Alice Rose; Traveller & Blogger
Whatever you believe, there is an undeniable magic emanating from this body of water. Maybe it’s the energy of so many millions of people coming to the lake over time, giving their prayers, hopes, dreams, and secrets to the water. I don’t know.
What I do know is, you must take a walk around the ghats (stairways) if you come to town. A visit to Pushkar isn’t complete without it. It is absolutely essential to respect the tradition of going barefoot while doing so. The reason being, in Hindu culture, shoes are considered impure and, furthermore, it is believed that holy places channel energy. This sacred energy is best received through the naked soles of the feet. Save yourself the embarrassment of being called out by a local, and take off those gorgeous new sandals you treated yourself to whilst shopping in the main market.
Whilst wandering the perimeter of the lake, expect to see stunning architecture, pilgrims, pundits, bathers, fallen rose petals, holy cows, monkey families… it’s beautiful. Challenge yourself to find the ancient crocodile hidden close to the shores. Should you become tired, stop for a chai at Sunset Cafe, which coincidentally is a beautiful spot to watch the sunset. As the day closes, locals and westerners alike gather at sunset point to listen to local musicians, watch jugglers, chit-chat, or simply watch the sun setting behind the mountain, and Savatri Mata Temple. Find your spot there, and enjoy the center of the Universe.
Jaipur Through My Lens
Every time I visit Pushkar, it reminds me of the famous Hollywood movie Eat, Pray and Love featuring Julia Roberts wherein she plays the role of Elizabeth Gilbert who ends her painful marriage and sets off on a holiday trip to reclaim her life. She discovers the joy of food in Italy, spirituality in India, and love in Bali.
I am yet to come across a town in Rajasthan, which offers a variety of Mediterranean and Italian dishes along with the local cuisines. You will find a better wood burn pizza in Pushkar at a far lower price in comparison to Jaipur. Pushkar is one of the few places where you can treat yourself to a great Banoffee pie which is impossible to find in most Indian cities.
The Sacred Pushkar; Music Festival
Surrender to the tranquil charms of Pushkar, immerse yourself in soul-stirring music, relax with our curated therapies, as you shake off the urban ennui, and reclaim your Wellness and Joy!
The fourth edition of The Sacred Pushkar celebrated mindful living with its dynamic community of experienced practitioners, therapists, musicians, and fellow celebrants, all enhancing our bouquet for Inspired Living.
The Sacred Pushkar is a two-day festival celebrating all the amazing things that define Pushkar. It celebrates world music, which includes Sufi, acapella, folk, classical music, and more. They’ve got artists attending from all over and if this is your kind of music, you’ll love these performances.
If you’re someone who pays attention to wellness, there are yoga and meditation sessions and healing workshops to attend. Organic food and products are also available and local vendors provide healthy food while you go to different classes and workshops.
De Kulture; Arts & Crafts
Pushkar’s importance as a pilgrimage destination ensured a large flow of tourists into the region and thus historically, communities like Bhopa, Kalbeliya, Dholi, etc. either settled here or would come during festivals every year to entertain the visitors and sing the glory of ‘The Lord’. The continuous patronage and thriving local culture have ensured that these old music forms have survived and are still in vogue. It has also ensured the creation of contemporary forms like the brass band genre which play traditional music on instruments that were not created for this purpose.
Lonely Planet; Travel Resource
Pushkar has a magnetism all of its own – it’s quite unlike anywhere else in Rajasthan. It is world-famous for its spectacular Camel Fair, which takes place in the Hindu month of Kartika (October/November). If you are anywhere nearby at the time you would be crazy to miss it.
ManvsGlobe Blog
Pushkar is unlike anywhere else in Rajasthan. This small, yet enchanting town has the right mix of mysticism, religious fervor, and magnetism that causes backpackers and new-age types to linger here for weeks, if not months.
Thomas Cook Blog
The elaborate cultures followed and traditions observed in India have attracted many races and civilizations towards the country. If we turn back the pages of history, we will be greeted with many majestic, magnificent, and magnanimous celebrations and fares held across the country. With changing times and the emancipation of the modern era, although these trends of hosting such baffling funfairs have withered away, yet there are certain pockets of the country where we can still witness the reminiscent of our glorious past, Pushkar Camel Fair is one of them.
The small town in Rajasthan, Pushkar is one such place that transcends into a magical land of royalty each year when it hosts the illustrious Pushkar Camel Fair. An astonishing 50,000 camels flock into the humble desert of Pushkar for the annual Camel Fair. As fascinating as the festival is, one cannot deny that it does unfold a peculiar sight in front of our eyes with glamorously decked-up camels strolling wherever your eyes could roll. This fair was originally organized to attract local camel and cattle traders promoting business exchange during the holy occasion of Karthik Purnima. But today, the fair stands as one of the most important attractions to visit on the calendar of Rajasthan Holidays.
Check out Jana Indica’s commentary on “Why Pushkar”!