Pushkar - Hand of Lotus

I really don't know where to begin. I was planning to stay in this lovely town, set around a holy lake, for 2-3 days. Now this is my 5th day and I don't know how to leave here.

I've simply lost myself in Pushkar. The outside world has lost its meaning and seems to be much much far away from me. Don't think it's just me who thinks this way: the people I came with from Jaipur are also still staying in the town, even some of them will be returning in their country in a week and they had plans which includes visiting other places also before turning back to home. We just cannot find the exit:)

Let me tell a little bit of Pushkar. It's a small (around 14.000 pop.), desert-edged town, in which 400-500 temples are. It's said to have appeared when Brahma dropped a lotus flower on earth. Altough the town is just 11km far away from Ajmer, which mostly Muslims live, it's one of Hindu's most important holy places and has one of few Brahma temple (only one in India) inside.

With it's friendly, touristic and holy atmosphere, it's why most people comes in India and what they expect from her. You may sit in a cafe drinking a lemon gingered honey tea with a monkey top of you eating fruits or walk around the lake and watch Indian people bathing in the holy lake.

Altough very touristic place it is (makes shopping a little bit costly compared with other cities and towns of India), it's so easy to find cheap, clean and nice-view (lake or mountains) hotel even in this season. I'm staying in Diamond Hotel, which costs me 80 Rp. per day (2$). You may find Israelian, Chinese, Thai, Mexican dishes in addition to Indian cuisine (max. 80 Rp. per meal). Not to need to say they're delicious. Note that only vegetarian food avaliable due to their religious rule (no-alcoholic also).

I have lots of places as for my favourites, but just want to mention two of them: Sunset Cafe and Savitri Temple. The first one as the name implies has a great view of the town during sunset with sometimes local music show. And the second one is a small temple set up the hill, which you can see the town and areas reserved for Camel Fair (one in every year during October-November).

For your konwledge, you may find anything in Pushkar (lots of Internet Cafe_Royal Cyber Space/10 Rp. per hour).

I had really shoot nice photos, you may find them through the link given at the left.

The next stop will be Agra (try to have a small visit to Ajmer), the city of Taj Mahal, I just need to find the exit:)

For the time being bye bye,