13/02/23 — Ajmer & Pushkar: Sacred Stops on the Road to Jodhpur
Morning wheels rolled toward Ajmer and Pushkar.
Driving to Ajmer was 135km that took us about 3 hours.
Soon after, we reached Pushkar 15km and 40mins away.
Pushkar — Where Myth, Water, and Devotion Meet
Tucked quietly into the Aravalli hills of Rajasthan, Pushkar feels less like a town and more like a spiritual pause in time.
At its heart lies Pushkar Lake, a sacred body of water surrounded by dozens of ghats and centuries of prayer. According to Hindu legend, Lord Brahma dropped a lotus flower here, and the lake formed where it touched the earth. Since then, Pushkar has been revered as one of India’s holiest pilgrimage sites.
From early morning until dusk, the ghats come alive with ritual: pilgrims bathing in the calm waters, priests chanting softly, bells ringing, and marigold petals floating across the surface. A dip in Pushkar Lake is believed to cleanse sins and bring spiritual merit, especially during full-moon days and festivals. Walking along its edges feels meditative — every step echoing generations of faith.
Just a short walk away stands Pushkar’s most iconic landmark, the Brahma Temple — one of the very few temples in the world dedicated to Lord Brahma, the creator in the Hindu trinity. Built in red stone and crowned with a distinctive spire, the temple dates back many centuries, though it has been restored over time. Inside, devotees offer flowers and prayers before Brahma’s idol, while the scent of incense lingers in the air.
Historically, Pushkar was a major center for religious study and ritual, attracting sages, pilgrims, and traders alike. Today, it blends ancient spirituality with a relaxed small-town rhythm — holy chants mixing with café music, sacred cows wandering past souvenir stalls, and sunsets painting the lake in gold.
Pushkar is not about grand monuments or royal palaces. Its magic lies in simplicity — in quiet waters, whispered prayers, and the sense that here, the sacred and everyday coexist effortlessly.
To visit Pushkar is to slow down, breathe deeply, and feel connected — not just to history, but to something timeless.
By nightfall, we arrived in Jodhpur —190km drive that took us nearly 5 hours. Tired, dusty, but still smiling.
