India GOHistory and legends of Pushkar
Pushkar's history runs on two tracks. By legend, Brahma dropped a lotus here and a lake opened where it fell, and tradition ties the town's Brahma Temple, one of the very few in India and the best known, to that story. In the record, the lake appears on coins from the 4th century BC, the temples around it were destroyed under the Mughals, and most of what stands today was rebuilt from the 18th century on.
The legend: a lotus, a sacrifice and a curse
The Padma Purana tells that Brahma killed the demon Vajranabha with his weapon, a lotus. Its petals fell in three places and three lakes appeared: Jyeshtha (the eldest) Pushkar, which is the town's lake, Madhya Pushkar and Kanishtha Pushkar. The name is read as pushpa (flower) and kar (hand).
Brahma then chose the main lake for a yajna (fire sacrifice). His wife Savitri was late for the moment when a wife must sit beside him, so he married Gayatri and completed the rite with her. Savitri arrived, found Gayatri in her place and cursed Brahma never to be worshipped, then softened the curse to allow his worship at Pushkar. She withdrew to Ratnagiri Hill, where her temple stands; Gayatri's is on the hill on the other side. The legend is the usual answer to why temples to Brahma are so rare.
The Mahabharata already ranks Pushkar first among tirthas (pilgrimage sites), and the scriptures call the lake Tirtha Raj, the king of pilgrimage places.
What the record shows
A short timeline from coins and inscriptions to the British Raj.
- 4th–2nd century BC
Punch-marked coins date the lake to the 4th century BC, and inscriptions at Sanchi attest it by the 2nd century BC, already as a pilgrimage site. Pushkar is mentioned in the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas.
- 5th century AD
The Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Faxian writes about the number of visitors coming to the lake.
- 10th–14th centuries
The underground Apteshwar Mahadev shrine is traced to the 10th–12th century, and the Varaha Temple was founded in the 12th, by tradition by the Chauhan king Anaji. A dam across the headwaters is also credited to the 12th century. The Brahma Temple's present structure dates to the 14th century, with later rebuilding. In 1192 the region passed to Muhammad Ghori after the defeat of Prithviraj Chauhan.
- Mughal period
Akbar made nearby Ajmer a provincial capital. Jahangir built a hunting lodge by the lake in 1615–16 and broke the image of Varaha; Aurangzeb's armies later destroyed temples along the lake. The cattle and camel trade brought merchants from as far as Afghanistan.
- 18th–19th centuries
After the Mughal collapse, Rajput and Maratha patrons rebuilt the temples and ghats; most of what you see around the lake dates from this time. Guru Gobind Singh's stay is remembered at Gobind Ghat. Early in the 19th century Pushkar, with Ajmer, came under British rule, and the Old Rangji Temple, with its South Indian gopuram, was commissioned in 1823 by the Hyderabad merchant Seth Puran Mal Ganeriwal.
How the pilgrimage and the fair met
Kartik Purnima, the full moon of the month of Kartik, is the lake's main bathing day, and the Brahma Temple holds its main festival then. The livestock fair grew beside it. Under the British the pilgrimage was combined with the cattle fair to raise revenue for improving the lake, and today Rajasthan Tourism runs the programme around the trading. Details and dates are on the festivals page.
Where to see the history
All of these are a short walk apart; see the itinerary for an order.
Brahma Temple
Red spire, hamsa (swan) motif, and a marble floor set with silver coins left by devotees. Brahma Temple.
Varaha Temple
The oldest foundation in town, rebuilt after the Mughal destructions; the fortified compound shelters a white stone image of Varaha. Varaha Temple.
Apteshwar Mahadev
The underground Shiva shrine beside the Brahma Temple, also recorded as Atmateshwar. Apteshwar Mahadev.
Old Rangji Temple
The first temple in Rajasthan built in the South Indian Ramanuja tradition, with Rajput carving and a Mughal-style entrance. Old Rangji Temple.
FAQ
Is Pushkar's the only Brahma temple?
No. By legend, Savitri cursed Brahma never to be worshipped except at Pushkar, which is why it is often called the only one. In fact it is one of very few Brahma temples in India, and the best known.
How old is Pushkar?
The lake appears on coins from the 4th century BC and in inscriptions at Sanchi from the 2nd century BC; Pushkar is also mentioned in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
What is the story of Pushkar Lake?
In the Padma Purana, Brahma killed a demon with a lotus, and a lake appeared where a petal fell; he then held his fire sacrifice on its shore.
Why are most temples in Pushkar not very old?
Many were destroyed under the Mughals, including by Aurangzeb's armies, and were rebuilt by Rajput and Maratha patrons from the 18th century.
Why do so many foreigners come to Pushkar?
For the lake and the Brahma Temple, the camel fair, and the rooftop cafés; the town is also popular with Israeli travellers, and many cafés serve Israeli food.
Facts checked: 15 October 2026. Prices and hours are approximate; check locally.
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