Pushkar (11 Kms from Ajmer) :

Pushkar is sacred to the Hindus and the lake is believed to have been created by Lord Brahma himself and has the same sanctity for Hindus as Mansarover in Tibet. No pilgrimage is complete without a visit to Pushkar. For most believers it is essential to visit Pushkar at least once in their lifetime. Today, there are as many as 400 temples in Pushkar and the lake is circled by 52 ghats built over several years by several kings and nobles.

The most important temples are dedicated to Lord Brahma, Shiva, Badri Narayan, Varaha, Gayatri and Savitri. The important ghats are the Varaha, Brahma and Gau. The lake is situated on the edge of the desert, surrounded by hills on three sides, and is separated from Ajmer by Nag Pahar the snake mountain.

On this mountain are situated the Panchkund and the cave of the saint Agastya. It is believed that Kalidas-the 4th century sanskrit poet and playwright, chose the setting for his masterpiece Abhigyanam Shakuntalam in this forest heritage. The pilgrims take a holy dip in the Pushkar Lake.