Tirth Raj Pushkar in Ajmer, Rajasthan

Quote of the Post: "Witness the holy pilgrim place, its colour, lake, temples, ghats and magical fairs, hosted at time to time." - Quote about "Tirth Raj Pushkar, Ajmer" by Sachin Kumar Gupta

The holy town Pushkar is situated in Ajmer district in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Pushkar is one of the oldest existing cities of India. Pushkar has become a place of Hindu pilgrimage because of its holy Pushkar lake. Pushkar in Sanskrit means blue lotus flower. Hindus believe that the gods released a swan with a lotus in its beak and let it fall on earth where Brahma would perform a grand yagna. The place where the lotus fell was called Pushkar. It is derived from word 'Pushpa' means flower and 'Kar' means hand. It is often called "Tirth Raj" – the king of pilgrimage sites – and has in recent years become a popular destination for foreign tourists as well.

It is 14 km away from Ajmer and 140 km from Jaipur. It is one of the five sacred dhams (pilgrimage site) for devout Hindus. Most of the people visiting Jaipur, take one day trip to Ajmer and Pushkar, so did we. It was quite a smooth drive from Jaipur via Kishangarh. It was a bit cloudy when we reached Pushkar. Once we reach there, our guide explained two stories about this place:

First, According to Hindu theology, it was formed by the tears of Lord Shiva which is believed to have shed after the death of his wife, Sati. The story goes that when Sati died, Lord Shiva cried so much and for so long, that his tears created two holy ponds – one at Pushkara in Ajmer in India and the other at Ketaksha, which literally means raining eyes, in Sanskrit. 

Second, The story goes that Brahma wanted to perform the yagna at the most auspicious time but his consort Savitri whose presence at the yagna was vital for its performance kept him waiting. Irritated by this Brahma married Gayatri, a milkmaid. Savitri on seeing someone else in her place was infuriated and cursed Brahma that he would be forgotten by people on earth and never worshiped. She relented on pleas from other gods that he could only be worshipped in Pushkar; hence there are very rare Brahma temples elsewhere in the world. 

Based on this story, you can see many framed photos of lord Brahma, being sold at this place. The most famous among all 1000+ temples, is the Brahma Temple, built during the 14th century CE. Very few temples to Lord Brahma exist anywhere in the world. 

As per wiki info: Other temples of Brahma include Bithoor in Uttar Pradesh, India; Khedbrahma in Gujarat, India; village Asotra near Balotra city of Barmer district in Rajasthan; Uttamar Kovil (one of the Divya Desams) near Srirangam, Tamil Nadu; Mother Temple of Besakih in Bali, Indonesia; and Prambanan in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. 

Lakes and Ghats: It is famous for its ghats at Pushkar Sarovar (Pushkar Lake). One must take a dip in this holy lake. Legend has it, that this lake was dedicated to Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe when a lotus dropped from his hand into the vale and a lake emerged in that place. Pushkar Lake which is considered sacred, has 52 ghats where pilgrims descend to the lake to bathe in the sacred waters. There we saw many pigeons flying from one temple to another temple, and relaxing in the shadow and some enjoying the 'food' offered to them. 

Important Note: 

• Photography of bathing pilgrims in holy lake is strictly prohibited.
• Footwear has to be removed 30 feet away from bathing Ghats of the holy lake, no footwear at the stairs.
• Take care of your camera, valuables and goods.

*Places to see in Pushkar: Pushkar has many temples. Most of the temples are very old and some of them were rebuilt. 

Jagat Pitta Shri Brahma Temple: The most important temple in Pushkar is the Temple of Lord Brahma, one of the holy trinity of Hinduism. The temple enshrines a life-size idol of Lord Brahma.

Savitri Temple: This temple that is located at the top of the Ratnagiri hill, which is dedicated to Savitri, the wife of Lord Brahma. The temple houses a statue of Goddess Savitri. It takes 1 hr 30 mins to walk from Brahma Temple. It gives a panoramic view of the lake and surrounding sand dunes.

Varaha Temple or Shri Nrisingh Temple: This temple is to God Vishnu. It is one of the most visited temples in Pushkar city. It is said that Lord Vishnu gave a visit to this area to kill an atrocious demon Hirnayaksha.

Temple of Rangji (New and Old) or Shri Vaikunthnathji

Gurudwara Singh Sabha 

Mandir Shri Chaar Bhuja Ji: From the front, you can see peepal's leaves. 

Apteshwar Mahadev temple

The Sri Sawai Bhoj Temple

Man Mahal

Fairs and Festivals in Pushkar:

• Pushkar Camel Fair (November)
• Nagaur Fair
• Tejaji fair
• Blue Lotus Festival (February)

Enjoy the wonderful camel ride tour: Camel ride is very famous here, People come here during festive season to roam around the country side.

A visit to Ajmer and Pushkar town from Jaipur by an Indica or Ambassador taxi would cost about Rs 2,500. Expect rates to go up considerably in the high season. In the market area, you can see enjoy many colorful shops and purchase souvenirs. Ajmer is the nearest tourist attraction that lies outside the city boundaries of Pushkar.

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Palace Of The Winds - Hawamahal, Jaipur

Quote of the Post: "Hawa Mahal is a prominent attraction which is standing high in the heart of pink city." - Quote about Hawa Mahal in Jaipur by Sachin Kumar Gupta.

The renowned 'Palace Of The Winds', or Hawa Mahal, is one of the prominent tourist attractions in Jaipur city. The intricate and fascinating facade of the Palace of the Winds is probably Jaipur's most recognized building. If you search for Jaipur, you will easily see Hawa Mahal as the symbol of City at various sites and places.

Location: Next to the City Palace in the heart of the Pink City.

$$ Entry Fees: INR 10 for Indians. INR 50 for foreigners. 

Hawa Mahal Opening Timings: 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. daily.

Located in the heart of Jaipur, this beautiful five-storey palace was constructed in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh (grandson of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh who built Jaipur). The palace is believed to have been constructed in the form of the crown of Krishna, the Hindu god. The palace is built of red and pink sandstone that contain rows of small colorful windows and screens. Wind flows through the open windows, enables free circulation of air within the structure, giving the palace its name.

The main highlight of Hawa Mahal is its pyramid shape and its 953 windows or 'Jharokhas' which are decorated with intricate designs. The palace overlooks the main street of Jaipur's lively Old City. The main entrance of the Hawa Mahal is from the rear of the building where one can usually find many monkeys. The interior of the Hawa Mahal is stiff and plain with passages and pillars reaching to the top storey. The building stories are connected by slopes to reach the upper floors. 

Though many reasons are cited behind the construction of the fort, Purdah system followed by the Rajputs is said to be one of the main causes. During those days, Rajput royal women did not appear in public or in front of strangers. However, they were keen to follow the day-to-day events and royal processions occurring on the streets. So the main intention behind the construction of the Hawa Mahal was to facilitate the royal women a sense of freedom and provide them a view of everyday life through the windows without being observed. A panoramic view can be enjoyed from the top of the building. Take a peek behind the facade of the Hawa Mahal. The monument also has an archaeological museum. 

There are numerous attractions around Hawa Mahal such as the famous Jantar Mantar, Govind Devji temple, Amer Fort, Nahargarh Fort, BM Birla Planetarium, Jain Temple, Statue Circle and so on. From topmost floor of Hawa Mahal, we could finger point most of the places and enjoyed excellent view of the city with flowing winds. We also visited Hawa Mahal during evening and night times that is eye-catching from outside.

Here are some of the tips to visit Jaipur in a day or in two days.

Nearby Tourist Attractions in Jaipur as per map:

City Palace and Govind Devji Temple (C)

Jantar Mantar (D)

Government Central Museum (Albert Hall Museum) (E)

Birla Planetarium Jaipur (F)

Jal Mahal (G)

Places near Hawa Mahal - Jaipur

$$ Composite ticket that includes entry fees for:

[A] Amber Palace and Fort

[B] Nahargarh Fort

[C] Albert Hall

[D] Hawa Mahal

[E] Jantar Mantar

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Nahargarh Fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan

Quote of the post: "Along with Amber Fort and Jaigarh Fort, Nahargarh once formed a strong defense triangle for the city. From the top of the fort, enjoy the breathtaking views of the hilly milieu like balloon ride located in a scenic backdrop of the Aravalli Hills" - Quote about Nahargarh Fort in Jaipur by Sachin Kumar Gupta

After visiting lavish Amer and Jaigarh Fort, we approached towards the 'Nahargarh Fort', which formed a strong defense for Jaipur city. It is built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1734. Nahargarh Fort is connected to the Jaigarh Fort through its fortifications. This Place was a picnic spot for the Royal family. One can easily reach Nahargarh Fort of Rajasthan from the city by taking local Buses or by hiring local Taxis. Hire an autorickshaw from Amber Fort (A) and take a round trip of nearby places like Nahargarh Fort (C) and Jaigarh Fort (B). It might set you back by about INR 250-300, but the views are going to be worth every penny.

Pink City Jaipur Forts Map

Nahargarh Fort Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Entrance fee: INR 20 for Indian Tourists and INR 50 for Foreign Tourists.

*On the left of Tadigate exists the holy shrine of "Lord Sudershan" or Govind Devji. Initially the fort was dedicated to him and named as Sudershangarh. Later, it was given a new name, Nahargarh which means 'abode of tigers'.

*The awe-inspiring palace "Madhavendra Bhawan" built by Sawai Madho Singh exists within the center of the fort. This palace is excellent mix architecture of Indian and European styles. From top of the roof you can enjoy the views of Man Sagar lake and the vast sprawling city of Jaipur like the balloon ride. The two storied palace is divided into nine similar apartments. Each apartment is a double storied building which contains a lobby, bedroom, toilet, store, kitchen etc designed as per the needs of royal families. The walls are beautifully decorated with paintings and minutes of information which are clear even today. 

The Nahargarh Fort of Rajasthan was used as a retreat for the ladies of the royal household. The Women quarters were set up in a tricky way that the Maharaja could pay a visit to any queen’s room without the familiarity of the other queens. Other structures inside the palace include Diwan-I-Aam, an open air enclosure where the king met the common men and listened to their problems and complaints. 

*Terrace of the Fort: This was the best part of the fort to visit. Once you are on top of the fort, enjoy the breath taking views of pink city Jaipur from Nahargarh Fort. Jantar Mantar is one of the five astronomical observatories in western central India. Other places worth visiting nearby are the City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Jalmahal, Jaigarh Fort and Amer Fort. We can easily finger point these places from this fort-top. I could not resist myself from clicking the views in the frames, neither could Meenal and Tanuj.

*The Nahargarh Fort, in contrast to the other forts of Rajasthan, is neither very massive nor very crowded. As such it offers a perfect retreat for all those who wish to spend some quiet moments with themselves. The tranquility offered by the fort draws many tourists from far and wide. This pleasure palace of Rajasthan is one of the most loved picnic spot today. It looks most classy when floodlit at night. The fort overlooks the city and presents a glittering view of the city lights. 

*Bawdi is the water tank, Though the water inside is quite dirty. 

*Durg cafeteria is located just above the entrance and provides refreshment for the tourists. 

*The Padao restaurant situated in the western part is open only in the evenings and sells drinks to its customers. You can enjoy classy and glittering views when floodlit at night. 

The wonderful trek from the foot of the hill to the top, where the fort is located, is truly a great experience. Some famous scenes of the Bollywood movie 'Rang De Basanti' were shot at Nahargarh fort. 1.5 to 2 hours would be good enough to explore this fort by foot. What I saw was interesting enough to write about.. I would recommend a visit here if you are ever in Jaipur, specially for 2 days visit in Jaipur!

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Amber Fort and Palace, Jaipur, Rajasthan

Quote of the post: "This most precious gem in Jaipur is a beautifully built fort and palace, is a treat to the eyes from the first till last glimpse." - Quote about Amer Fort in Jaipur by Sachin Kumar Gupta

During my Jaipur visit, I was so excited to visit this fort, Amer fort and palace is listed in top 7 places to visit in India as per various sites (7 wonders of India). Amer Fort (also pronounced as Amber Fort) is located in small town Amer 11 km from Jaipur, Rajasthan state, India. Amber or Amer Fort's name is derived from Amba, the Mother Goddess. It is one of the principle tourist attractions in the Jaipur area, located high on a hill surrounded by the Aravali ranges in all sides. Amer Fort was built by Raja Man Singh I. Amer Fort is known for its artistic style of Hindu elements. 

The fort built with red sandstone and marble, and its large ramparts, series of gates and cobbled paths, the fort overlooks the Maota Lake at its forefront just looks awesome. For those who have the passion for photography, Amber is the best spot to click innumerable photographs and enjoy your photography passion. We took many snaps from the road at lake side while starting our day journey from Jaipur. The palace of Amber is the most beautiful palaces of world, Never miss an opportunity of an elephant ride to hilltop Amber Fort if that is in your budget. During peak season, You have to book the elephant ride in advance. If you are coming by bike, car or taxi that will lead you till entrance entrance gate near parking area. 

Forts in Jaipur, RJ

Amber Palace Timings: 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Amber has some extremely beautiful and interesting spots, that one should not miss, a few of them mentioned below:

Suraj Pol: This is main entrance known as Sun Gate.

Chand Pol: This was the main gate of entry for the commoners known as Moon Gate.

The Jaleb Chowk: First Main Courtyard.

Shila Devi Temple: At the entrance to the palace near the fort’s Ganesh Gate, there is also a temple dedicated to Shila Devi, a goddess of the Chaitanya cult. Interiors walls of temple portray wonderful carvings on Sangmarmar.

Diwaan-e-aam (Hall of Public Audience): The court where the king give their audience to his subjects and his officials.

Hammam (Turkish Baths): Adjacent to Diwan-e-Khaas this hammam was used by the ruler and the royal family. Change and massage rooms alongwith adjoining toilets can be seen here.

Ganesh Pol: This is entry place into the private palaces of the kings.

Diwaan-e-Khaas (Hall of Private Audience): Private quarters of the royal family

Maota Lake and Garden: The vistas of the lake can be seen while climbing the fort, and from different points of fort.

Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace) or Jai Mandir: Sheesh Mahal is exquisitely beautified with glass panel and multiple-coloured ceilings. 

Sukh Mandir or Sukh Mahal: This place is known as Hall of Pleasure.

Amer Fort Garden: Between Jai Mandir and Sukh Mandir, there is a small garden shaped in a hexagonal pattern. 

Jaigarh Tunnel: This subterranean passage was meant as an escape route in times of war for the royal family members and others in the Amer Fort to shift to the more redoubtable Jaigarh Fort.

Palace of Man Singh I: Oldest part of the palace fort. The exit from this palace leads to the Amer town with many temples, palatial houses and mosques. One can also view many temples and mosques from other side of the fort.

Queen Palaces are some exquisite places, these places are known and famous as a Bollywood shooting spot - like Veer, Jodha Akbar, Hum saath saath hain - to name a few.

We took many photographs from different points of the forts. Apart from monuments and palaces, there are several moments that one would definitely like to capture through third eye. Bustling city life, festivals, decorations etc are worth capturing on camera during various occasions.

Don't miss this fort to visit even if you are coming for 1 day or 2 days visit to Jaipur. Taking you to the next nearby Jaigarh and Nahargarh Forts in Jaipur.

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