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Pushkar:
The small holy town of Pushkar is an amalgamation of hundreds of Hindu temples, guesthouse, backpackers hangouts and facilities surrounded by the large Pushkar Lake which millions of pilgrims & tourists visit on a yearly basis. Many travelers come to Pushkar to learn yoga and Hindu philosophy, experiment with various substances, and basically just chill out. Sitting by the ghats on the lakeside while the sun is rising or setting is a peaceful experience as is hiking up the large hill to the Saraswati Temple, about a 1 hour walk from the center of town (views from the temple located at then end of the slideshow). Some of the temples in town, particularly the Brahma Temple & Saraswati Temple are really interesting to visit. Pushkar is a holy town that is predominantly vegetarian and attempts to outlaw alcohol. The lakeside is dominated by budget friendly guesthouses with midrange and high end lodging found a 5-10 minute walk from the lakeside or on the outskirts of town. Pushkar is also filled with touts and hustlers posing as holy men on the ghats by the lake attempting to sell the infamous Pushkar passport, essentially a string tied around your wrist. The hustle is, they invite unwary visitors who are exploring the ghats down to the lakeside, say a prayer, tie a string around their wrist then charge exorbenent fees, upwards of thousands of Rupees and can become quite aggressive if you refuse to pay. You can avoid these swindlers by simply refusing their invitation to say a prayer for you or visit quieter ghats. Remember, true Sadhu's and seekers of truth typically keep to themselves if they are on a true spiritual journey and if approached by you will typically ask you for a reasonable fee in exchange for a blessing. The area between Nagir Palika Ghat & Jhulelal Mandi is particularly filled with hustlers posing as holy men. The area around Gandhi Ghat & the lakeside close to Parikarma Ghat has less hassles. The famous Pushkar Camel Fair typically occurs every November and tourists can visit and even stay on fair grounds in tents with various modern amenities based on price. However, Pushkar swells in population during this time so you want to book accommodation several months in advance and expect to pay high season rates. Although we stayed in a guest house by the lake with a pretty view, we found the state of the lodge in poor condition and cannot recommend it. Below are recommended lodgings from other trusted travelers: Inn Seventh Heaven: (A converted 100 year old Haveli with a great location, comfortable rooms, and gorgeous interior with spectacular views from its rooftop. Advanced bookings are essential http://www.inn-seventh-heaven.com Kishan Palace Hotel: Lovely hotel with friendly staff. http://www.kishanpalacepushkar.com Milkman Lodge: (Family run lodge with friendly owners and comfortable rooms a 10 minute walk from the lake) http://hotelmilkman.com Third Eye Hotel & Restaurant: A more luxurious option on the opposite side of the lake http://www.pushkarthirdeye.com Janmi Kund Road Pushkar, Town, Rajasthan 305022, India +91 94146 67267 For Food we mostly ate at the delicious Out of the Blue Restaurant located close to Gandhi Ghat. A picture of the multi floor restaurant painted Blue is in the slideshow. The restaurant has really friendly staff and specializes in Indian dishes, smoothies, and international fair. The rooftop has lovely views of the town and the surrounding mountain range. We also enjoyed various food stalls located on Main St., especially those selling various Indian snacks and Middle Eastern delicacies. |