Pushkar Lake

Pushkar lake perched amidst the Aravalli ranges in Pushkar, Rajasthan. Surrounded by 52 bathing ghats ( a flight of steps leading to the water) and over 500 temples, it is regarded as the sacred lake for the Hindus in India where pilgrims throng in large numbers to take a holy bath.

According to Hindu theology, there are five sacred lakes collectively called Panch-Sarovar namely- Mansarovar, Bindu Sarovar, Narayan Sarovar, Pampa Sarovar and Pushkar Sarovar. Amongst these, Pushkar Sarovar or Lake is the most significant. It is believed that the lake was formed where petals of  Lord Brahma's lotus fell when he was destroying Vajra Nabha.

Located in the oldest city of Pushkar which is often called as 'Tirtha-Raj' or the king of pilgrimage, the existence of the lake takes one back to the 2nd century BC. The lake witnesses millions of devotees flocking here because of the belief that the famed waters of the Pushkar wash away the sins of the whole life. On the holiest day of Kartik Poornima, a dip in the lake is considered equal to the benefits accrued by performing yajnas (fire-sacrifices) for several centuries.