Pushkar: A Liberal Town

Pushkar Lake

Pushkar situated in Rajasthan, approximately 2.5 hours from Jaipur and 30 minutes from Ajmer has become one of the vibrant places of India. Tourist comes throughout the year to receive Holy blessings, to see a liberal India. On a higher note to be a part of rich color that Pushkar has turned out to be in the past few years.

Artist

Traveler/Artist

Pushkar is a land full of Artists, Travelers, Readers, and Photographers and of course religious people sharing their thoughts and life experiences making an enthusiastic conversation. This time I traveled down the streets of Pushkar with my much-loved camera capturing moments and understanding the liberal culture out here that I have been hearing out. I experienced a different relation this time amongst the people out there; no matter if, he was an Englishmen or a Traditional Artist, they all shared their thoughts or somehow enjoyed the moments over smile making it a joyful go.

Camel at the Desserts

Therefore, people and their beautiful thoughts are at one place making the city a joyful place. Apart from this, there are more than 100 temples full of worshipers praying to their idols. There is a desert full of camels, travelers, photographers, and people from all over the world celebrating moment of happiness. Pushkar Lake, which is sacred, and is one of the most visited places, filled with travelers and readers sitting at the ends in search of peace. In the evening, the lake looks more stunning as the place is full of people lighting the diyas followed by the prayer making the place more beautiful in the night as well.

As every place has its charm, Pushkar has its as well, the 2 km long market featuring, traditional cloths, accessories, herbal food items, holy accessories and small food stalls making your taste buds alive. Be it the shops, or the road, it is full of vendors selling their products. Pushkar has access to more than 100 hotels, so if you are planning a stay, I would suggest two of them, first one being Ananta Spa and Resorts, located at the outskirts resulting into a 15 min drive by a bus or car. Another one being Master’s Paradise, which is 500 meter walk from Gurdwara. I have experienced one of the best hospitality at these two hotels. There are many good hotels, but yes, I would go on recommending these two.

Saint outside the Temple

There are many attractions in and nearby Pushkar, but the ones that I have enjoyed were, the camel rides, the lake, the temples and of course the splendid market. These attractions are at one place, but the conversations with localities and their stories was the experience I would search for in places. Travelling through the streets, capturing moments was one experience I would ask photographers to get a feel of, as there are new things, that diverts camera in that direction forcing you not to miss the capture.

Rajasthani Traveler

I sat down near a temple in search of good shot. Minutes later a religious person wearing a turban and a holy dress passed by, I thought of taking a candid shot for the same, seconds later he turned around and posed for my camera. I was shocked, as people rarely do not allow capturing them, but his reactions gave so much of respect to my camera and me.  

A person wearing Sikh attire

Therefore, stunned by his reaction, I followed him to the temple in search of what exactly makes him go to the temple, as I am not the one who would visit a temple in search for god. So eager to meet him, I sat near the stairs waiting for him, so finally he was there. I asked him if I can have a small conversation with him, he called me without any question on his face and told let us sit and talk about what is there in your mind. I asked him, what makes you go to the temple, with a smile on his face he answered, to find peace. We can find peace anywhere in the world, if our motive is in the right direction, temples are just to help people find their inner peace and to practice their love for god. He continued with a flow, that god is one; it is just that we the people have made different meanings to god, which now has turned out into religions. Religion was a medium to help people pray to the god, but a different meaning has emerged out of the same. Though he wore attire worn by the Sikh’s, but his words were so delightful, it seemed as if no religion exists for him, it was all one for him.