Want To Know More About Pushkar, Rajasthan, India?

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