A pilgrimage centre with the only temple in India dedicated to Brahma, the Creator, Pushkar is the venue of an annual camel fair.

Pushkar in Rajasthan is a favored destination of North India. Hundreds of foreigners throng this place all through the year. The Pushkar fair is an important occassion when tourists flock Pushkar, however it is not only at this time of the year when tourism flourishes. Pushkar is the flavour of every season. Pushkar is a pilgrimage site and is considered one of the holiest sites in India. The semicircular Pushkar Lake is believed to be extremely holy and has 52 bathing ghats or steps along its banks. Devotees bathe in Pushkar Lake and pray at the Temple dedicated to Lord Brahma nearby. Pushkar is home to the only Brahma Temple in India.

The town of Pushkar is far from the noisy environment of the city. When he reaches the Ghats, particularly the Ghats near the Sarovar Tourist Bungalow, he gets refreshed and loses his tiredness of his journey. Pushkar is situated at the foot of the hills which add to its beauty. Five rivers, Suprabha, Kanaka, Prachi Nanda, and Saraswati flow here and make the place more beautiful and serene.

Shopping in Pushkar

As a source of souvenirs, Pushkar occupies an important place in Rajasthan. Visitors who make a tour to the holy town also throng at the bazaars to shop for textiles, vivid embroidery, jewellery, miniature paintings, leather goods, brass utensils, puppets and pottery. Pushkar is one of the best places in Rajasthan to purchase costume jewellery and embroidered clothes. During the Pushkar fair, you can buy various objects such as beads, bangles, embroidered clothes, camel cover, leather goods brass utensils etc during the fair. The shopping centres are Sarafa Bazar, Baza Bazar and Kedalganj bazaar.

A pilgrimage to the holy town of Pushkar with us is an unforgettable experience. The place abounds with many temples, which are must-visits for any devout Hindu. Apart from the Brahma Temple, other shrines of importance are Savitri Temple, Rangji Temple, Warah Temple and Apteshwar Temple. Thanks to the extreme sacredness of the place, it is advisable for those who travel to Pushkar, to respect the town’s holy status and not to eat meat or consume alcohol. In fact it is an earnest desire for every pious Hindu to make a Pushkar pilgrimage.

Bharatpur's bus stand is in the west of town near Anah Gate, just off NH-11. If you're arriving from Fatehpur Sikri , get off well before, when the bus stops at the crossroads on the opposite side of town near the park gates, as this is nearer all the hotels and guesthouses. From the main bus stand, services run to all major centres in Rajasthan (including Jaipur) and to Delhi, Agra and Fatehpur Sikri. Two kilometres northwest, the railway station lies on the main Delhi-Mumbai line. There are also two fast trains to Agra (2hr) and one to Amritsar (14hr), and an express service to Sawai Madhopur (2hr 30min). The town's tourist office (Mon-Sat 10am-5pm), where you can pick up good state maps and information on Bharatpur and the sanctuary, stands at the crossroads near the park entrance where Fatehpur Sikri buses pull in.

Camel Safari in Pushkar

Camel Safari in Pushkar is a once in a lifetime experience. India Profile tailors these safaris to suit your requirements. Explore the rugged terrain of the Great Indian Desert of Sahara, while using camels as your load bearers. Sleep under the starlit skies. A traveler could not ask for a better introduction to the stark beauty of this place otherwise more famous for its spiritual activities. There is not an iota of doubt that a visit to Pushkar is incomplete without experiencing a camel safari.

Pushkar Lake

Anything even remotely related to Pushkar Lake has a halo of sacredness and divinity. Legend has it that a dip in its waters cleanses all the sins and is the surest way to achieve salvation from the cycles of life. Circled by some five hundred odd temples, the lake has 52 ghats, which connect the temples to the water. These ghats were constructed by the rulers of the different erstwhile princely states of Rajasthan and some of them are aptly named after the states.

Pushkar Fair

11km northwest of Ajmer is located the small town of Pushkar, one of the holiest sites in India. Every year on the day of auspicious Kartik Purnima, the full-moon phase of October/November, Pushkar brings in thousands of pilgrims from all over the country to take a holy dip in the waters of the lake, which are believed to cleanse the soul of all sins.

Alongside this annual religious festival, a camel fair, hailed as the largest camel market in the world, is held where people buy and sell livestock when more than 200,000 traders, dealers and tourists throng here to the west of the lake. The magical color of the camel fair, added by the mesmerizing desert landscape and legendary religious atmosphere, has made Pushkar one of Rajasthan tourist destinations in Rajasthan.

The camel festival adds magic to the atmosphere surcharged with activity. The transition of Pushkar from a peaceful desert town is absolute. Hordes of pilgrims, traders and thousands of tourists make their presence felt in a strong way. Hotels and restaurants are full to the capacities.

People from all over the state of Rajasthan throng at Pushkar and spend the days in the makeshift tents in the sand dunes. The night campfires, wafting delicious cooking smell and traditional folk music floating through the air create an ambience which beggars description.