Best time to visit : October through March
Pushkar is one of the most holy and most visited pilgrimage places in India. The city is situated in Rajasthan around 10 km. from Ajmer. The sanctity of this place attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world throughout the year. The Pushkar Lake on one side and hills on three sides of Pushkar add to the charm of this beautiful city. Pushkar Lake is the most sacred lake in India and it is believed that taking a dip in holy waters of the Pushkar Lake is equivalent to doing the 'Char Dham Yatra'. Pushkar is known all over the world for its famous Pushkar Fair, during which tourists from all across the globe gather for the celebrations. The entire city becomes colorful and vibrant during the 5 days of the fair. If you are planning for a religious trip, then Pushkar is a tourist destination which should not be missed.
Facts
There are more than 400 temples in Pushkar and it is the only place where you will find temple dedicated to Lord Brahma (creator of the universe according to the Hindu mythology). The Pushkar fair held in Pushkar city is known for hosting the biggest camel fair in the world.
Since Pushkar is a holy city, you will get pure vegetarian food here. Also, pure ghee is used in most of the dishes. The famous dishes to try out when you are in Pushkar are ‘Daal Baati Churma’, ‘Papad ki Sabzi’ and ‘Gatte ki Sabzi’. Your trip to Pushkar would be incomplete without tasting the sweet dish called ‘Malpua’ which is made of thick milk drenched in sugar syrup.
Rajasthani puppets are the most special thing which people buy from here as souvenirs. Other things to buy include costume jewelry such as anklets and rings, embroidered fabrics such as shoulder bags, bed covers and wall hangings.
Nearby Places:
- Ajmer : located at a distance of around 10 km. from Pushkar, is famous for the Dargah of Sufi Saint Moin-Ud-Din Chisti. It is a holy place and visited by thousands of people belonging to all religions every year. There is a huge rush in the Dargah during the annual Ur festival.
- Merta town : located at a distance of around 50 km. from Pushkar, is a famous town known for its Charbhuja Temple associated with the saint poetess and devotee of Lord Krishna, Meera bai. Thousands of tourists visit this temple every year.