Amazing Places to go When in Pushkar

by Suresh Nanda The Ananta Udaipur

Pushkar is an exceptional combination of hills and forests, sand dunes, lakes and is a quaint little town surrounded by the Pushkar Lake. Other than the camel fair which is popular here, there’s s a lot more to this town that you can explore. So when you look for Pushkar Accommodation, you know there’s a lot to see. Walk around the maze of alleys and lanes, its markets and the Ghats to see the magic of this peaceful town.

One of the many reasons to visit Pushkar is its spirituality. Take a dip in the holy Pushkar Lake and visit the one and only Brahma Temple in the country. The natural prodigies and the breath-taking sunrise and stunning sunset over the sand dunes and around the lake is one thing not to be missed. The different varieties of food and the cafes providing a scene of the lakes is another thing you shouldn’t miss. Shopping in Pushkar is an amazing experience especially because of the exquisite variety of silver jewellery, traditional clothes and authentic rose products that can be bought. The vibrant markets have cheerful people all around dressed in vibrant clothes. All these views give you the opportunity to take amazing pictures. Not only that, the market also has Bhopa musicians who play Ravanhatha around the lake. And you can spot and Kalbelia ladies performing dance in the dunes or the desert.

Pushkar Lake:
An evening at Pushkar is spent in the best way by sipping hot coffee by the lake side. Sit and watch the day bidding goodbye and a lovely evening taking over. The lake’s water reflects the changing hues of the sky from blue to orange as the golden sun sets behind the temples, and then the day slowly turns into red and slowly black takes over changing the day into a beautiful night. There are many resorts near Pushkar Lake where you can book your stay.

As you sit on the stairs of the lake and spend a few peaceful hours you can listen to the music coming from every direction. Sounds of Nagara beats from the Ghat, chants and bells from the temple, gentle thrumming of a guitar from some cafe nearby is something you can hear. You can also hear some Bhopa musician playing the Ravanhatha sitting just next to you. While you are enjoying the music, the lake turns stunning with the reflection of town lights and several stars. You will love watching the day come to an end by the lake side and spending time with yourself or your loved ones. Gradually, the pilgrims start to leave temples and the tourists go back to the market or their hotels. Sanyasis go to hide into their Kutiya and so you are all alone on the stairs staring at the glittering sky and the lake. The serene cool air from the lake fills you with calmness. Stay at a Pushkar Accommodation and visit this and other places around.

Savitri Temple:
A popular pilgrimage site for the Hindus, the Savitri temple in Pushkar is situated on the Ratnagiri hill. The temple is devoted to Goddess Savitri. It is a very vigorous work to climb on the hilltop but it is assumed that the tougher you work the more ‘Tapas’ are added. You can see the idols of both the wives of Lord Brahma who are Savitri and Gayatri In this temple. But according to the tradition, Goddess Savitri is worshipped first at all times only after which prayers to Goddess Gayatri are offered. To go the temple, the pilgrims can either trek towards the temple gates or opt to take a ride in the cable cars which transfer the visitors to the temple. The ropeway ride is truly full of enjoyment from where you can have a breath-taking view of the Pushkar city. Nonetheless, several devotees prefer to climb the 200 stairs which are directed towards the shrine which they believe to be an important part of their pilgrimage to the site. Book resorts near Pushkar Lake, and explore the city at your convenience.

Hot Air Balloon Ride:
You must take a balloon ride if you are in Pushkar around the time of the fair. You can escape the crowds and at the same time also witness the vibrant fair through the hot air balloon ride. Slide smoothly above the crowd over the huge expanse of the dunes to get a marvellous bird’s eye view of the desert and the fair. Float over the lake and the temples of this historical holy town and experience the magic of drifting over this diverse humanity.

The balloon ride is typically carried out towards the end of the fair. The ideal time to take a ride is at sunrise. That is when the mild rays of the sun gently light up the temples, Ghats and the prehistorical buildings around the lake. Viewing it all in the bright morning is a dream-come-true for any photographer or anyone and this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you should take. It is better to do an advance booking to have the best time slots.

So look for a Pushkar Accommodation and visit these places for an unforgettable experience.