Pushkar

Pushkar Lake / Image source

The richness of India's spiritual traditions finds its fullest expression in Pushkar, one of India’s oldest and holiest cities. Situated in close proximity to Ajmer, which is used by the visitors as a jumping-off point to the pilgrim town, Pushkar in the western state of Rajasthan is home to the world’s only temple dedicated to Brhma, the creator God of the Trinity.

According to legend, the sacred lake at its centre came into being when Brahma dropped the petals of a lotus flower (pushpa) from his hand (kar).

One of India's busiest pilgrimage sites, Pushkar is a place of intense spiritual activity. This town on the edge of the Thar Desert is home no less than 500 temples. The most prominent among them is the one dedicated to Brahma, said to be 2,000 years old. 

                                                       Pushkar Fair / Image Source

In October/November, Pushkar is at its exuberant best when Pushkar Camel Fair is held annually to celebrate the Kartik Purnima (night of the full moon), one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar. On this very day Brahma is said to have created the Pushkar Lake with its 52 ghats. This unmissable Rajasthan's famous Camel Fair is a crucible of traders, tourists, local musicians, mystics and pilgrims as well as villagers with, of course, their thousands of livestock.