| Uma and Vinod Wanchoo, who live in Pushkar, | | | | Delhi, Mumbai. More information about the |
| Rajasthan, India who live in this corner of | | | | trains can be found at: Indian Rails Online. |
| the world share their knowledge with Norm | | | | |
| Goldman, Editor of and Today, Norm Goldman, | | | | It is easier to reach Pushkar by road from |
| Editor of is pleased to have as our guests | | | | Delhi. The distance between the two places is |
| Uma and Vinod Wanchoo, who live in Pushkar, | | | | about 422 kms. Private and government buses |
| Rajasthan, India. | | | | ply between the two places. AC coaches and |
| | | | deluxe buses for Jaipur are also available |
| Uma is a geography teacher in a well-known | | | | from Inter State Bus Terminius near Kashmiri |
| private school in India and Vinod is in | | | | Gate and from Bikaner House near India Gate |
| marketing. They are the owners of Wanchoo's | | | | in Delhi. There is a bus for Ajmer every 15 |
| Kamp Site and they are here today to tell us | | | | minutes from Jaipur and the same from Ajmer |
| something about Pushkar, Rajasthan India. | | | | to Pushkar. The frequency of ordinary buses |
| | | | is more. Car travel is faster as it takes |
| | | | about 6 to 7 hours from Delhi to Pushkar. |
| | | | |
| Good day Uma and Vinod and thank you for | | | | Norm: |
| participating in our interview. | | | | |
| | | | What is there to do in and around Pushkar? |
| Norm: | | | | |
| | | | Uma and Vinod: |
| Could you tell our readers where is Pushkar, | | | | |
| Rajasthan, India, something about its people, | | | | As Pushkar is a holy place, it has more than |
| climate and tourist industry? | | | | 365 big and small temples. The main ones are |
| | | | Brahma temple, Old and New Rangji temple, |
| Uma and Vinod: | | | | Savitri temple, and Shiv temple. |
| | | | |
| Pushkar is located in Rajasthan, a state in | | | | The mail street is a shopping paradise, from |
| the western part of India. The place can be | | | | clothes to silver jewelry to antiques, |
| called a green belt in The Thar or The Great | | | | incense sticks, local rose water, and |
| Indian Desert. It is surrounded by one of the | | | | paintings. The Baijnath temple, Panch Kund, |
| oldest ranges in the world-The Arravallis. | | | | sand dunes, camel safaris, camel cart rides, |
| The nearest city, Ajmer, is 15 kms, well- | | | | folk music, application of herbal henna, and |
| known for the shrine of Muslim Sufi Saint | | | | hiking on the surrounding hills are other |
| Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, Garib Nawaj. Ajmer | | | | options available. |
| is the most revered place for a Muslim after | | | | |
| Mecca/Medina. | | | | Ajmer has a ample to offer. The Shrine of the |
| | | | Muslim Saint, Ana Sagar Lake, Bara Dari, Foy |
| It is considered as a holy place in India. | | | | Sagar Lake, Taragarh Fort, Mayo College, Jain |
| The basis of Indian religion is TRINITY, | | | | Temple, and Akbars Fort are some of the main |
| which stands for the Creator, BRAHMA, the | | | | attractions. |
| Preserver, VISHNU, and the Destroyer of Evil, | | | | |
| SHIVA. | | | | It is a lesser known fact that the foundation |
| | | | of the British Empire was laid here. The |
| The legend goes that a lotus flower fell from | | | | British emissary, Sir Thomas Roe, from the |
| the hands of Lord Brahma and the holy lake of | | | | court of James I, came to Ajmer to seek |
| Pushkar was created. In Sanskrit, the word | | | | permission to start the East India Company |
| PUSHP means a FLOWER and KAR stands for HANDS | | | | from the then Emperor Jehangir, who resided |
| hence, the name Pushkar. | | | | here. 30 kms from Ajmer is Tilonia, where |
| | | | there is a Social Welfare Research Centre, |
| It is the only place in the world that has a | | | | started by an NGO called as The Barefoot |
| Brahma Temple. It is believed that Lord | | | | College. |
| Brahma selected Pushkar for a religious | | | | |
| ceremony called a Yagya. He was waiting for | | | | Norm: |
| Savitri, his wife, to join him. The | | | | |
| auspicious time for the ceremony was ticking | | | | If you had to choose six of the most romantic |
| by and his wife did not appear. So, Lord | | | | venues in and around Pushkar, which ones |
| Brahma married a local girl to perform the | | | | would you choose and why? |
| Yagya. Seeing this, Savitri got furious and | | | | |
| cursed her husband that he would not be | | | | Uma and Vinod: |
| worshipped anywhere else, but here. The holy | | | | |
| lake also attracts many a devout Hindus, who | | | | ***BAIJNATH TEMPLE: A quiet place hidden in a |
| believe that taking a dip in the holy lake | | | | hilly area with a small spring flowing close |
| would cleanse them of all sins. After someone | | | | by. |
| dies, the ashes of the person can also be | | | | |
| immersed in the holy lake, per Hindu rites. | | | | ***DESERT LANDMARK: After sunset the sand |
| | | | dunes are cool and compelling. Especially on |
| Being a desert, the summer months of May and | | | | a full moon night, it is a sight to behold. |
| June are very hot. During the day, the | | | | |
| temperatures can soar up to 45-48ºC, but | | | | ***PUSHKAR LAKE: In the evening, the view of |
| dust storms in between help break the | | | | sunset on the lake and the bells ringing from |
| monotony of dry heat. The nights are | | | | the surroundings temples leave you |
| generally cool here. July to September is the | | | | spellbound. |
| monsoon or rainy season. October is hot and | | | | |
| humid. November to February is the winter | | | | ***PRITHVI RAJ SMARAK: In Ajmer, this serene |
| season. The sun is always strong during the | | | | garden on a hilltop gives an excellent view |
| day and the nights are cold. The temperature | | | | of the city on one side and the Arravalli |
| may go down to about 6-7ºC. March is | | | | hills on the other. |
| slightly pleasant but by April the heat | | | | |
| starts setting in. | | | | ***BARA DARI: These marble embankments on the |
| | | | Ana Sagar Lake remind you of the glory of the |
| The population of Pushkar is largely Hindu, | | | | Moghul Emperors who lived here in the past. A |
| with a handful of Muslims. Majority of the | | | | walk along the embankments, just looking at |
| population belongs to the PANDA community, | | | | the ripples in the water or a boat ride is |
| which performs religious ceremonies and | | | | pure joy. |
| rites. A number of them have changed their | | | | |
| profession and taken up different trade. New | | | | ***HAPPY VALLEY: A beautiful valley hidden |
| hotels and various shops have opened job | | | | among the hills and trees. A lively place to |
| opportunities for people living here. By and | | | | be in as the name suggests. |
| large the people are warm, friendly, and | | | | |
| helpful. | | | | Norm: |
| | | | |
| The tourism industry in Pushkar has increased | | | | How safe is it to travel around Pushkar? |
| by leaps and bounds. It is on the world map | | | | |
| due to the CAMEL FAIR, which takes place | | | | Uma and Vinod: |
| during the month of November for 10 days. | | | | |
| People coming from far and wide carry on | | | | It is fairly safe to travel around Pushkar. |
| trading of camels and other animals. | | | | There have been a few unpleasant incidents, |
| | | | but they are not the norm. One has to be |
| The main day of the Fair coincides with the | | | | careful and understand the culture of the |
| full moon day of Kartik month (approximately | | | | country. In small towns there is still |
| November). The dates change every year as the | | | | segregation between the two sexes. Fair skin |
| Indian calendar follows the lunar cycle. On | | | | always attracts attention, unknowingly. It is |
| the main day called the Brahm Mahurat, or | | | | necessary to wear clothes that cover you |
| auspicious time, a large number of devout | | | | well, especially young single girls. A |
| Hindus takes a dip in the holy lake early | | | | cordial distance should be maintained from |
| morning. | | | | the male members of the society and to not be |
| | | | gullible. It is sometimes a challenge for a |
| Norm: | | | | person from the West. Pushkar is certainly |
| | | | not Goa, a beach resort. It is a holy place |
| How did you become interested in owning a | | | | and certain social norms have to be taken |
| camp site? How long have you owned your site | | | | into consideration. At times things have gone |
| and where exactly is it located? | | | | out of proportion due to media publicity, but |
| | | | we can assure you that Rajasthan is by far |
| Uma and Vinod: | | | | the safest state in north India. |
| | | | |
| It is a story of gradual development and one | | | | Norm: |
| thing leading to another. We bought the farm | | | | |
| in January, 1998. In 2000, we constructed a | | | | Could you tell our readers what to expect in |
| farm house, as we are both fond of cooking | | | | the way of lodging and dining in and around |
| and socializing. Eventually, we started | | | | Pushkar? How expensive is it? |
| organizing day picnics for local schools and | | | | |
| farm parties for families in 2002. | | | | Uma and Vinod: |
| | | | |
| A swimming pool and changing rooms were added | | | | There are hotels that suit every budget. The |
| in 2003, and as we were encouraged by the | | | | range is from $3 in a rented room with hardly |
| response we received and pitched tents in | | | | any facilities to a good hotel, which can |
| 2004. | | | | cost anywhere around $25-30. The expensive |
| | | | ones can cost around $40-50. The rates for |
| Presently, we have 4 large tents that | | | | the winter months and the Pushkar Fair are |
| accommodate double beds, and come attached | | | | different for each hotel. |
| with W/C. There are also 3 tents of single | | | | |
| occupancy, without W/C. The showers and | | | | The food served in Pushkar is only vegetarian |
| bathrooms are located nearby. We open the | | | | and no liquor is allowed. Popular dining |
| place from September to March (depending on | | | | areas are Sunset Café, Honey n Spice, and |
| the weather). Also, we are now living on the | | | | many a shops on the main market street that |
| farm. | | | | offer multi cuisine menus. Most places are |
| | | | not very expensive-a sumptuous meal can be |
| Our Kampsite is 3 kms from Pushkar, in a | | | | bought for around $3 and it can go up to $15 |
| village called Bagolai on Dev Nagar Road. We | | | | in an expensive restaurant. These are all |
| provide transportation for our guests from | | | | approximate rates and only a few hotels and |
| Ajmer, as well as from the Pushkar Bus Stand. | | | | eateries are mentioned. |
| It is the only tented accommodation for | | | | |
| nearly 7 months in a year. Our tariff | | | | Norm: |
| includes breakfast and to and fro transport | | | | |
| to Pushkar, but the other meals can be | | | | When is the best time to visit your area? |
| requested in advance and paid separately. Our | | | | |
| specialty is authentic Kashmiri cuisine. Our | | | | Uma and Vinod: |
| tariff is very reasonable: $15 dollars per | | | | |
| person, per day, and $35 during the Pushkar | | | | The best time to visit Pushkar is from |
| Fair. What our guests have most appreciated | | | | October to March. |
| about our place is the peace and quiet at the | | | | |
| end of an active day spent in Pushkar or | | | | Norm: |
| Ajmer. | | | | |
| | | | Is there anything else you care to comment on |
| Norm: | | | | that we have not covered? |
| | | | |
| How does one travel to Pushkar from Europe or | | | | Uma and Vinod. |
| North America? | | | | |
| | | | We would like to add here that India is not |
| Uma and Vinod: | | | | the land of snake charmers, godmen, so called |
| | | | spritualists or sadhus. They do exist, but |
| Regular international flights come to Mumbai | | | | more importantly, India is an emerging techno |
| and Delhi, which are close to Pushkar. | | | | savvy nation that is very rooted to |
| Reaching Pushkar from both these cities is | | | | traditions. We believe in the sayings, which |
| relatively easy and comfortable. Train is the | | | | translated literally means one should be |
| cheapest means of transport. | | | | polite to all as you never know in which form |
| | | | God will appear before you and guests are |
| The nearest airport is at Jaipur, about 148 | | | | incarnation of God. |
| kms. Taxis are available to reach Pushkar | | | | |
| directly, or one can take a bus from Sindhi | | | | Check out OUR WEBSITE for more information. |
| Camp Bus Stand for Ajmer/Pushkar. | | | | |
| | | | Thanks once again for sharing your knowledge |
| Ajmer is the rail head for Pushkar and four | | | | about Pushkar. |
| major trains cross this city coming from | | | | |