Pushkar

城市概覽

Pushkar is a small holy town in the state of Rajasthan famous for the Pushkar Lake, various ghats and temples spread all around the lake. Since being discovered by tourists the areas around the lake have filled with souvenir shops, cafes selling bhang lassis and hotels - you will find an interesting mix of pilgrims, Indian tourists and backpackers. The word 'Pushkar' means lotus flower, which is said to be the seat of Brahma, one of the Hindu holy trinity, who is worshipped as the creator of this world. The legend has it that when the demon Vajra Nabha killed Brahma's children, Brahma in turn struck him with his weapon, a lotus flower. Vajra Nabha died from the impact, and the petals of the lotus fell at three places. One of them is Pushkar, where it gave birth to a lake. Brahma is supposed to have performed a sacrifice at this lake on Kartik Purnima (the full moon day of the Kartik month [which generally falls in November]), hallowing the place. Though Brahma is considered to be the creator of the world in Hinduism, there are comparatively few temples dedicated to him, of which the one here in Pushkar is the most important. This is also considered as Adi Teerth or Teertharaj, meaning an ancient holy place or the most important of holy places, respectively. Pushkar has slowly turned into a very commercial town with little of the previous magic remaining. Everyone seems out to scam, from beggars and gypsy people to Brahmin priests. Young useless men roam the market trying to befriend foreigners for benefit, that is, money or sex. For genuine Indian magic, consider some less visited places in Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh instead.

如何抵達

By plane The nearest airport is in Jaipur, 3 hours away.

By bus There are direct buses between Pushkar and Ajmer (30 minutes, ₹20), Jaipur (3 hours, ₹220-410), Udaipur (6 hours, ₹450), and night buses to Delhi (10 hours, ₹400-850).

By train Due to its mountainous location, trains to Pushkar are very infrequent and slow. However, the train station in nearby Ajmer provides great connections to most major cities in India. From the Ajmer train station, you can either take a taxi to Pushkar (30 minutes, ₹400-600 asked price), order a car via OlaCabs or Uber app (flat ₹500 by the taxi union, regardless of what the app says - December 2023), or you take a rickshaw or tuk-tuk to the Ajmer Bus Station and take a bus from there to Pushkar (₹20).

當地交通

By foot Pushkar is not so big and can easily be navigated on foot. Several companies offer spiritual walking tours, which can be an excellent way to see the many temples efficiently.

By cycle or motorbike It is easy to rent cycles or motorbikes to explore the areas surrounding the town.

By camel Camel safaris are a very popular activity in Pushkar. See listings below.

必看景點

1 Pushkar Lake. Pushkar Lake is a beautiful, sanctified spot in the centre of Pushkar. It is said to have been created by Lord Brahma and is therefore a place of pilgrimage for the Hindus. The lake is surrounded by 52 different ghats, or series of steps, which Hindus use to descend to the lake for ritual bathing, especially in the month of Karthik.

Temples While there are many temples in Pushkar, the majority do not allow foreigners/non-Hindus to enter. If you are allowed in, you will have to take off your shoes to enter the temples. If you only have the desire/time to visit 2 temples, the one-of-a-kind Brahma Temple and the Savitri Temple, with a beautiful view of Pushkar Lake, are must-sees.

2 Aptaeshwar Temple. A temple dedicated to Shiva with an underground component. 3 Atmeshwar Temple. A beautiful Shiva temple. 4 Brahma Temple. One of the very few temples in the world dedicated to Brahma. Read up on Hinduism to learn why this temple is such a rarity! No matter where you stay in Pushkar, you will hear the daily chanting ceremonies or aartis conducted here: One begins two hours before sunrise, one 40 minutes after sunset, and one 5 hours after sunset. Pap Mochini Temple (A 30-minute walk north of Pushkar). A beautiful temple on a hill dedicated to Gayatri, one of the 2 consorts of Brahma. (updated Nov 2018) 5 Rangji Temple. A Vishnu temple built in South Indian style that is very different from other temples in North India. Poojas are performed here by Iyengars of Tamil Nadu. Savitri Temple. Dedicated to Savitri, the wife of Lord Brahma, this temple is the second-most important temple in Pushkar. It requires a climb of 650 steps to reach it, but the view at the top of Pushkar and the lake is worth the climb. Do it at sunrise! Sri Panchkund Shiva Temple (eastern edge of the town, 2-3 km from the lake). The Shiva temple is said to have been built by Pancha Pandavas. (updated Nov 2018) 6 Varaha Temple. The oldest temple in Pushkar. Dedicated to Lord Vi

體驗活動

Bathe in Pushkar Lake as it is much cleaner than the Ganges, though it does not meet water quality standards. Parikarma is the circumnavigation of a religious object - in this case Lake Pushkar. Join other pilgrims. Watch the evening prayers at Varah Ghat, a mesmerizing ceremony involving bells and lamps. Watch the aarti ceremonies at the Brahma Temple. The Hare Krishna chanting will likely wake you up anyhow, so go watch! See listing above regarding the Brahma Temple.

Cooking classes Pushkar Cooking Art, Panch Kund Road (Near Hotel Ratan Haveli), ☏ +91-9414656185, [email protected].

Yoga classes Pushkar Yoga Garden, Vamdev Road (Next to Sikh Gurudawara and Green Park Resort), [email protected]. Runs 4 classes per day, each 90 minutes in length. Courses deal with all aspects of yoga from stretching, workout, and philosophy. Students can stay with the family that runs the center and take classes every day. 90-minute class: ₹400.

Festivals Pushkar Camel Fair (November, during the full moon) - A 14-day fair visited by 400,000 people per year. Features over 11,000 camels, horses, and cattle. Many companies offer packages that include luxury tented accommodation. It is held during a holy time in the Hindu calendar and pilgrims will come not just for the fair, but to bathe in Pushkar Lake.

購物

Pushkar is known to be the best place to shop in Northern India. The prices are great, although the quality is subpar. You will find shops selling jewelry, clothes, cushion covers, showpieces, books, bags, handicrafts, shoes, etc.

美食

All restaurants within the city limits may serve only vegetarian food.

A Blue Star, Jamni Kund Road (in the Southwest of the city). This restaurant has a nice garden with a hammock. Aroma Royal Pushkar (Near Brahma Temple), ☏ +91 9783162129. Outdoor eating in a garden. Good food, although the service can be slow. Cafe Nature's Blessing, Panch Kund Road (in the Southwest of the city). Half of the menu is vegan. Very clean. High quality ingredients including quinoa, sprouts, and fresh tofu. Everest Cafe, Panch Kund Road (in the Southwest of the city). Located on the rooftop of a hotel, has great views and pet turtles. Funky Monkey Cafe (