The well-known and marked with largest participation of all the festivals of Rajasthan, Pushkar is an important pilgrimage as well as the venue of a mammoth cattle fair. Bazaars, auctions, music and sports are highlight of this event.

Historically, Pushkar always had great strategic importance and was sacked by Mahumud of Ghanzi on one of his periodic forays from Afghanistan. Later it became a favorite residence of the great Moghula. One of the first contacts

between the Moghula and the British occurred in Pushkar when Sir Thomas Roe met with Jehangir here in 1616. The city was subsequently taken by the Scindias and, in 1818, it was handed over to the British, becoming one of the few places in Rajasthan controlled directly by British rather than being part of a princely state. Located just 11 kms from Ajmer, the holy lake of Pushkar is believed to have been created by Lord Brahma himself. It is as important as Benaras or Puri. Devout Hindus believe that it is essential to visit Pushkar at least once in their lifetime. No pilgrimage is considered complete without a dip in the holy Pushkar lake. Pushkar has as many as 400 temples and 52 ghats and the only temple in the country that is dedicated to Brahama is to be found here. While Pushkar is a heaven for the religiously inclined, it is also the venue of one of the country's most colorful cattle fairs - the Pushkar Fair.

Places to See ...

The Dargah

Located at the foot of a barren hill in the old part of the town, this is India's most important pilgrimage center for people from all faiths. Popularly known as Dargah Sharif, it is the tomb of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti who came to Ajmer from Persia in 1192. Mughal Emperor Humayun completed construction of the shrine and the Nizam of Hyderabad added its massive gate. Akbar used to make a pilgrimage to the Dargah from Agra once a year. The two massive iron cauldrons in the courtyard are for

offerings, which are customarily shared by the family involved in the shrine's upkeep. There are two mosques in courtyard one built by Akbar and the other by Shahjahan. The saint's tomb with a marble dome is in the centre of the second courtyard and is surrounded by a silver platform. Please note you have to cover your head in certain areas of the Dargah, hence kindly keep a scarf or cap.

The shrine is next only to Mecca for the Muslims of south Asia. The Urs Mela commemorating the death anniversary of the saint is held here in the seventh month of the lunar calendar and attracts a large number of Muslims from India and abroad. A colourful fair that springs up during this time is the major attraction.

Ana Sagar Lake

Is an artificial lake that was created in the 12th century by damming River Luni. On its bank is the pleasant park, the Daulat Bagh containing a series of marble pavilions erected in 1637 by Shahjahan. There are fine views from the hill beside the park. Boats are available for hire at the jetty.
 

Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra

Located beyond the Dargah, on the outskirts of the town are the ruins of this mosque. According to legend, its construction in 1153 took 2 ½ days (adhai din), hence the name. It was originally a Sanskrit college, built within a temple. But In 1193 AD Mohamed Ghouri seized Ajmer and converted the building into a mosque by adding a seven-arched wall in front of the pillared hall. The building is a fine piece of Indo-Islamic architecture. The pillars are all different and the arched screen with its minarets is noteworthy.

Taragarh For

About 3 km beyond the Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra mosque lies this fort. Taragarh or the Star Fort, was built by Ajaipal Chauhan, the town's founder and commands a superb view over the city. It was the site of much the military activity during the Mughal period and was later used as a sanatorium by the British.
 

The Museum

Once a palace built by Mughal Emperor Akbar, this imposing building now houses the government museum. Its collection includes stone sculptures, old weapons and miniature paintings.
 

Nasiyan Temple

This Red Temple is a Jain temple built in the 19th century. Its double storey hall contains a fascinating series of large, gilt wooden figures from Jain mythology that depict the Jain concept of the ancient world.

Around Ajmer ...

Pushkar Fair

Is one of the most colorful cattle fairs of India. Besides trading of horses, camels, cows and bulls, there are exciting camel races, street theatre and cultural events. There are a variety of stalls selling interesting handicrafts, clothes, household items and leather goods. The place becomes a flurry of activity with musicians, mystics, comedians, tourists, traders, animals and devotees all converging on the small town. The exact dates of the Fair depends on the lunar calendar, but in Hindu chronology it falls on the full

moon (Purnima) of the month of Kartik (October/November) when devotees cleanse away their sins by bathing in the holy lake.

Temples

There are as many as 400 temples though few are as ancient as can be expected from such an important pilgrim site. Many were desecrated by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and subsequently rebuilt. The most famous of the temples is the Brahma Temple, said to be one of the very few temples in the world dedicated to the deity. The temple is marked by a red spire, and over its entrance gate is the hans or the goose vehicle of Brahma. The other important temple is the Savitri Temple located on a hilltop overlooking the lake. It is dedicated to Brahma's consort Savitri.

Ghats

There are about 52 ghats that run down the lake. The water around each ghat is supposed to have special powers. Pilgrims can be seen constantly bathing in the lake's sacred waters.
 

Pushkar Palace

Located near the lake this was once the residence of the Maharaja of nearby Kishangarh. It has now been converted into a heritage hotel.