Pushkar Mela – To see Camel Fair
Four of us friends made a 3 days trip in our car to Pushkar-Ajmer to see the famous Pushkar Mela and also visit the Ajmer Dargah. It was an incredible trip and this trip is recommended for anyone who wants to go on a weekend trip from Delhi.
How to Reach Pushkar from Delhi
The total distance from Delhi to Pushkar is 400 km and can be done in 6 hours approx. Passing through Gurugram (Gurgaon) and thence Neemrana and Jaipur, we finally enter the hilly area of Pushkar. The Delhi to Pushkar Road Trip is very enjoyable, easy to drive, and even when you arrive at Pushkar you don’t feel the fatigue.
Pushkar, one of the oldest Cities in India
Pushkar is one of the oldest cities in India. It is located to the northwest of Ajmer. This tranquil city is a favoured destination for thousands of tourists and devotees flocking to Rajasthan. Situated at a height of 510 metres, Pushkar is surrounded by hillocks on three sides. The ‘Nag Pahar’, literally meaning Snake Mountain forms a natural border between Ajmer and Pushkar. Pushkar is also known as ‘the rose garden of Rajasthan’. The essence of the famous Pushkar rose is exported all over the world. Along with an interesting mythological history, a legacy of timeless architectural heritage makes Pushkar a fascinating city.
Oldest Brahma Temple
According to legends, Lord Brahma, believed to be the creator of the Universe dropped a lotus to the ground leading to the immediate creation of a lake. He then decided to name the place after the flower, and thus the name, Pushkar. The city of Pushkar is home to the only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma in the whole world. Hindus consider a journey to Pushkar to be the ultimate pilgrimage that must be undertaken to attain salvation.
Pushkar Lake
The first thing on reaching Pushkar is to see the Pushkar Lake which was just behind our hotel. Pushkar Lake in Rajasthan is a sacred lake of the Hindus and it is described as a sacred pilgrimage site in the Hindu scriptures. The Pushkar Lake also finds mention even in 4th century BC. Chinese traveler Fa Xian also made reference to the Pushkar Lake in his travels.
The Major Attractions of Pushkar
The major attractions of Pushkar are the sacred lake in the center of the Pushkar town, 500 temples around the lake, and the colorful Pushkar Market. When you are in Pushkar and after you are done with the holy dip and darshan at the various temples, it is time for some shopping at the local colorful Pushkar Market. There are a lot of shopping places in Pushkar where one can find many special items to take home. People buy dresses, jewelry, souvenirs, lamps, bags, Rajasthani puppets, and such stuff from this colorful Pushkar Market Rajasthan. We also bought few souvenirs.
The World Famous Pushkar Mela
This world famous Pushkar Mela is held in the month of November at the time of the Kartik Purnima full moon. This mela is more famously known as Pushkar Camel Fair. It is a rare travel experience, a fair that attracts thousands of camels, horses and cattle for trade. It is vsited by thousands of farmers and traders as well as tourists from all across the world. They can be seen photographing and interacting with the traders and locals.
Ajmer Sharif
This holy, beautiful, and historic city called Ajmer Sharif is located at the base of the Aravali Mountain ranges. Ajmer is located at a distance of 135 km from Jaipur and 400 km from Delhi. This city has magnificent forts, beautiful lakes, amazing museums, and palaces that attract tourists from across the world. The city is also popular as a center of Rajasthani culture.
Ajmer Dargah
Ajmer is home to the famous dargah or mausoleum of Sufi saint Khwaja Moin-ud-Din Chishti. Ajmer Dargah is one of the holiest cities in India, attracting both Hindus and Muslims. Pilgrims from other Muslim nations also pay a visit here.
Mayo College, Ajmer
The renowned Mayo College is also located in this city. It was founded by the 6th Earl of Mayo, Viceroy of India from 1869-1872. It was founded to provide princes of Indian kingdoms with an education similar to that given by a public school in the UK during the British period.
Weather Ajmer
Ajmer can be visited anytime throughout the year. However, the months of October to March is considered the best as the weather Ajmer remains pleasant during this time. However, if one can visit the place in the month of May, you get an opportunity to take part in the Urs festival when the entire town is in a festive spirit.
Ana Sagar Lake
After spending two incredible days at Pushkar, it was but natural for us to visit the holy city of Ajmer which is just 16 km away. Ajmer is just 30 mins drive from Pushkar. Midway on the way to Ajmer, we stopped at the Ana Sagar Lake, an artificial lake situated in the city of Ajmer. It is said that this lake was built by Arnoraja, the grandfather of Prithviraj Chauhan, between 1135 -1150 AD, and the lake is named after him. Ajmer is known the world over for the Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti dargah – Ajmer sharif dargah. After an incredible experience of this trip, we returned back to Delhi