Pushkar Lake, Brahma’s Temple, Varah Temple, Savitri Temple, Pushkar Camel Fair, Man Mahal, Rangji Temple, Desert Camp, Mahadeva Temple, Pushkar Bazaar, Merta City, Rose Garden, Kishangarh, Apteshwar Temple, Man Mahal, Visit Pushkar Bazaar, Adventure Desert Camp, Merta City and Others.
Pushkar is not an unknown name, from the religious sights to the quirky cafes; Tourist places are abundant in Pushkar with hopeful surprises in every corner. The small shops lined up in the colorful streets are full of joy, vibrancy, culture, and warmth. Puskar is that corner of India where people get stunned by everything they see.
Puskar borders the Thar Desert and hence desert safaris are the most common adventure activity that excites the visitors. Pushkar Lake has 52 Ghats where one can bathe. Jagatpita Brahma Mandir is the only temple dedicated to the Lord of creation (Brahma). The place is not a big town but a rustic village that has gone hippie in the last couple of years.
There are tons of items that you can take back home from the pretty markets of Pushkar like stunning silver jewelry, palazzos, bangles, bandhani sarees, artifacts made of mud and lovely dupattas. People mostly combine Ajmer and Pushkar in one trip due to the proximity they share, however, it is not a bad idea. Take a traditional homestay for your sojourn in Pushkar and you will undoubtedly fall in love with Pushkar, the village that gives an unforgettable experience.
16 Places to Visit in Pushkar
1.Pushkar Lake
Surrounded by more than fifty bathing ghats, this lake is located in the Ajmer district of Rajasthan. Legend has it that Lord Brahma was looking for a place to conduct a religious ceremony. He dropped a lotus to guide him. The lotus fell on the site which is now Pushkar Lake.
It is a sacred water body for Hindus and is where the Pushkar Fair is held. Thousands of pilgrims visit here to take a holy dip during the fair which is said to cleanse sins. The lake is generally full throughout the year and has different varieties of fish. The surrounding regions are home to exotic flora and fauna. Numerous migratory birds visit the water body during certain seasons. Surrounded by good hotels and resorts, you are never short of accommodation facilities when here.
2.Rose Garden
Pushkar is also famous as the Rose Garden of Rajasthan and the rose farmers here grow an amazing variety of roses. The Rose Garden is one of the most enchanting places to visit in Pushkar for the sheer variety of hues and fragrances that this place has.
These mesmerizing rose gardens are ideal for a relaxing late afternoon walk or just to sit and enjoy the view. The essence of the roses from Pushkar is famous worldwide and is exported to several places abroad. The rose gardens in Pushkar are said to be the largest in the country and its beautiful roses find their way to temples, dargahs, cosmetics factories and many other places.
3.Doctor Café
One of the most visited cafes in Pushkar, the Doctor Café offers its guests a wide variety of delicious dishes. As most of the tourist crowd in Pushkar consists of foreigners, the café caters accordingly by serving several different cuisines, such as Italian, Chinese and Israeli, among others.
It also serves all three meals viz., breakfast, lunch and dinner at the designated time slots. The main thing that attracts most of the tourists to this café is its hygiene. The food is served in a tempting and appetizing manner to attract tourists throughout the day.
4.Shiv Shakti Art and Handicraft
Rajasthan is known all over the world for its beautiful and intricate art and handicraft. Shiv Shakti Art & Handicraft is one of the best stores where you can find some of the most beautiful handiwork. Boasting an exquisite and exclusive collection of traditional Rajasthani art and handicrafts, they offer everything from home décor, to paintings and more.
You can visit their store to take a look at or buy their premium collection. However, most of the art pieces found there are listed online.
5.Budha Pushkar Lake
Among all the Pushkar Sightseeing places, the Budha Pushkar Lake is one of the most important historic lakes you can find here. Having a strong connection to Hindu mythology, this is the lake where Lord Ram is known to have performed the last rites of King Dashratha, his father.
The lake was previously under desertification, which made it endangered. However, the government has made successful efforts in the preservation of the lake. And it is because of this, that the lake is now a beautiful spectacle for its visitors. It is also one of the most visited lakes in India.
6.The Laughing Buddha Cafe Pushkar
One of the most elite restaurants, and among the top places to visit in Pushkar, the Laughing Buddha Café Pushkar is a travelers’ favorite. This is an elite eatery, which is suitable for every type of eater, from a lactose intolerant foodie to a health freak. Known to be one of the only places in Pushkar that serves vegan as well as gluten-free food to its guests, this café is also fully vegetarian.
With a fabulous, soothing ambiance and hygienic food, it stands among the prime restaurants and cafes in the region. The lasagne, burritos and falafel served here are some of the my favorite dishes.
7.Pushkar Bazaar
The Pushkar Bazaar is amongst the top tourist destinations in Pushkar and the most popular places to visit in Pushkar. The assortment of items sold in this marketplace provides you with an insight into the culture here. This market is famous for rose pulp. You can also purchase syrup and gulkhand which are popular items sold in the shops here. Even though it is a bustling market, it is a beautiful place. All handicraft items and miscellaneous items sold here are reasonably priced.
You can shop for Rajasthani costumes here. Be it the embroidered fabrics, utensils made of brass, glassware, leather bags made of camel skin, and belts there’s much to choose from. There are several items only sold in this bazaar and have a high demand with international visitors. Given that Pushkar is a holy town many items sold here are of religious interest. There is a profound undercurrent of Hindu mythology in this bazaar given that even the handicraft items incorporate elements of piety.
8.Man Mahal
The largest royal place of residence in Pushkar, Man Mahal is one of the places to visit in Pushkar. Located beside the Sarovar Lake, the view from here is engaging. You can see the entire expanse of the Sarovar Lake and the surrounding regions. It was built for Raja Man Singh-I, who visited this place as a retreat center. Now the erstwhile royal guest house is a public guest house. It is open for visitors who can stay here and enjoy the many facets of Pushkar.
Man Mahal has a commanding architecture that incorporates traditional Rajasthani architectural elements. There is a touch of Mughal influence in the design of the building. The palace is also called the Sarovar Hotel given that it is a world-class stay offering an international ambiance to suit all types of visitors.
9.Gau Ghat
Pushkar is known as a land of ghats. Of the 52 ghats it has, the Gau Ghat is frequented the most. It is a huge ghat surrounded by the Raj Babra temple which sets its ambience. This ghat is popularly visited by people to perform the religious rituals precisely the pind daan ceremony for the ones who are dead.
Furthermore, the Gau Ghat is popular because the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru, and Lal Bahadur Shastri were scattered into the lake here. The lanes near the Gau Ghat are flooded with tiny street shops which offer leather products, jewelry, pieces of artwork, and handicrafts.
10.Varaha Ghat
Among the huge ghats that one can find in Pushkar, the Varah Ghat is a beautiful place known for its evening glory and scintillating views of the lake. Famous for the great Aarti ceremony conducted here every night, visitors can experience the warmth and serenity in the vibrant colors of the sky and lake along with the chanting of hymns and prayers.
One can also find many food stalls and local vendors selling artistic handicrafts and Rajasthani artifacts along the Ghat. It is a must-visit place if you wish to see the actual vibe of Pushkar after sunset.
11.Gayatri Mata Temple
Known for its string of mythological connections, the historic and beautiful Gayatri Mata Temple is one of the most popular places to visit in Pushkar. It is said that Lord Brahma was cursed by his wife Gayatri when he married an untouchable girl named Savitri to complete the yajna ceremony during her absence.
As Goddess Gayatri was unaware of this marriage, she cursed Lord Brahma that he would not be worshipped anywhere else except Pushkar. Since then, Lord Brahma and Goddess Gayatri are worshipped at this temple together. The architectural beauty of this temple attracts most of the tourists.
12.Gurudwara Sahib Pushkar
This beautiful Gurudwara is located in the heart of the town and is one of the most popular places to visit in Pushkar for Sikhs. It is believed that two of the Sikh gurus Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Gobind Singh rested at this place on their visit to Pushkar.
Also, there is the Gandhi Ghat here, which was earlier known as Gobind Ghat. It is the place where the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh stayed for a long time. There is a stone slab inscribed as Gobind Ghat present here under a kiosk, with four different scripts, including Devanagari, Gurumukhi, Persian as well as Roman. Moreover, the main priest here also has a handwritten copy of the Guru Granth Sahib, which is the most important religious scripture of Sikhism.
13.Rangji Temple
The Rangji Temple is known for its South Indian architecture such as the high gopuram. Among the newer temples of the region, it was constructed under the aegis of Seth Puran Mal Ganeriwal in 1823. The grace and poise of this place of worship is unmistakable. It is one of the most popular shrines in the region and experiences a steady influx of visitors every year.
Dedicated to Lord Rangii, the temple is one of the few in Pushkar that incorporate South Indian architecture. The sacred structure also incorporates architectural styles of Rajput and Mughal designs making it unique. Being a Vishnu temple, you can see a large gathering of Vishnu devotees on important occasions.
14.Savitri Temple
The Savitri Temple is one of the most famous pilgrimage places to visit in Pushkar. As the name indicates, this temple is dedicated to Gayatri, the distressed wife of Lord Brahma. One needs to reach the Ratnagiri hilltop by climbing approximately 200 stairs to reach this temple.
However, one can also take the help of the ropeway to reach the temple. The story behind this temple is that Goddess Gayatri rested here on her visit to Pushkar. This temple is also known for its architectural and scenic beauty
15.Varaha Temple
One of the most famous of all Pushkar tourist places, Varaha Temple is located in the heart of the city. With Pushkar being the land of glorious dynasties and religious temples, this beautiful temple does complete justice to its name. The Varaha Temple is dedicated to the chief Hindu God, Lord Vishnu’s avatar Varaha, who was incarnated in the form of a boar.
The temple is built superbly with remarkable architecture consisting of a dome, white walls and pillars. Due to its religious sanctity, it attracts a lot of Hindu devotees from across the country.
16.Pushkar Camel Fair
The Pushkar Camel Fair, also known as Kartik Mela, is one of the most beautiful camel festivals in the country. The festival is an 8-day long vibrant and colorful affair held in November every year. This fair is organized every year to encourage the local camel and cattle traders to do business during the holy Kartik Purnima.
Multiple shops across the fairground are set up which feature Rajasthani handicrafts, art and culture. Also, the best part about this fair is that each day of the fair has a unique set of activities including magic shows, snake charmers, puppet shows, camel parades, gypsy dances.
