legends, lakes,and long weekend...a push for Pushkar

Legends, lakes and long weekend….. Push that takes you to Pushkar…..

All trains were choked, every seat taken, not a single ticket in sight. Who says our economy is dead—tourism seemed to be at an all-time high! With back-to-back festivities fueling the long weekend, wanderlust pulled me stronger than ever. When the railways shut the door, I took the plunge into my first-ever night bus ride—and my very first solo trip—to Pushkar.

The adventure began with the ride itself: a surprisingly comfortable journey under a clear sky, with a half-moon and twinkling stars for company. Time slipped by so quietly that the trip was over before I could even realize it, as if the road had carried me along in a dream.

Pushkar turned out to be larger, livelier, and more vibrant than I had imagined. The moment I set foot in the town, the unmistakable Rajasthani spirit embraced me. Its streets were flooded with visitors—many of them foreigners, probably arriving early for the forthcoming Pushkar Mela. Their childlike wonder at what we consider everyday sights—cows ambling across streets, camel carts, tongas—was delightful. Their excitement matched our devotion to Brahma—the Creator—whose temple in Pushkar is the only one of its kind.

The legends of Pushkar read like a family drama told on a divine scale. After defeating the demon Vajranab, Brahma prepared to perform a yajna. But when his consort Savitri, the lady of the universe, arrived late, the auspicious moment was slipping away. To save the ritual, Brahma placed Gayatri, an ordinary girl, beside him as his consort. When Savitri saw this, anger flared—she cursed Brahma never to be worshipped anywhere else. Yet, softening with wifely duty, she allowed his worship only in Pushkar.

The lofty red-stone temple that stands today enshrines a silver idol of Brahma, the four-faced “Jagat Pita”—the father of humanity—worshipped with deep fervor by devotees.

Still agitated, Savitri withdrew to the lofty Aravallis, making Ratnagiri Hill her abode. From there she overlooks the town with a breathtaking bird’s-eye view. Reaching her temple means an arduous one-hour climb up 800 steps—or, fun filled, adventurous, ropeway ride. I took the ropeway and it was a breathtakingly beautiful view  undoubtedly to be inked in memories for ever…..It is a vantage point of panoramic beauty, though the mischievous Langur brigade does test one’s patience! Gayatri, weighed down by guilt, tempered Savitri’s curse and turned Pushkar into one of the most powerful pilgrimage sites. Yet, daunted by Savitri’s presence, she too chose a hilltop opposite.

Another legend says the lotus Brahma used to vanquish Vajranab scattered three petals here, giving birth to the three sacred lakes—Pushkar, Bada Pushkar, and Madhya Pushkar.

At the heart of the town lies the sacred and serene Pushkar Lake, believed to have been created by Brahma himself. Surrounded by 52 ghats and dotted with temples, it is one of the five holiest pilgrimage sites for Hindus. Brahma Ghat is the most iconic, while Gau Ghat and Varah Ghat too hold immense sanctity. The sight of countless fish gliding peacefully through the waters is meditative in itself.

Equally captivating is a heritage walk through Pushkar’s bustling lanes—lined with shops overflowing with mirror-work lehengas, jewelry, handicrafts, leather goods, bangles, bric-a-brac, and quirky trinkets. Add in irresistible street food—the crisp kachoris, melt-in-mouth rasmalai, and hearty daal baati churma—and the town becomes a feast for both eyes and palate. 

Rajasthani food is as fiery and flavorful as its people are warm and sweet.

Watching locals in their bright, traditional attire only adds to the kaleidoscopic charm. And, of course, a camel cart ride completes the desert flavor.

Pushkar is steeped in myth and mystery—not only in Savitri’s curse, but also in the tale of Lord Shiva, who cursed Brahma in a contest of supremacy with Vishnu. Between its divine temples, bustling bazaars, tranquil lake, and timeless legends, Pushkar lingers in both mind and soul.

And just half an hour away lies another spiritual jewel—the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer Sharif. The moment I stepped inside, goosebumps rose. A deep, uncanny peace descended with the fragrance of roses in the air, while soulful qawwalis echoed through the courtyards, etching the experience forever in memory.

That was my whirlwind Rajasthan solo trip over a short weekend. And now, as I pen down these memoirs while whooshing past the Aravallis and green fields from my train window, I find myself already longing for the next long weekend—to lose myself once again in the resplendence of Rajasthan, with yet another small but soul-refreshing escape. Until then—Toodles!