Pushkar

GENERAL INTRODUCTION :

PUSHKAR- the 'Pilgrim City' is a picturesque town 14 kms. from Ajmer. Known for its temples and lake, the Nag Pahar (Snake Mountain), which forms a part of chain of the Aravali ranges, stands between Ajmer and Pushkar. The road from Ajmer to Pushkar is a very interesting drive as the road winds through the Nag Pahar, leading to the ancient lake. The town situated around the beautiful lake is surrounded on three sides by hills, while the fourth side is cordoned by sands which have drifted from the plains of Marwar.

It is one of the most revered places for Hindus and referred as Tirth Raj' or the king among places of pilgrimage, just as Kashi(Banaras) is their 'guru' or preceptor. No pilgrimage to Badri Nath(Himalayas), Jagannath (Orissa), Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu) and Dwarka (Gujarat), the four principal places of pilgrimage for the Hindus is complete till the pilgrims bath in the sacred waters of Pushkar.

The beautiful Pushkar Lake is a sanctified spot, considered as old as the creation, and has been a place of pilgrimage since time immemorial. It is surrounded by 52 bathing ghats, where people come to take a dip with deep religious faith rooted in their hearts. Pushkar has withstood the test of time, and has been a mute witness to the evolution of history from the time of Rama, the hero of the earliest Hindu Epic Ramayana, to Fa-Hien's accounts of Pushkar in 4th century AD., to the time of Muslim invasion to the present day.

HOW TO REACH :

Air: The nearest airport is Jaipur which is 135 kms away.

Train: Ajmer is on the Delhi-Jaipur-Marwar-Ahmedabad-Mumbai line and most trains stops at Ajmer.

Road: Ajmer is well connected by motorable roads with: Ahmedabad 570 km,Agra 363 km,Bharatpur 313 km,Bikaner 270 km,Bundi 167 km Chittaurgarh 182 km,Delhi 395 km,Jaipur 132 km,Jaisalmer 490 km,Jodhpur 208 km Mount Abu 371 km,Udaipur(via Beawar, Bhim, Nathdwara) 270 km

SHOPPING & AROUND :

Pushkar, a holy place of Rajasthan, is a popular shopping spot. Pushkar occupies an important place in Rajasthan as a source of souvenirs. There are many items that you can shop here in Pushkar including textiles, clothes with elaborate embroidery, ethnic jewellery which is specialty of Rajasthan, alluring miniature paintings, leather goods lovely brass utensil, mesmerizing puppets and poetry. Apart from all this items Pushkar is one of the most interesting place in Rajasthan to buy costume jewellery and embroidered clothes.

Shopping is more interesting in Pushkar during the Pushkar Fair. During this fair you can purchase various item like beads, brass utensil, lovely colourful bangles, leather goods, unique embroidery clothes camel cover, and much more. Some of the other items to buy in Pushkar are Handicrafts, specially of Tie-and-Dye Fabrics, Paintings, Finely Cut Precious Stones, Wood and Ivory Carving, Lacquer Work, Fine Block Printed Textiles, Enameled Jewellery and Pottery, Garments and rose products.

Main Bazaar Pushkar: The Main Bazaar also sells a huge amount of Pottery Goods. Vases, pots, idols and statues of gods and goddesses etc are available here. But the most enchanting among them are the beautiful pottery items that are landmarks of this place.

Main Bazaar, Pushkar is one of the principal marketing areas in the holy land of Pushkar. If you come here for your pilgrim tour, make sure to visit this bazaar. To be inside the Main Bazaar, Pushkar is indeed a delightful experience. The Main Bazaar, Pushkar is a great place for shopping buffs. Shop till you drop at the Main Bazaar, Pushkar.

Some other items that are available here are textiles, jewellery, leather goods and embroidered clothes etc. Puppets and bangles, goods, beads and camel covers are also available here. You can surely have a nice shopping experience over here which would leave an indelible mark in your mind.

Kedalganj Bazaar: The Kedalganj Bazaar in Pushkar is one of the most promising shopping areas in Rajasthan. Although you can travel with the intention of discovering spiritual India, but at the same time you can also drop in to the various shops and get for yourselves some of your most liked items.

Kedalganj Bazaar, Pushkar is a hot favourite among shopping buffs. If you visit Pushkar, do make it a point to visit this interesting place. It would definitely be an enchanting experience for you.

If you have a fancy for fashion garments or embroidered clothes, then you will surely feel enchanted while witnessing the embroidered garments that hang in the shops. Miniature Paintings and a plethora of art goods that line your way would beckon you with their everlasting charm.

Sarafa Bazaar Pushkar: in the Sarafa Bazaar, Pushkar, you shall get an enormous quantity of items that includes textiles, garments and embroidered covers. The most coveted among the embroidered items are the textiles that are of very high value. Bangles, leather goods and covers are of principal interest to the people visiting there.

Sarafa Bazaar, Pushkar is another popular bazaar in Pushkar. It is visited by almost all the pilgrims who come here for a visit. Since Pushkar is mainly a pilgrim spot with a lot of tourist interest, you can mainly get materials related to religion and spirituality.

Some beautiful statues of gods and goddesses are also found here. You can have a choice from among the large and small statues that are abundantly available here. The clothes are enchanting in their own ways. If you come to Pushkar, then you shall obtain the twin fold opportunity of having a pilgrim tour on one side and a beautiful shopping time.

RESTAURANTS :

Little Italy ( Italian Restaurant): This superb garden restaurant has excellent thin-crust, wood-fired pizzas and imported pasta with tasty sauces. As well as home-made pesto and gnocchi, there are some Indian and Israeli dishes and freshly ground Keralan coffee.

Location Street Panchkund Marg

Honey & Spice: Honey and Spice is one of the best restaurants in Pushkar and boasts of a great organic food menu. This is the place you can enjoy your fruit juices and shakes without having to worry about getting sick. And yes, everything is very reasonably priced as well. Recommended Dishes Tofu Sandwiches Chocolate shakes Salads Fresh juices. Location : Laxmi Market, Pushkar, Rajasthan.

Te…Lawala: Enjoy tasty traditional Indian street food here. The food is hygienic and affordable and the service is very good. Recommended Dishes Papdi Chat Rajasthan Thali Fruit Salads. Location : Close to Gau Ghat Badi Basti, Pushkar, Rajasthan.

Sixth Sense: This chilled rooftop restaurant is a great place to head even if you didn’t score a room in its popular hotel. The Indian seasonal vegetables and rice, vegetable sizzlers, pasta and pizzas are all excellent, as are the filter coffee and fresh juice blends. Its ambience is immediately relaxing and the pulley apparatus that delivers the delicious food from the ground-floor kitchen is enthralling. Save room for the desserts, such as the excellent homemade tarts. Location : Choti Basti, Pushkar, Rajasthan.

Raju Terrace Garden Restaurant: This relaxed rooftop restaurant serves lots of dishes for the homesick (for example, shepherd’s pie, pizza and baked potatoes) and rather tame Indian food. It’s on a pleasant terrace that’s filled with pot plants and fairy lights and has great views of the lake. Note the service can be super slow. Location : Street Sadar Bazaar, Pushkar, Rajasthan.