Pushing on to Pushkar

It’s another early start and another train to catch. This time our destination is Pushkar. It’s an uneventful journey with me and most of the group using the opportunity to catch up on sleep with the occasional chat between naps. Once we arrive at Pushkar we have a quick lunch before pushing on to our hotel. Once our bags are dropped and faces freshened with a splash of water, we are out for an orientation walk around Pushkar. It is a beautiful city located on the shore of Pushkar Lake apparently created by Brahma, know as ‘The Creator’ in the Hindu religion, after battling the demon Vajranabha. The lake is said to contain holy water and many Hindu’s pilgrimage here to bathe in its water. On our tour we are lucky enough to receive a blessing from a local priest: we sat together with our offering plate filled with different coloured spices, flowers and a coconut. After chanting some words the priest had us repeat and pouring the offerings into the lake, the blessing was complete and we received a bracelet. Now I am not a believer but do appreciate a blessing especially when the string bracelet, locally known as the Pushkar Passport, is a sign to locals to not hassle you as you have been blessed. After we head to Brahma Temple, according to Anuj, the only temple dedicated to Brahma in India, for a look around and start to learn about the legend linking this God to Pushkar.

The trek up is a slow one, Holly and I are walking with Esra who needs to keep an eye on her heart rate so there are plenty of stops, but that is fine with me as I am sweating through my clothes more than I have done since getting here. The only negative is the endless stream of locals and other Indians wishing to take photos with us, I say us but it is mainly Holly and Esra that take the brunt of the sometimes quite forceful requests for photos. I myself don’t mind stopping for photos but the rest of the group find it a bit much because if you have one photo taken then suddenly there is a group of ten more people asking. But it is worth it. I have been a bit laxed with my exercise in India as we have been so busy, so I enjoy the work out and the panoramic views at the top are amazing, I have to say I also have an affinity for a scorned wife god who has limited the creator himself to only be worshipped in a singular city, and now sits above him looking on for all time. The temple itself is a relatively simple one with a massive amount of monkeys that seem to call it their home. Rachel decided to run to the top with Nikhil in a move I am not sure I will ever truly understand. Once we join them at the top they have made friends with a dog we have named Simba who helps keep the monkeys, who we have been warned about, at bay.

We meet many monkeys on the way up

After our optional hike, which if anyone finds themselves in Pushkar I would recommend, we meet up with Abuja who leads us down many a winding street to a local house for a cooking class. I love it, I get to watch cabbage curry, stuffed roti and potato pakora being cooked. Potato pakora refers to a well known Indian snack that I grew up loving, thanks to best friend’s mother, Aymen. They are slices of potatoes covered in a spiced batter made of gram flour and then deep fried in oil. They are amazing! After watching the demonstration we sit and enjoy the food, the family’s youngest, a small boy, is keeping us very entertained, taking turns walking over to each of us ramming into us with his stroller/bouncer and then with the cutest smile bouncing up and down and letting out a magical laugh.

After the blessing we make our way back through the markets to the hotel and get caught in a down pour, the roads are flooded and shoes and feet are soaked. The hero that I am, I offer piggy backs to some of the group in the deeper parts, luckily I put on my Timberlands today so my toes are nice and dry. Once back at the hotel we have time to rest before heading back out to a water front cafe for dinner. I end up just sitting and enjoying the ambience created by the sunset and drummers with a cup of tea after having stuffed my face at lunch time. Tonight the group agrees we could all do with an early night and head to bed.

Brahma Temple – a stock shot as we weren't allowed to take photographs

Amazing panoramic views

Sunset sounds
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Flooded street

The next morning is free but many of the group have agreed we want to hike up to one of the two mountain temples that sit either side of the city. According to legend during Brahma’s battle with the demon, his weapon, the lotus flower, lost three petals that once landing on the earth, created the three lakes of Pushkar, Brahma then decided to perform a Yajna (a sacrifice) to the central lake, creating the hills that surround Pushkar to ensure peace as he did so. However, while performing, his wife, Savitri, wasn’t ready in time for her role in the process. So Brahma took a second wife Gayatri to complete the sacrifice. Once Savitri arrived and saw she had been replaced she cursed Brahma to only ever be worshipped in Pushkar, this being the reason for his only temple in India. Later temples were built on two opposing mountains overlooking Pushkar one dedicated to Savitri his original wife and one to Gayatri the new consort. We are hiking up to Savitri Temple today, dedicated to the scourged wife. It is an amazing hike, a beautiful long walk with amazing sights, views and lots of monkeys. There is a gondola for those not fancying the walk but today it doesn’t seem to be running. Luckily everyone in our group is up for the walk.

Offerings
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Another photo request

Cooking class
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Once fed and smiling the group head back out into the markets for some shopping. Stu and I decide to get our haircuts. After a short search for two barbers with amazing google reviews that seem to have vanished from existence, we settle for the first barber we find. I have to say I was a little worried being shaved by a barber who was using a straight razor while simultaneously seeming to have Parkinson’s but I am pleasantly surprised. It is not the best haircut and shave I have had but for £2.50 I will take it. While braving the barber, the rest of the group has been out shopping, I have been in need of a nice light short sleeved shirt since I left the UK and have asked the group, Rachel specifically, to get one for me if they see anything that looks good, I trust their taste more than my own! They do not disappoint, they find me a great shirt and it only cost £6, it is so good Stu decided to go to the shop and get himself an exact replica, which isn’t annoying in the slightest!!

We end the day with a chilled dinner and relaxing as a group. Pushkar has been an amazing city and would highly recommend to anyone visiting Northern India, there is an abundance of history and culture, and many beautiful cafes and restaurants.

Had to photograph this stunning, intricate Gopuram at the entrance to Rangji Temple that we passed on the way back to Pushkar