The
sacred city of Pushkar is a principal pilgrimage site of the Hindus and
is referred to as the Tirath Raj or King of pilgrimages. The city which
houses the lone temple of Brahma (the creator) in the world is thronged
by innumerable devotees every year. The tranquil holy town of Pushkar is
famous for its 400 Hindu temples. The city of Pushkar is a famous
tourist destination for its scenic beauty; engulfed by hills on three
sides and Desert on one and a Lake in the middle it is a beautiful
masterpiece of God's creation. This mystical town extends its
hospitality to people coming from across the globe to enrich them
spiritually. Pushkar literally means born out of a flower. There are numerous legends associated with the origin of the city of Pushkar. It is believed where the petals of Lord Brahma's flower lotus fell there emerged the holy city around the Pushkar Lake. Ancient Hindu texts like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata corroborate the existence of Pushkar as an ancient city. The holy city also has the honor of having the Brahma temple as Brahma was cursed by his consort Savitri on marrying a local milkmaid Gayatri that Brahma would be worshipped nowhere else in the world. The 52 holy ghats are filled with devout Hindus throughout the year as it is believed that a man's sins are washed away by bathing in the holy water of Pushkar Lake.
The Pushkar city is renowned not just for religious reasons but is also a major cultural centre of Rajasthan. The Pushkar city is flooded with Indian as well as foreign tourists during the much famous Pushkar fair held in the months of October or November on the occasion of Kartik Purnima. The Pushkar fair is one of the largest cattle fair of Rajasthan and one can witness a host of cultural programmes like the folk dances, music and puppet shows. The Pushkar Bazaars are filled with numerous Rajasthani handicrafts, metal goods and textiles. This cultural hub is a must visit for its serene and spiritual atmosphere which gives a traveler peace of mind in this fast pace world.