Just 14 km from Ajmer, Pushkar a well-known name in the Rajasthan travel guide, is situated on the shores of Pushkar Lake. It is considered one of the five sacred sites of Hinduism and is a popular pilgrimage destination. Hemmed in by hills on three sides and the desert landscape on the other, the location is an incredible attraction in Rajasthan.

"A pond which arose from a flower" is what Pushkar means and local legend has it that Lord Brahma let a swan fly with a lotus in its beak, which fell on earth. The spot where the lotus fell was to be the site for a holy sacrificial ceremony or yagna and this became Pushkar.

The Pushkar Fair

This camel and cattle trading fair held in October-November has become one of the main attractions in Pushkar. Thousands including foreign tourists flock to this town to see the colourful folk dances, the camel and donkey races, other contests, besides indulging in the wonderful shopping delights and the fabulous local cuisine. Local customs like henna application and body tattooing are also a draw for the tourists. Pushkar comes alive and certainly is a bright spot on the Rajasthan tour circuit at this point of time.

Temples

The only temple in India dedicated to Lord Brahma one of the Hindu holy trinity, is located in Pushkar. The Savitri temple is behind the Brahma temple and Pushkar is dotted with 500 such temples of all shapes and sizes. A dip in the Pushkar Lake is a sacred ceremony for the Hindu devotees. Just 14 km away is Ajmer where the holy Dargah ofKhwaja Moinuddin Chishti attracts both Hindu and Muslim pilgrims.

Bazaars

Pushkar like so many places on the Rajasthan tour is a paradise for shoppers. Bazaars dot the small town offering myriad handcrafted items. These range from amazing embroidered fabrics to silver jewellery, from traditional puppets to wall hangings, brassware and colourful cushion covers. Sarafa Bazaar, Malakhera Bazaar and Baza Bazaar are a few of the favourite haunts for those in search of these beautiful items.

Cuisine

Pushkar has several rooftop and garden restaurants where the delicious local food is served with the famed Rajasthani hospitality.