The Essence of PUSHKAR FAIR: A Dying colour #rajasthaninphotos

Pushkar always will have a special place for me in my heart not only because of the beauty of the place but more because of the the times I went there with my friends just to take a break from the day to day lives and also to pass time during the bunk lectures to be honest. This was easier for me because, well I used to live in ajmer and I have spent the better part of my life there:)

But now I miss the vibes and aura of Pushkar.

For anybody visiting Pushkar for the first time, i would highly recommend the during the duration of pushkar fair or during the holi festival. The people and the beauty which one can witness during these times is exceptional and the experience is very difficult to express in words.

The pushkar lake is very enjoyable at any time of the year and the Brahma temple, being the only Brahma temple in India, attracts pilgrims from all over the nation. The busy streets and local shops with all the indigenous accessories always attract foreign eyes. 

During the fair, the actual fair is in the mela ground (any local would be more than happy to guide you) and it is fantastic, with all the rides and stalls, it gives the visitors a night to remember.

But in my opinion the real beauty of Pushkar lies on the outskirts of pushkar. Just rent a two wheeler and go for a ride in the evening to explore the area, especially budha Pushkar and panch kund. You will be amazed on witnessing what this place has to offer.

Also pushkar food is love... My top recommendations would include kadhi kachodi, mirchi bada at almost any shop on the main market street and pizzas and pasta at la pizeria. And to top it all MAALPUAS of Pushkar are worth spending a fortune. The best place I remember was this big shop in front of Gau Ghat (never bothered to read the name of the... The smell of freshly fried maalpuas distracts all senses :P).

And this place is a must visit destination for photographers during these times. No matter if you are a street photographer, or you enjoy landscapes or you love portraits.... pushkar has it all. During this time, you will probably find more cameras, less cattles. The main market street and the ghats are busy all the day around and gives a great opportunities for street photography and some great portraits.

Now this creates a negative effect on the fair to be fair. And I didn't realize this until I talked to this gentleman there who came from bikaner with his cattle just to sell them and had not found even a single buyer for the 7 days that he stayed there. Now this gentlemen had 3 kids and i don't think either one of them had had a decent meal while their stay in Pushkar. And over that there are so many photographers with their expensive cameras, most making thousands of rupees through their photographs. This enrages the owners and the gentleman i met was pretty determined not to attend the fair next year. And there are many like him, indeed most of the owners have a mindset like this.

So i would not be surprised if the fair comes to a complete halt in the near future. My advice: visit while you have a chance to.

So all said and done I would obviously state that Pushkar is a must visit destination for a fellow traveler and the Fair reflects the different colors of Rajasthan, so it is the cherry on the pie, the meethi chatni in kadhi kachodi :D

And at last , visit Rajasthan, enjoy hospitality like never before and immerse yourself in its colors.

PADHARO MHARE DESH _/\_

PS: all the photos are mobile clicked and sorry for the quality. All of them are compressed whatsapp images and i had many others which were lost and only these were recovered...