Pushkar Lake

Pushkar Lake
Pushkar Lake
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Location	Pushkar, Rajasthan
Coordinates	26°29′14″N 74°33′15″E / 26.48722°N 74.55417°E / 26.48722; 74.55417
Lake type	[Artificial Lake]
Primary inflows	Luni River
Primary outflows	Luni River
Catchment area	22 km2 (8.5 sq mi)
Basin countries	India
Surface area	22 km2 (8.5 sq mi)
Average depth	8 m (26 ft)
Max. depth	10 m (33 ft)
Water volume	790,000 cubic metres (28,000,000 cu ft)
Surface elevation	530 m (1,740 ft)
Settlements	Pushkar

Pushkar Lake or Pushkar Sarovar is located in the town of Pushkar near Ajmer city in Ajmer district of the Rajasthan state of western India. Pushkar Lake is a sacred lake of the Hindus. The Hindu scriptures describe it as "Tirtha-Guru" [Thirtha Raj]– the perceptor 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, deforestation and pollution 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.