About Pushkar City
Pushkar is a holy town for the followers of Hinduism. Lying at a distance of 14 km to the northwest of Ajmer City, Pushkar is famous for its annual camel and livestock fair. The city is bordered by hills on three sides and sand dunes on the other. One of the oldest cities of the country, it forms a part of the Ajmer District in Rajasthan. According to the census performed in 2001, the population of the town is 14,789.
Significance of Pushkar in Rajasthan
Pushkar is famous in Rajasthan for many reasons. It is a major pilgrimage site for the Hindus. It is also known as one of the five 'dhams' or holiest places for the pious Hindus. The town has attained the honor of 'Tirth Raj' or the king of religious hubs in India. Other than the religious importance, the town is also famous for its markets, ghats, Pushkar Lake, and temples.
Tourist destinations in Pushkar
- Brahma Temple - The Lord Brahma Temple or Brahma Mandir is the most significant place of worship in Pushkar town. Brahma is regarded as one of the three divine Gods of the Hindu religion, the other two being Vishnu and Maheshwar (Shiva). The mandir is the sole Hindu temple in the globe dedicated to Lord Brahma. The mandir contains a full-size statue of Lord Brahma.
- Pushkar Lake - The major tourist draw in Pushkar is the Pushkar Lake. The holiness of this lake can only be compared with the Mansarovar Lake which lies in Tibet. It is due to this sacred water body that the town has turned into a religious hub for Hindus. There is a myth that this water body was sanctified by Lord Brahma, the architect of the universe, when he dropped a lotus from his hand into the valley and a lake sprang up in that area. There are 52 ghats surrounding the lake where people assemble on the holy occasion of Kartik Purnima to take a dip and wash out their misdeeds. It is said that the water of this lake has healing powers.
- Varah Temple - The Varah Temple was initially constructed in the 12th century. It was destroyed by Aurangzeb, the Mughal Emperor. Raja Sawai Jai Singh the Second ruler of Jaipur built it once again in 1727. The mandir is famous for a fascinating and splendidly bejeweled icon house.
