Pushkar, located in Ajmer District, is one of Rajasthan’s oldest cities and a place of interest for tourists. Just 14 kilometres from the town of Ajmer, Pushkar is best known today for the annual camel fair that draws tourists from all over the world. Like most great cities and towns that have been established on the banks of a waterbody, Pushkar was built around the Pushkar lake. The town has been connected to mythology and has been known to be the venue of the only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma anywhere in the world. The place is mentioned in the Ramayana and Mahabharat and has been called the Adi Tirtha. The Pushkar lake has many ghats and a dip in the lake’s holy waters is revered by pilgrims. Said to have medicinal properties, immersing oneself in the lake is believed to wash away one’s sins and cure diseases. The Pushkar camel fair is held during the month of October-November in the five days starting with the Kartik Shukla Ekadashi all the way up to Kartik Purnima. Known to be the largest camel fair anywhere in the world, this event also sees a mega gathering of all forms of cattle – cows, goat, sheep and horses are some of the star attractions here during this time. Anywhere between 25000 to 50000 camels change hands and is the highlight of the fair. Thousands of tourists come in from all corners of the world to watch this spectacle. Other than the sole Brahma temple in the world, there are other temples here in Pushkar. Many of them had been pilloried and destroyed by the Mughal invaders, most prominently, Emperor Aurangazeb. Later, most of these were rebuilt. One of them is the Varah temple that was built in the 12th century and later rebuilt in the 18th century. Another 19th century place of worship, the Mahadeva temple and the more recent Ramavaikunth temple are worth a visit. Other attractions include the Savitri temple situated at the top of Ratnagiri hill. For anyone willing to endure a one hour climb up, a fine view down to the lake is the reward.A camel safari is also a good way to experience Pushkar. The surrounding desert landscape can be best enjoyed by a lazy ride on the ship of the desert. Pushkar’s proximity to Ajmer makes reaching their fairly easy. The nearest airport is Jaipur’s Sanganer airport, about 150 kilometres away. The nearest railway station is Ajmer which is well connected to most towns in India. There are numerous buses plying up to Pushkar both from Ajmer and the other towns in Rajasthan. Moreover, the status of both Ajmer and Pushkar as top tourist places has meant that connectivity is quite good. Get more information on Pushkar Hotels, Hotels in Pushkar
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