Spellbinding Chittorgarh

Rajasthan is the land of Intrigue, Mysticism, Enchantment, History, Culture, Traditions, Forts and Palaces and many many stories- told and untold alike hidden in the precincts of these Forts and Palaces. One such captivating Fortress with its many stories is the Huge, Majestic and spread over vast area is the Fort of Chittorgarh.

Let us take you on a tour of this famous UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

The Fort

The fort is spread over 691.9 acres of hilly terrain and is accessible by a zig-zag road through the city of Chittor. The magnificent fort is guarded by seven gates or Pols, the main one being Rama Pol named after Lord Rama. The uniqueness of this Fort is that one can drive through the entire Fort complex and does not need to walk much. Also, there aren't any steep climbs and falls here unlike other Hill Forts of Rajasthan.

Chittorgarh has seen many a battles, many a defeats, many a conquests and many a jauhars (suicide by Rajput women in eventuality of a siege). All this has undoubtedly left the Fort with many scars and thus we see only sections of ruins of the once prosperous Fort scattered all over the 691.9 acres. The history of this Fort is as old as history itself and there are many legends and folklore to keep one engaged and enraptured while traversing the paths that link one Palace to another, one Temple to another and one Tower to another. Also, many legendary historical personalities too are associated with this epic carved in stone.

Brief History

Built by Maurya ruler Chitrangada Maurya, the fort was originally called “Chitrakut”. Over  the years the name changed to Chittor or Chittorgarh (garh means a fort). Another version of the origin of the Fort says that the legendary Pandava Bhim had struck the ground here forming a water body and the tank thus was named Bhimlat Kund and the Fort came to be built around the tank.

Chittorgarh was once the capital of Mewar kingdom. Mewar has had four capitals in all - Nagda, Chawand, Chittorgarh and Udaipur. Among the many dynasties that ruled over Chittorgarh, major part has been with the Paramaras and Sisodiyas with a few times where the Fort fell at the hands of Turkic and Mughal rulers too.

The Fort’s history dates back to the 7th century and the Fort has changed many hands since. The significant names among the rulers of Chittorgarh are Bappa Rawal, Rana Hammir Singh, Rana Kumbha, Rana Sanga, Rana Ratan Singh, Emperor Allauddin Khilji, Rana Uday Singh II, Emperor Akbar besides many others. Each battle and each siege is a complete book in itself and will take lot of time to narrate hence we keep this section very brief.

The Tour

Let us begin our tour with a hello to the inhabitants of the glorious Fort - many species of birds, cows and a huge population of the Langur monkeys (Macaques), the last ones being the most notorious as they are quite capable of laying claims to any eatables brought along by tourists and snatch away carry bags to enjoy the goodies inside.

We start our tour from the farthest point in the Fort Complex - Padmini Mahal or the Palace of Rani Padmini. This is a reconstructed palace on the lines of the original one and is adorned with beautifully manicured gardens inside, surrounded by three storied living quarters. Just as you lay your eyes upon the pristine gardens, the imaginations of the creative mind start galloping like unbridled horses. You are inside the palace of the most beautiful woman of her times, often compared to Cleopatra in her beauty and stature. The legend of Rani Padmini is often dismissed as a folklore and hearsay but the locals here believe in the reality of the tale. The palace is surrounded by a moat which still holds water in it. This palace complex is a photographer’s delight as there is so much beauty around to capture in one’s lens. It is believed that Rana Ratan Singh’s wife, Rani Padmini’s reflection was shown to Alauddin Khilji here through the reflection in the water of the moat. The emperor got so besotted and smitten by her beauty that he waged war against Mewar to capture her for himself. But the valiant Rajputs fought till the last drop of their blood and the women committed mass suicide by self-immolation (jauhar) once they realised that victory wasn’t coming to them this one time. The self - respecting Rajputs preferred death to captivity and ill treatment at the hands of the enemy.

Take your own sweet time to absorb the legend and the beauty of the palace and click away to your heart’s content. Beware of the monkeys though, they might come closer to inspect your stuff! Tired already? Snacks and Soft Drinks and Masala Chai and Coffee are available at the stalls right opposite the Palace Complex.

Move on and visit The Kalika Mata Mandir, The Jauhar Kund, Gaumukh Kund, Meera Mandir, Vijay Stambh and Kirti Stambh, Rana Kumbha Palace, Fateh Prakash Palace and many other small and big ruins of the legendary Fort of Chittorgarh.

The Temples of Chittorgarh

Chittorgarh Fort has many temples within the seven gates that guard the fort complex. Some small and some big and some so significant that devotees throng them all the year round. 

Continuing with our tour back from Padmini Mahal, we arrive at the Kalika Mata Mandir (temple of Goddess Kali). It is believed that whatever you wish for here, comes true. The temple sees a lot of devotees throughout the year all day long. A few steps to climb and you enter the beautiful temple complex. Pay your obeisance here and make a wish. Those who get their wishes fulfilled come to offer Prasad and a saffron painted Trident, many of which can be seen in and around the temple.

Another very famous and revered temple is The Tulja Bhawani Temple dedicated to Goddess Tulja Bhawani and sees many devotees coming here too. There is a strong connection between faith and history. Most of the historical monuments have religious places of worship and see lot of people visiting these places all the year round to make a wish or to pay their respects. 

As you walk along and explore the surroundings of the ruins you would see small rocks grouped and piled one over the other all over the place. This is another popular way of making a wish - that of making rock towers. People who are desirous of owning / building their homes come here and make small symbolic towers with loose rocks that are strewn all over the place. 

Another famous temple here is the Meera Mandir - The temple where the legendary devotee of Lord Krishna, Meera Bai lived and worshipped her deity. There are two temples here next to each other - one where Meera Bai herself prayed and the other built in her honour. Here one finds the foot imprints of the renowned sage and poet Kavi Ravidas aka Raidas. It is believed that Meera Bai sang bhajans here all day and such was her devotion that she would forget to eat or drink and just get possessed by the true spirit of devotion. Irked by her devotion, her brother-in-law once tried poisoning her to death but it is believed that God’s blessings saved her from that too. She later on, like a nomad travelled from place to place singing the praises to her beloved Lord Krishna. Photography is not allowed in the original temple but you can take pictures of the other temple where Meera Bai’s statue also is installed. 

The architectural excellence of that era was such that despite it being a hot summer day with temperatures touching 40 degrees celsius, the insides of all the temples and palaces were noticably cooler than the outside.

Chittorgarh - as the world recognises it

Moving ahead we reach another fenced and protected monument complex where one needs to walk along though the walk inside is barely a kilometre or so. As we entered the compound from the back-gate we met a few village women selling roasted peanuts and grams as snacks. Their attire, silver jewellery and spirit were all exquisite and beautiful. A few exchanges of kind words and a few pictures later we move on to visit the temples in this compound. Many of these temples are in ruins and the Archaeological Department has painstakingly and neatly arranged the chipped off and fallen pieces in the yard around the temples in hope to one day restore them maybe. Admiring the many temples one arrives at a path that goes a little downhill and leads to a water reservoir - this is the Gaumukh Kund which was the main water reservoir for the entire fort, there being 88 others but smaller than this one. Now only 22 of the original reservoirs remain and the source of water is rainwater. One can get a fantastic panoramic view of the city of Chittor from this vantage point. Jauhar Kund - the place where Rani Padmini and other brave Rajput women committed Jauhar, is also nearby. 

After spending some time here and clicking many more pictures we moved on to our next stop - Vijay Stambh - the tower of victory. This tower was built by Rana Kumbha to commemorate the many victories that the kingdom of Mewar achieved. A fine example of great architecture and beautiful carvings, this tower stands tall and signifies the indomitable spirit of the people of Mewar. This also is the most recognised tourist attraction of Chittor. The victory tower is so popular in Rajasthan that many trophies for various school / college / corporate competitions are designed as a replica of this tower. Another similar tower within the fort complex but much older than the Vijay Stambh is the Kirti Stambh. This tower is dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankar (religious and spiritual teacher) - Adinath and is a little smaller than the Vijay Stambh. The tower is adorned by beautifully carved Jain Sculptures.

Our tour ends here as we exit the gates and move towards the city. We were tempted to visit the local markets for some silver jewellery and vibrant dress material but our next destination was beckoning us. Will soon share the details of that here, till then admire these pictures of the fabulous Chittorgarh Fort and read and learn more about the Maharanas of Mewar - their glory, courage and valour and get mesmerised by this one historical thread in the ever-so-wide panelled fabric of Incredible India!

FOOD TRAILS OF GUJARAT

Gujarat is a foodie’s paradise. And we challenge you to finish reading this article without drooling over all the goodies we talk about here. Gujarati cuisine is an eclectic mix of spices, condiments, and loads of sweetness. Primarily vegetarian but believe us your taste buds will not miss the meats at all. The cuisine changes every few hundred kilometres but then that is true for the entire country - cuisines and dialects change every few hundred kilometres in our country.

When in Ahmedabad

The sweet and the tangy

Jalebi

The city has many food hubs including Law Garden and other markets. Not just the authentic Gujarati dishes but also the experimental fusion foods - you can let your taste buds explore every thing. Start with the "Baap" of all experimental food joints - go to Manek Chowk for a flavourful dinner. Be ready for a culinary experience like no other for an extended dinner here. Manek Chowk is in the heart of old Ahmedabad city and is a bustling square which has different markets at different times of the day and night, this place never sleeps. Post late evening, the area is a bustling food court with fusion foods as its main highlight and charm. Indulge in some chocolate and ice-cream sandwiches and all types of kulfi - even a masala kulfi. It is an experimental and eventful food bonanza. Try some pasta dosas, double cheese pizza, pizza with Indian and Chinese twist, different kinds of bhel, all types of chaats, street food from all around the country and for those who have a sweet tooth - indulge in some rabri and jalebi or malpua. You name it and they have it! Top it all up with a tall glass of buttermilk so that the stomach is ready for the next day’s delights. When in Gujarat you can’t do justice to all the toothsome foods in just one day, you definitely need at least a week.

Fafda with raw papaya condiment and kadhi

The next morning you must go for the famous Heritage Walk. The walk culminates at Jami Masjid which is close to a century old Chandravilaas restaurant that serves the most amazing Jalebis and Fafdas. Have a sumptuous breakfast here. Fafda Jalebi is a must have, you may also choose from Khaman, Dhokla, Khandvi, Handvi, Thepla and finish it with a Masala Chai. The place boasts of such clientele as Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Kishore Kumar, Dev Anand among many other famous personalities. Proceed for city sight seeing tour after your breakfast.

Next meal has to be another culinary delight. Finish your sight seeing, return to hotel and freshen up for yet another Gujarati speciality dinner. Dinner has to be the world famous Gujarati thali at Gordhan Thaal. The place has a long waiting on weekends but it is always worth the wait. The thali as the name suggests is an authentic Indian platter with many small bowls in which you would be served Undhiyo, Kadhi, Dal, Mixed Vegetables and Basundi. Dry snacks known as "Farsan" usually consist of Kachori and Dhokla. Assorted breads, rice and salad will accompany. Buttermilk to help soothe your stomach. An expert advise here - never say no to buttermilk, it always evens out anything that your stomach did not like despite your taste buds going gaga over it. A few bowls of Basundi or Aamras in summers has never done any harm to anyone.

Let’s go to Bhavnagar

Bhavnagari farsan is famous world over. There is something definitely very special about the namkeens made in Bhavanagar else how would they be so crisp and addictive. You can’t stop at a few, you need to have a couple of bowl-fulls. Gathiya, sev, khakhras and all types of dry fruits - deep fried. Takeaways can be half a kilo of sev to a truck load of all types of farsan. The amazing fafdas come in box like packaging that prevents them from getting crushed. But gathiya are the most popular snack that is even exported from Bhavnagar.

Gathiya

Surti street food

Surat is the diamond polishing hub of the world. What a lovely city - has everything one can want. There are beaches and there are rivers, there is the best wholesale fabric market and then there also is the diamond polishing bazaar. And to call it the destination for the best street food in the world is no exaggeration. It is a foodie’s paradise. Walk along any popular market and the lanes are packed with food vendors selling street foods from around the world - there is Mumbai's Vada Pav and Dilli's (Delhi's) Chaat, Mexico's Tacos, China's Chowmein, Italy's Pizza and America's Burger! Let us just list down a few of these items for you : 

Locho - a modification of khaman served with different sauces. We recommend “Gopal Locho Khaman House” for an authentic experience.

Locho

Surti Khamani - Made from chana dal and garnished with tangy chutneys and crispy sev. 

Ghari - a sweet dish like no other is all we can say. 

Undhiyu - Surati version of the mixed vegetables but definitely much superior in taste. 

Bhajiyas - call them pakoras (fritters) and you will know what we are referring to here. 

Ponk Vadas - A very seasonal dish available for a few days in winters only. It is not only healthy but also very very tasty. Made from fresh Jowar this snack is a must-have. 

Ponk Vada

Collegian chaat - Does the name not say it all? All college goers know about it and it is one of the most popular snacks among the student population of Surat. Main ingredient is peanuts - healthy and filling. 

Nankhatai - Any baker would tell you that nankhatai isn’t just another cookie, it is a celebration in itself. Get the best ones from a two hundred years old bakers - Dotivala Bakers and Confectioners. 

Ice Dish - The ice gola got a makeover and became Ice Dish! Crushed ice topped with vanilla ice cream and fresh cream and nuts and flavoured squashes - thats the sinful ice dish for you. 
Rassawala Khaman Dhokla - Yes, add spiced up gravy to your regular dhokla and you get this amazing curry. Have it just like that or with Pav or roti or rotla. 

Egg Paratha - Your Frankie as the egg roll is called in Mumbai became egg parantha in Surat and got a little more spice and a little more butter to make it tastier. 

Surat should actually have a separate blog post dedicated to the street food of Surat. Life in Surat can never be boring.

The Parsi Food Trail - Udvada  

Udvada Atash Behram

The closely knit peace loving community preserves its heritage so beautifully that we recommend a visit to Udvada to one and all. Walk through the quaint and peaceful town clicking pictures of heritage homes. The famous Atash Behram Fire Temple or Agiyari as they call it is an architectural marvel to behold. Non-parsis are not allowed inside the temple but you can click many many pictures of the facade from outside. Parsis’ cuisine is very unique and so different. There are some old cafes and hotels here where you can taste the very original and authentic Parsi food. The world famous dhansak, mutton pulao and papeta tarelli chicken need to be devoured with full greed. Other specialities include khurchan - dry roasted spicy organ meat, patra ni machchi, crispy chicken farcha, fluffy Parsi omelette, dudh na puff and for the dessert you must have lagan nu custard and hand churned ice cream in the seasonal fruit flavour - mango and seetaphal being the most favourite. 

Nankhatai

Welcome to Vadodara

Once you are done with visiting the world famous Laxmi Vilas Palace and other sight seeing, it is time to indulge in the butter-rich street food in Baroda / Vadodara. Best places to eat obviously will be found near the university campus. Try the egg preparations - omelettes, not-so-French French toast, spicy anda bhurji and the evergreen most loved boiled eggs. Another popular food item from Baroda is the Bhakarwadi, a twirled savoury snack - spicy and tangy. Baroda has a lot of Maharashtrian influence and hence Vada Pav and Misal Pav also are quite popular here. Like Ahmedabad, Baroda too has lot of fusion food stalls all around the city. Do sink your sweet tooth in the falooda ice cream after your eggy dinner.

Street Food - Vadodara

Operation Flood 

Milk lovers, you all know about the revolution called Operation Flood aka Amul that started from Anand and swept the whole country, inundating the lives of all Indians with milk and nourishment. Immerse your taste buds in flavoured milk, ice creams, cheeses and Shrikhand. You can find Amul anywhere in Gujarat and in the rest of the country too. But so many flavours of Shrikhand can only be found in the land where Krishna, the God who loved cows and milk, is worshipped. Oodles of butter and creamy fluffy Shrikhand must go with every meal. Indulge in the goodness of this health food. Visit the Amul factory for freshest chocolates and ice creams.

Shrikhand

The indigenous burger : Kutchhi Dabeli

A Gujarat trip is incomplete without a visit to the Rann of Kutchh - the white desert. Kutch is also famous for its very own version of burger - The Dabeli. A soft bun, filled with squishy spicy potato filling, topped with nylon sev and chutney and roasted peanuts, main attraction being the ruby-red pomegranate seeds. These come with a warning : NO ONE CAN EAT JUST ONE!

Kutchhi Dabeli

Jamnagar Ghughra

Ghughra

Popular street food from Jamnagar is Ghughra which is a deep fried “Gujiya” shaped snack. The fillings are usually made of chana dal or spiced potatoes. Crispy and spicy - a perfect evening snack with your hot cuppa!

Porbandar Khajali 

Khajali is a kind of spicy deep fried biscuit. Best paired with hot beverages like masala chai, it is an irresistible and addictive snack. While you are picking up your supply of Khajali, you must visit the spice market in Porbandar too. Porbandar is Gandhiji’s birthplace and Kirti Mandir, the Mahatma’s home is a must visit site here. Also visit the Sudama Mandir and Bharat Mandir.

Khajali

What to carry for friends and family

Fafdas, Khakhras and Nan Khatai of course! Then there is Bhavnagari farsan, bhakarwadi and dry fruits. You can also pick some ready-to-make mixes of khaman and dhokla and make them later at your home. For fafdas and khakhras we recommend Induben Khakhrawale though these are available all over Gujarat and are promoted through cottage industry. A packet of Porbandar Khajali will slip in easily in your luggage. Another popular snack that can be carried along is the Chorafali, deep fried spicy fritters of besan and urad dal. 

Khakhra

If you are a food blogger, a food photographer, a food connoisseur, a food critic, a food technologist or in simple words, if you LOVE FOOD, take a food trail across Gujarat with us and savour the many flavours the vibrant land has to offer.  


Images sourced from : Flickr, Pinterest, Maps of India, Youtube, Indiamart

Plan your food trail - click here.

A guided tour through The City Palace, Udaipur

One of the most magnificent palace complex in the world can not be toured without a guide’s help. Why? Because, you don’t want to miss out on any interesting facts and stories that a seasoned guide can regale you with. The palace I am talking about is the marvellously built City Palace in Udaipur. As you ascend the gradient towards the complex, you are transported to an era where horses and elephants walked the path you now are treading. Enter the main gate and you would be informed how the complex is divided into four parts - The palace and museum, Two ultra luxurious heritage hotels - Shivniwas Palace and Fateh Prakash Palace, and The private residence of the erstwhile ruler of Mewar where the erstwhile royals still reside. 

Let's tour the palace and the museum. The Suryavanshi’s palace, the descendants of Lord Rama’s son Luv, have a huge image of The Sun God right at the entrance of the palace. The interesting fact is that, every morning every citizen and the ruler too paid their obeisance to the Sun and for days when the Sun would get obscured by clouds, they had these large images to pay their respects to - one inside the palace for the Maharana and the other outside the main gate for the citizens. The family history of the rulers of Mewar with brief introduction of each successive ruler is given along the path that leads into the palace. Enter the palace and you are greeted by Lord Ganesha himself, in a tiny temple right at the entrance.

All over the palace you would spot vintage tiles and stained glass imported from Belgium, China, Europe and many other places adorning the walls and windows, a few doors decorated with ivory too can be seen. The huge palace was built over many centuries (we are talking about 400 years here !!) with each successive ruler adding his own bit to the existing complex. The first part of course is where Maharana Udai Singh Ji, the founder of Udaipur resided, this being the simplest residential quarters with minimalistic decorative architecture. The complex has Indo - Sarasenic architectural influence.

As we ascend the steps after marvelling at the personal weaponry used by Maharana Pratap and a life-size replica of his favourite mount Chetak, we reach the place where a newly coronated Maharana would sit for the public to get a first glimpse and would throw gold and silver coins from the little window as gifts for the citizens. The tub used for storing these coins is larger than most jacuzzis! Walking on, we reach a courtyard where tall trees provide shade and serenity around a beautifully manicured garden. One wonders which floor would one be on, since there were lots of steps that one has taken to reach here but the presence of the large trees suggests something else. Well, another interesting fact here for all to know - the palace is built over a mountain without the mountain being levelled. The whole mountain was encapsulated inside a beautifully built fortress wall, all painted white. From outside it looks like a magnificent fort with many many floors inside but as you ascend the steps inside you realise you are on a mountain and not a building which has many floors. Isn’t that just amazing?

Another interesting fact to know is that the Maharanas never attended any courts other than the ones they themselves presided, be it the Mughal or the British courts. Hence after the merger of the Mewar state with the British Union, the empty chair that was kept for the then Maharana was sent to him as a gift of respect by the British along with two thorough-bred horses - the chair being an exhibit that you can see in the palace museum. Take a look at the city below from the heights that you have now ascended to, soak in the sights before moving onto the residential quarters of the Maharanas which are decorated with mirrors and gold and exquisite colours. The opulence and class, the taste and the extravagance, the true royalty of yore is here for you to see and experience. Hand painted walls and ceilings where stories are painted, many imported decorative glass pieces and tiles, ivory doors, - words aren’t enough to express the richness of this palace. 

Moving on, you would cross one beautiful corridor after another and one narrow stairway after another to reach the entertainment arena - The Mor Chowk. Mor- the peacock themed courtyard was the entertainment place where the royals sat all around, one floor above, and dancers and musicians entertained them below in the courtyard. Interestingly, the Maharana’s seat is a few inches lower than the guests’ seats in keeping with the tradition of “Atithi Devo Bhava” (Guest is God). The Lake Palace which is an ultra luxurious hotel now, is visible from many windows of the city palace. The palace also houses an elevator which was built for Maharana Bhupal Singh Ji who was differently abled. Not just that, there is a specially made wheelchair and an imported toilet seat that are exhibited in his residential quarters. The elevators are in perfectly working condition and are used for wheel chair bound tourists for them to get a glimpse of the most beautiful part of the palace.

As we move on, we see the many exhibits including the utensils, palanquins, armoury, cradles, silver ware, statues, musical instruments and a collection of a very many trophies. Us, the dazed tourists, walk along the Ladies quarters and approach the exit to the complex but this isn’t all that is there to see. Walk towards the ancient Jagdeesh Temple and see the elephant stables along the way and the Torans that look like large ornamental open gates - eight of them. A Toran was built each time a Maharana took a pilgrimage and returned. The Jagdeesh temple is built outside the palace complex but has been raised high to bring it to a level where the Deity would be seated higher than the King - another important fact to know.

One more very important fact that intrigues is that the passages and stairways are quite narrow and the entrances to the private quarters are through small doorways. What could be the reason? Any Guesses? Well, the answer is very interesting again! The small doors ensure that one must bow and enter - a symbol of respect to the Maharana, also in case of a siege attempt, the enemy would also bow and enter least expecting a warrior attacking him with a sword decapitating him in one strike! 

There is so much more to The City Palace and Jagdeesh Temple that words aren't enough. One must take out time to visit the Palace at leisure, spending time appreciating each feature and feeling a part of the era gone by! I have visited this marvel twice and will not miss another chance if it comes by.

PUSHKAR MELA

Rajasthan, the land of fairs and festivals is famous world over for the eclectic, vibrant and most colourful fairs that are held all the year round. Each fair has a central theme that it revolves around and has its own significance too. But Pushkar Fair sure wears the crown when it comes to the popularity of these fairs. Not just is the fair popular among the village folks who come here for religious reasons but also among farmers and animal traders who visit the fair to trade into cattle and livestock. But the star of the “Pushkar Mela”, as it is referred to in local parlance, remains the ship of the desert, the camel! Read on to take a tour through this amalgamation of colour, culture, tradition, celebration and festivities.

Pushkar is a sacred town situated 530 metres above sea level in the enchanting valley of the Aravali hills. It is about 11 kilometers northwest of Ajmer in Rajasthan. The holy town has a central lake , The Sarovar which is surrounded by as many as 500 temples all around. But the most important temple here is the one dedicated to Lord Brahma, The Creator God in Hinduism. In fact, till recent times it was only in Pushkar that one could find a Brahma Temple, now though a couple more have been constructed elsewhere too. The lake is about ten meters deep and gets its water supply from the rains. It is surrounded by mountains on the three sides. The Hindu Scriptures describe Pushkar as "Tirtha-Raj" – the king of pilgrimage sites related to a water-body. 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 holy dip, especially around Kartik Poornima when the Pushkar Fair is held. A dip in the sacred lake is believed to cleanse one of sins and cure skin diseases.

A Pashu Mela or the animal fair is also held at the same time as the 'Pushkar Mela’. The fair is held from 'Kartik Shukla Ekadashi' (11th day of the moon) to 'Kartik Purnima' (full moon night). The Kartik Poornima is of utmost importance for people who visit Pushkar for a religious reason. The water in the lake on this day is considered to acquire miraculous healing powers and people throng the ghats to take a holy dip. It is believed that any ailment or disease gets cured if one takes a dip in the lake on this day.

The local Govt. authorities organise events on each day of the Pushkar Mela. The calendar of the events is released a month in advance from the date of the commencement of the fair. There are fun filled races held for each section of the society. While the women can run with a pitcher of water in the matka race, the men can proudly show-off their moustaches in the moustache competition. Musical evenings enliven the atmosphere of this quaint holy town which buzzes with life during these 9 days of the famous Pushkar Mela.

The stadium in Pushkar turns into the arena for these multi cultural programmes. Classical dancers, folk dancers, Drum and Nagada Troupes, Dancing Horses and Camels, Sufi singers, folk singers all vie for a spot under the arch lights of the magnificent stage set up for the Mela in the arena. Of all the activities that are organised here, the maximum draw is of the Dulha-Dulhan Show where tourists are encouraged to participate dressed as Indian groom and bride and compete for a prize. Another crowd puller is the turban tying competition where men compete to tie that perfectly perched turban in as less time as possible.

Pushkar attracts crowds from all across the world, some come for religious reasons, some for buying or selling camels, horses, cattle and other household and farming wares, but there is a big number of tourists who flock Pushkar to witness this extravaganza of fun and frolic going hand in hand with business. Photography walks, heritage walks, culinary walks and shopping walks are the usuals for the tourists along with henna tattoo making, yoga classes, art classes, cycling excursions, horse riding and camel riding with camel cart riding as well. You would meet the masquerade champs too who dress up as Indian Gods and Goddesses and will oblige you with a picture for a tiny treat or a paltry cash reward. 

Evenings at Pushkar are enchanting to say the least. Colourful play of reflected lights on the still water of the lake, reverberation of Aarti, bells and conch coming from afar skimming the waters to reach your ears, hunger-inducing aromas wafting through the air and people with a skip and dance in their feet everywhere - that’s a Pushkar evening for you.

A shout out to the foodies of the world to savour mouth watering Maal Puas and traditional Dal Bati Churma. There’s Falooda, Lemonade, Chhaas and Ice creams to keep you cool during the sunny days. Hot Jalebis and Rabri, Samosas and Kachori with Kadhi make for a fantastic breakfast or evening snack. The many restaurants by the lake and in the market also serve up international favourites like Pizza, Pasta, Falafels, Tacos and the likes. And the masala chai with a liberal amount of milk is a must-have.

When visiting Pushkar, the must dos include participating in one of the fun events in the arena, observing the nuances of animal trading, savouring the local flavours, paying your respects at the Brahma Temple, spending a quiet evening at the ghats observing the goings around and very important (!) , stock up your collection of leather bags and multi hued bangles made in lac (lacquer).

Pushkar is the Festival for you and me and everyone!