HERITAGE WALK, The ‘town of temples’, Pushkar or Padmavati is known for its magnetism, religiosity and variety of tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Located at a distance of 14km from , it is imagined to be one of the oldest places and also holds a sacred position in amongst the five HERITAGE WALK, pilgrimage sites of . The antiquity and popularity of the town can be traced back to the 2nd century BCE, as the archaeological findings reveal assemblage of coins of the period of Indo-Bactrian, Greek, Kshatrapa and Gupta. From the ancient to the medieval times, the city PUSHKAR experienced flourishing trade economy and was ruled by the Gadiyas, and Mughals.

The town entwines around Pushkar Sarovar (holy ), which is believed to have appeared when Lord dropped a lotus flower. The town has one of the world’s few Brahma temples. The cultural spread of Pushkar comprises of over 500 temples and 52 holy which express the hums of sanctity and devotion. Apart from the religious edifices, the town is popular for Pushkar-mela, an annual five-day fair held in the month of of which the holy dip is an important ritual. The exquisite arts, crafts and scrumptious delicacies add an artistic flavour in the town of Pushkar.

The Heritage Walk is designed to experience Pushkar religiously and architecturally and to link the tangible and intangible assets. The 3.17km Heritage Walk will start from the grand Mahal Badshahi and leads towards Mukhya Brahma , Brahma Temple, Bade Ganesha Ji Ka Mandir, Gyan Gopal Ji Ka Mandir, Shahi Mosque, Malpua Gali, Ram Laxman Temple, Old Rangji Temple, Temple, New LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT Rang Ji Temple, Bihari Ji Ka Temple. The walk ends at GOVERNMENT OF Ghat which is a lively symbol of tranquil and sensuality of the setting sun. PUSHKAR NAGAR PALIKA

Walk Designed by Dronah

Development and Research Organisation for Nature, Arts and Heritage A-258, South City-I, Gurgaon-122 001 Phone: 91-(0)124-4082081, 2381067, Fax: 91-(0)124-4269081 Email: [email protected], Website: www.dronah.org RAM LAXMAN TEMPLE OLD RANGNATHJI TEMPLE A 19th century property Constructed in 16th century CE by which has both idols of Ram Seth Puranmal Ganeriwal, the single and Laxman. The double storey temple devoted to is storey temple has a projected decorated with mythological frescos terrace and foliated arch in the Italian fresco-bouno technique. entrance framing a pointed NH - 89 arch opening. Legend 10 Heritage Walk - 3.17Km MALPUA GALI: Pushkar VARAH TEMPLE Built in the Roads is famous for sweets and 19th century, it is one of the largest 9 Ajmer Pushkar Road GYAN GOPAL JI KA delicacies. The gali (alley) ancient temple of Pushkar. Within Lake MANDIR The double has traditional sweet shops a walled area, the temple’s massive storey temple in Indo- which are about 50 years 8 structure have pilasters, gateways, Persian style is believed to old, and its special sweet is chhatris and hanging eaves. Towards Heritage Site have been constructed by Malpua made with maida 7 for Ground the Parashars, around the Buildings (kind of wheat flour) and 19th century CE. sugar.

SHAHI MASJID It is the only 5 mosque built by in a 6 predominantly Hindu town. The place was originally the location of Kesorai-Ji temple. The corners of the compound wall are vertically extended to form four minars with chhatris on top. 11

3 2 4 MUKHYA BRAMHA GHAT 12 BRAHMA TEMPLE: It is JAIPUR GHAT Constructed in Constructed around 18th- the only temple of Brahma 18th-19th century CE, this ghat BADE GANESH JI KA 19th century CE, it is the main Lake Pushkar 13 in . After series of Constructed in is used for sacred bathing rituals, MANDIR ghat with immense historical demolitions by the religious the 19th century CE, the ancestor worship, and attracts NEW RANGNATHJI Gurdwara significance and most of the bigots, the temple was double storey structure is both visitors and residents. It is End TEMPLE Constructed in the rituals are performed here. The reconstructed in 1809 CE ornamented with a foliated a famous sunset point decorated 20th Century CE .by Seths of ghat has a foliated arch gateway Point by Gokul Chand Pareek arch opening. On the with a double storey structure. the Maheswari caste. The single with a barrel dome and three the Minister of Daulat Ram upper level, the windows storey Vaisnavite temple is an pinnacles, and the staircase Scindia. The temple set on and facade have floral and example of Dravidian style, leading down the lake has a high plinth, is approached the railing of terrace has BIHARI JI KA TEMPLE and houses a grand idol of Shri structures on either sides. through a number of marble relief carvings. It is a large and impressive Vaikunth Venkatesh and Shri steps, which leads to the temple dedicated to Lord Lakshmi Narsingh. The main entrance gate archway, Krishna built by the queen entrance has three levels with mandapa (pillared hall) and of Sawai Jagat Singh. foliated archway. The interior Garbhagriha (sanctum) that has an open courtyard, and the enshrines four-armed deity main shrine. Brahma. Vaamdev Road

MAHAL BADSHAHI: Built in 1613 CE by the Kharekhari Road Mughal Emperor, , the Mahal Badshahi is a Starting symbol of victory over the Maharajas of Mewar. point It consists of two identical pavilions built on a rectangular platform with an open square pavilion at 1 the centre that displays Mughal motifs.

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