitri was not with him at that time and the Yajna would be incomplete without her. Therefore, Brahma married a local girl and sat down for the Yajna. Meanwhile Savitri landed on earth and, upon finding this new bride sitting next to Brahma, cursed him that he would never be worshipped anywhere else on earth.

Transportation

+Air : The nearest airport from Pushkar is Jaipur. Jaipur is well connected to all the major cities which includes Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Jodhpur, Udaipur. Recently, flights to Dubai has also started from Pushkar by Indian Airlines.

+Rail: Ajmer is the nearest railway station from where one can take trains for the major destinations in Rajasthan and other parts of India.

+Road : Pushkar is 11 km from main Ajmer bus stand. Rajasthan Roadways run very comfortable deluxe buses from Jaipur. There are buses from Jaipur to Ajmer every 15 minutes, some nonstop. The roads are very good, and it takes around 3 hrs from Jaipur. You can also come by hire private cars.
 

Bus :


+What to see : BRAHMA TEMPLE, PUSHKAR LAKE, PUSHKAR BAZAAR, SAVITRI TEMPLE, MAHADEVA TEMPLE, RANGJI TEMPLE, MAN MAHAL


+Excursions : Pushkar also makes an important base point to visit some of the nearby destinations like Kuchaman, Kishangarh, and Roopnagar. The famous town of Ajmer houses some of the famous monuments of the Mughal era. The picturesque Sambhar Lake, also situated in Ajmer, is a bird watchers’ paradise.