Brahma Temple, Pushkar

Getting there

• By air

  Kishangarh Airport in Kishangarh is the nearest airport, to the northeast of Pushkar.

• By train

  Ajmer is the nearest major railway station. Pushkar Terminus, operating since 2012, is 14 km from Ajmer station.

• By road

  Pushkar is about 10 km from Ajmer by Highway 58, which goes over the Aravalli Range. Regular buses run from Pushkar to Jaipur, Jodhpur and Ajmer, leaving from the Ajmer bus stand.

Rules to know

• Pushkar is a vegetarian town, and the sale of meat, fish, eggs and alcohol is banned.

Why devotees come here

Brahma Temple stands in Pushkar, a temple town on the shore of Pushkar Lake in Ajmer district, Rajasthan. It is described as the only temple dedicated to Brahma in the world. Its red spire is the most famous of the town's temples.

Pushkar is believed to be where Brahma performed penance for a very long time. It is therefore one of the rare places with a temple to him. Legend says the lake was made holy to Brahma after a lotus he dropped from his hand fell into the valley and a lake appeared there. The temple's life-size idol of Brahma is shown with four faces, and it sits in the inner sanctum.

Most temples and ghats in Pushkar date from the 18th century or later, because many earlier temples were destroyed in conquests in the area. The Brahma temple was rebuilt by Gokul Parak Oswal.

The temple is built of marble and decorated with silver coins. Its red spire and the image of a swan identify it. A marble statue of the sun stands at the temple as a guardian.

Festivals

• Autumn, marking Kartika PurnimaPushkar Camel Fair

  An annual camel and livestock fair, one of the world's largest cattle fairs, held in the town.

• MarchHoli

  One of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar.

Tips for your visit

• State tourism suggests watching the aarti ceremonies at the Brahma Temple.
• The Savitri Mata ropeway above Pushkar was inaugurated in 2016.

Questions people ask