14.India_Pushkar

The Last Journey of Backpacker

การเดินทางครั้งสุดท้ายก่อนแขวนเป้

India_Pushkar

๑๕ ธันวาคม ๒๕๕๒

๐๔.๐๐ น. รถทัวร์มาถึงPushkar คนรถมาบอกเราให้ลงรถ ลงรถไปก็มีเด็กหนุ่ม 2-3 คนเข้ามาถามว่าต้องการที่พักไหม แต่ละคนก็เสนอห้องพักของโรงแรมตัวเอง ค่าห้องคืนละ 150 รูปี เราก็เดินตามเขาไปที่ Priya Guesthouse ซึ่งอยู่ไม่ไกล

ตอนสายเดินเที่ยวรอบ Pushkar Lake

ตอนบ่ายไปเที่ยว Savitri Temple

ตอนเย็นไปเที่ยว Pap Mochani Temple

๑๖ ธันวาคม ๒๕๕๒

เดินไปสถานีรถประจำทาง นั่งรถเมล์ไป Ajmer ค่าโดยสาร 10 รูปี

วัดเชน Nasiyan Temple ค่าตั๋วเข้าชม 5 รูปี ค่ากล้องถ่ายรูป 15 รูปี

Akbar Fort Museum ค่าตั๋วเข้าชม 10 รูปี

นั่งรถเมล์กลับมา Pushkar แลกเงินที่ร้านแลกเงิน 100 US Dollar = 4,590 Rs.

๑๗ ธันวาคม ๒๕๕๒

เดินไปสถานีรถประจำทาง ซื้อตั๋วรถเมล์ไป Jaipur ค่าโดยสาร 86 รูปี

๑๑.๐๐ น. รถออก รถวิ่งไปถึง Jaipur ๑๕.๐๐ น.

Pushkar

Pushkar (Hindi: पुष्कर) is a town in the Ajmer district in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is situated at 14 km North West from Ajmer at an average elevation of 510 metres (1673 feet), and is one of the five sacred dhams (pilgrimage sites for devout Hindus). It is often called "Tirth Raj" - the king of pilgrimage sites - and has in recent years become a popular destination for foreign tourists.

Pushkar is one of the oldest cities of India. Pushkar lies on the shore of Pushkar Lake. The date of its actual origin is not known, but legend associates Lord Brahma with its creation. It is mentioned that Brahma performed penance here for 60,000 years to have a glimpse of Vishnu.

Pushkar has many temples. Most of the temples are not very old, since many were destroyed during Muslim conquests in the area.[citation needed] Subsequently, the destroyed temples were re-built. The most famous among all is the Brahma Temple built during the 14th century AD. Very few temples to Lord Brahma exist anywhere in the world. Other temples of Brahma include those at Besakih in Bali, Bithoor in Uttar Pradesh, India, village Asotra near Balotra city of Barmer district in Rajasthan and Prambanan in Indonesia. The Pushkar lake has 52 ghats where pilgrims descend to the lake to bathe in the sacred waters. Pushkar is also famous for its annual Pushkar Camel Fair.

The natural environment of Pushkar and the sacred lake has become increasingly degraded in the last few decades. The problems stem mainly from over-development of tourist facilities and the deforestation of the surrounding area[1]

Due to a large presence of Israeli tourists it may seem like Hebrew has become second language in Pushkar, with many sign boards, hoardings and information written in Hebrew.

Pushkar Lake- The prime attraction of Pushkar is the Pushkar Lake which is considered sacred like the Mansarovar Lake in Tibet. Pushkar has become a place of Hindu pilgrimage because of this holy lake. Legend has it that this lake was consecrated 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 or Pushkar Sarovar (Sanskrit: पुष्कर-सरोवर) is located in the town of Pushkar in Ajmer district of the Rajasthan state of western India. Pushkar Lake is a sacred lake of the Hindus. The Hindu scriptures describe as it as "Tirtha-Raj" – the king of pilgrimage sites related to a water-body and relate it to the mythology of the creator-god Brahma, whose most prominent temple stands in Pushkar. The Pushkar Lake finds mention on coins as early as the 4th century BC.

Pushkar Lake is surrounded by 52 bathing ghats (a series of steps leading to the lake), where pilgrims throng in large numbers to take a sacred bath, especially around Kartik Poornima (October–November) when the Pushkar Fair is held. A dip in the sacred lake is believed to cleanse sins and cure skin diseases. Over 500 Hindu temples are situated around the lake precincts.

Tourism and deforestation in the surroundings have taken a heavy toll on the lake, adversely affecting its water quality, reducing the water levels and destroying the fish population. As part of conservation measures, the government is undertaking de-silting, de-weeding, water treatment, and afforestation as well as mass awareness programme.

Brahma Temple- The most important temple in Pushkar is the Temple of Lord Brahma, one of the holy trinity of Hinduism. In fact it is the only Hindu shrine in the world where Lord Brahma is worshipped. The temple enshrines a life-size idol of Lord Brahma.

Savitri Temple- This temple that is located at the top of the Ratnagiri Hill is dedicated to Savitri, the wife of Lord Brahma. The temple houses a magnificent statue of Goddess Savitri.

Ajmer

Ajmer (Hindi: अजमेर, pronounced [ədʒmeːr]( listen)), formerly written Ajmere, is a city in Ajmer District in India's Rajasthan state. Surrounded by the Aravalli Mountains, Ajmer, also known as Ajaymeru, was the city once ruled by Prithviraj Chauhan. Its population was approximately 500,000 in 2001. The city gives its name to Ajmer district, and also to a former province of British India called Ajmer-Merwara, which, after India's independence, became the state of Ajmer. On November 1, 1956, it was merged into Rajasthan state.

The Soni Ji Ki Nasiyan is an architecturally rich Digambara Jain temple. It was built in 1864-1895 by Seth Bhag Chand ji Soni, the Nagar Seth of Ajmer. The main chamber, known as the Swarna Nagari (City of Gold), has several gold-plated wooden figures, depicting characters in the Jain tradition, and created in Jaipur.