The lake of the same name is one of Pushkar’s most famous attractions. The myths state that Brahma dropped his lotus flowers here, creating the lake. Hindus hold the holy Pushkar Lake in the highest regard. “Tirtha Raj” means “king of pilgrimage place” in Sanskrit. According to popular belief, one may drown their sins in the holy waters of this lake. It is said that the water of the lake has medicinal and healing qualities. All around the lake, you may find about 500 temples.
History
Beginning in the fourth century BC, the lake has a rich history. Coins from the era make reference to the lake. The lake was there in the 2nd century BC, as shown by the Sanchi inscription. Despite the lake’s location away from the commercial route, it served as a significant pilgrimage destination. The ninth-century Rajput ruler Nahar Rao Parihar of Mandore supposedly went to the lake on a hunting trip after he followed a white boar. While quenching his thirst, he put his palm into the lake and discovered that the Leukoderma signs had disappeared. The monarch was so amazed by the lake’s curative powers that he decided to repair it. As word spread about the lake’s healing properties, people began to congregate there to swim away skin ailments. The lake supposedly formed as a result of the construction of a dam over the Luni River. There is a school of thought that holds that the tenth Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh, sat on the shore of the lake and read the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs.
Design
The leisure areas, including the restaurants, library, and meditation center, are zoned inside the existing historic building, while the rooms and traditional hall are part of the addition. This arrangement caters to the interaction among the activities and adjacency of spaces.
The plan calls for the taller structure to serve as a background, while the shorter one will step down towards a planned lake.
The design is a continuation of Pushkar’s visuals and the city’s fabric.
The lake may be seen from the terraces that resemble the Ghats. Aerial views of the waterways are provided by the holes in the buildings.
The structure maintains its permeability and aims to blend seamlessly with its environment. With a light blue stucco finish in front, the rear-built stands in sandstone, softening the materiality as it faces the lake.
At night, the platforms at the intersections may be transformed into vibrant event venues.
Attractions
Temples Near Pushkar Lake
The Mughal Empire in India demolished many of the 500 temples that lined the lakeshore. Out of all of them, the Brahma Temple stands out as the most significant. Its building dates back to the 114th century, but its estimated age is 2000 years.
Ghats at Pushkar Lake
Pilgrims utilize the lake’s approximately 52 ghats for bathing. However, ten of them are both well-known and historically significant buildings. Varaha, Dadhich, Saptarishi, Gwalior, Kota, Gau, Yag, Jaipur, Karni, and Gangaur are the several gorges that make up this area.
Pushkar Fair
Beginning on Prabodhini Ekadashi, the eleventh lunar day in the brilliant fortnight, and concluding on Kartik Poornima, the full Moon day in the month of Kartik (October-November), the Pushkar Camel Fair is the biggest camel fair in Asia. There are a lot of people at the lake on Kartik Poornima because everyone believes that a bath would make them feel better and erase their sins.
How to reach
By Road
At the very heart of Pushkar City is Pushkar Lake. From Ajmer, one may easily go here by taking a bus or a cab.
By Rail
Several important cities have convenient train connections to Pushkar Lake, including Delhi, Agra, Mumbai, Chennai, Pali, Jaipur, and Ahmedabad, all of which are within a 15-kilometer radius.
By Air
Jaipur Airport, which is 148 km away and has frequent domestic flights to Delhi and Mumbai, is a good option for getting to Pushkar Lake.