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