1. Pushkar Lake According to the Hindu scriptures and the locals, the holy Pushkar Lake is described as ‘Thirtha Raj’, the king of all pilgrimage sites. No pilgrimage is considered complete without a dip in the holy lake. It is believed to purge humans of all their sins, and even skin diseases. It is semi-circular in shape and about 8-10 meters deep, Pushkar Lake is surrounded by 52 bathing Ghats (stairs) and over 400 temples and is truly a magnificent sight to behold. Place Timing: 4 AM to 9 PM Entry fees: Free
2. Brahma Temple It is the only temple in the world dedicated to Lord Brahma (According to the Hindu mythology, Brahma is one of the three main Gods referred to in Hinduism, he is believed to be the creator of culture). They are built with marble and decorated with silver coins, this temple can be identified by its red spire (pyramidal structure on the top of a building) and the image of a swan (holy bird that signifies the character of Lord Brahma). The chaturmukhi (four-faced) idol of Lord Brahma is housed in the inner temple. A marble statue of the Sun god stands sentinel at the temple. Interestingly, while all the gods are shown bare-footed, Surya is shown wearing ancient warrior’s boots. Place Address: Brahma Temple Rd, Ganahera, Pushkar, Rajasthan 305022 Place Timing: 5 AM to 9 PM Entry fee: Free for Indians and Foreigners Note: Photography is prohibited inside. There are shops around the temple for people to buy amazing things which are specially dedicated to Rajasthan Culture.
3. Varaha Temple
Varaha temple is the largest and the most ancient temple of Pushkar. It was constructed by the 12th century ruler, King Anaji Chauhan and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu (According to the Hindu mythology, Vishnu is one of the three main Gods referred to in Hinduism, he is believed to be the one who sustains the culture). It is the most visited temples in Pushkar. This temple was also destroyed by Emperor Aurangzeb and was reconstructed by Raja Sawai jai singh 2 of Jaipur in 1727.
Place Address: Main Market, Pushkar, Rajasthan 305022 Place Timing: Sunrise to Sunset Entry fee: Free for Indians and Foreigners
4. Savitri Temple Dedicated to Lord Brahma’s first wife, Goddess Savitri, this Temple is situated on a hill right behind the Brahma temple. While climbing the long series of steps to the temple, one can catch a whole view of the lake, surrounding temples and sand dunes. Also this is a beautiful spot to watch the sunrise. The new, rope way cable car is an amazing experience, this cable car takes a stop mid way to allow tourists the thrill of height and the scenic beauty of Pushkar.
Place Address: Kharekhari Road, Pushkar, Ajmer, Rajasthan 305005 Note: The reason why there is only one temple of Brahma in India, is because of Savitri’s curse to Brahma for marrying another Goddess Gayatri.
Place Timing: All days of the week 5:00 AM - 12:00 PM & 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Entry fee: Free for Indians and Foreigners
5. Aptaeshwar Temple aka Pataleshwar Caves Dedicated to lord Shiva (According to the Hindu mythology, Shiva is one of the three main Gods referred to in Hinduism, he is believed to be the destroyer of ego) this temple dates back to 10th century A.D. and is located near the Brahma temple. It has a Shiv ling (shrine) covered with copper snake, people here say that the temple has been sinking deeper into the earth over the years. Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb destroyed this temple in his attempt to create an Islamic city.
Place Timing: All days of the week 5:00 AM - 08:00 PM
Entry fee: Free for Indians and Foreigners