'Pushkar' literally means 'Lake of Lotuses'. Situated just below Nag Pahar or the Snake Mountain, Pushkar is quite near to Ajmer. A sacred spot for Hindus, Pushkar's earliest evidences of civilization date back to 4th century BC. The Camel Fair at Pushkar, held in October or November every year, is a major tourist attraction of the place and is one of its kinds in the entire world. A holy dip in the Pushkar Lake is believed to grant one instant salvation and its famous Brahma Temple is the only authentic temple to have Lord Brahma, the Creator of Universe, as its presiding deity. Pushkar is the best place to see exotic rituals and traditions that have become associated with Hinduism over time and religious fervor of local folks in Rajasthan.

Places to See
With 400 temples strewn across the town, Pushkar is famous for its sacred lake and the Brahma Temple. The Pushkar Fair held in October or Novermber every year is a major tourist attraction. The highlights of the town are:

• Pushkar Lake
• Brahma Temple
• Savitri Temple
• Rangji or Rangnath Temple
• Varah Temple
• Apteshwar Temple

Shopping
At Pushkar, you can buy embroidered fabrics, bed covers and handicrafts; miniature paintings of Rajasthan including Kishangarh-style paintings; and brass and wooden decoration items. You might even find antiques here, if you have an expert eye.

Where to Stay
Budget and mid-range hotels are in abundance at Pushkar. However, Pushkar Palace is the only luxury heritage hotel here that offers true royal experience. You may also try:

• Jagat Palace
• Pushkar Palace
• Hotel Pushkar Resort
• Pushkar Fort
• Master Paradise

How to Reach Pushkar
Most popular base to reach Pushkar is at Ajmer, 11 km from the city. Pushkar is a small town with no railway station of its own.

By Road: Pushkar has two bus stands. The Marwar bus stand is the destination for long-distance buses such as those from Delhi, Jodhpur and Bikaner. The buses from Ajmer and Jaipur will drop you off at the Ajmer bus stand. There are frequent buses connecting Pushkar to Ajmer.

By Rail: The nearest railway station to Pushkar is at Ajmer, which is an important pilgrimage attraction itself. Several trains connect Ajmer to all the major Indian cities such as Delhi, Jaipur and Mumbai.

By Air: The nearest airport to Pushkar is at Jaipur, 131 km from here. Major airlines offer regular flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Jodhpur, and Udaipur from here. The Jaipur airport also has flights to Sharjah, UAE and Muscat, Oman.