Top Unexplored Places to Visit in Pushkar Rajasthan

Tucked 15 kilometres away from the bustling city of Pushkar, on the laps of Aravalli Range, there is a temple lesser known by tourists.

It is here that you will find a shrine that owes its name to an ancient sage Markandeya.

An ardent devotee of both Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, Hindu reckon Markandeya as one of the most knowledgeable ancient sages.

Famous as the sage who defeated death,Markandeya is also a recurring name in the ancient Hindu texts.

This ashram and cave were where he meditated and lived, while he was in Pushkar.

According to a very famous folk legend, it was Markendeya who kept the founding stone to the famous Brahma Temple in Pushkar.

Yes, the same one-a-kind Brahma Temple that makes Pushkar what it is.

When you visit this Ashram, contrary to the bustle of Pushkar, a gush of positivity and peace will greet you here.

Meet the priest who takes care of the ashram and cave, and simply bask in its old-world charm.

While you are at it, enjoy the beauty of this place to understand why Markendeya and the sages after him spent eternities at this place.

Once you finish exploring every nook and cranny of this place, you can conclude your trip with a brief visit to the “Samadhis” of sages who spent their lives in this Ashram.

If you are a fan of scenic rides, you might as well love our next destination.

Famous for its breath-taking landscape composed mostly of marble boulders, is the temple of Ajaypal Ji.

Named after the founder of Ajmer, this 11-century temple pays homage to Lord Shiva, who was Ajaypal Ji’s beloved.

If you plan on visiting this temple, rest assured you’ll be in for a visual treat. That is because to reach this place; you will take a scenic walk tracing the marble trail.

The temple, however, will be relatively unembellished.

But we are sure that its rock-cut pillar and contemporary painting will speak to you once you look past the first impression you have of it.

Another unique place that you can visit from here is the ashram of Aloo Baba.

Who is he?

Aloo Baba is a 70-year-old saint who has been consuming nothing but potatoes for the past 45 years.

Sit with him to know about his take on life. Or simply,  just bask in the beauty of this region of Rajasthan and capture Aravalli in all its glory.

Vishwamitra Cave and Ashram is one of the most secluded places in Pushkar and probably the best-kept secret of the city.

It owes its names to Rishi Vishwamityra who was one of the most revered Sage of ancient India.

He was the first out of the 24 famous Sages to have the Gayatri Mantra and was the co-author of  Mandala-3 in Vedic Texts.

The ashram is a spiritual haven. It is so sacred that reaching it is not at all easy.

To access the cave where Sage Vishwamitra meditated, one has to trek the unduly terrain of the Snake mountain (Nag Parbat).

Mind it; the trek is difficult, mainly because of the heat and desert topography. However, in the end, all the efforts are worth the pain.

Once you reach the ashram, a lush green Banyan tree in the courtyard will be the first to catch your attention.

After you enter the only structure in the courtyard, you will meet a monk with treads and subsequently will see the entrance to the cave of Sage Vishwamitra.

Out of all the unexplored places to visit in Pushkar Rajasthan, are you planning to add this to your list? Then do know that the cave is 2 kilometres far from Pushkar and will require one whole day to visit.

Vaijnath or Baidyanath Temple is another forgotten Hindu hotspot that needs your attention.

When Lord Brahma was performing a Yajna (spiritual ceremony) in Pushkar, the Rakshasa clan (often referred to as demons but they aren’t entirely evil in Hinduism) started to create hiccups for him.

To get rid of them, Bramha prayed to Lord Shiva as the Rakshasa clan venerated him.

To help Lord Brahma and guard the Yajna, four Shivlings appeared in Pushkar in four different directions. Baijnath is one of those four Shivlings.

The drive to this temple is an adventure in itself.

When the population starts to diminish, and nature takes control with its sparse vegetation and boulder landscape, the route gets a little bumpy.

But not for long, just after 12 km you arrive at your destination.

One of the best things about this place is the lush greenery and the sound of chirping birds that envelopes it.

So, if you plan on visiting it, you’d be mesmerised by its ambience. However, don’t expect the temple to be a luxurious treat.

Expect a little but gorgeous shrine tucked underneath the surface of the earth in a cave covered in white tiles.

After paying homage to the deity, go on a hike on the trail next to the temple complex. A little further, you will see a spring that fills up the Kund (pond) in the temple 24/7.

If you have the time and energy, do climb to the topmost point of the trail to capture panoramic views on your lenses.

Lomas Rishi Ashram is a quaint getaway located 10 km from Pushkar.

Decked in ivory white hues and contrasting orange shades, the ashram complex has a feel-good vibe.

Visit this place only if you value stories and nature over glitter and shines.

Once you enter the ashram, you will come across a small temple built to pay homage to Rojari Mata – a local deity.

Climbing higher, you’ll see an array of white buildings and a few Kunds on the backdrop of a mountain.

Meet the monk that handles the temple, see the Samadhi of Sages that once dedicated their lives to “Taap” ( austerity) and climb higher.

On the highest point of the complex, resides the image of Lomas Rishi meditating. If you pan around from this particular spot, you will find that you’re surrounded by the beauty of nature and the bird-eye view of the city.

Next up we have the Agastya Muni Cave, which is famous for its rugged trek and breath-taking landscape.

Located 2 km away from Pushkar, this cave was once home to Sage Agastya.  He was a Vedic sage, who is till date celebrated as an ardent and influential scholar of the Indian subcontinent.

What’s so special about this place?

This place holds an important place in Hinduism, so much so that without visiting it, the Pushkar pilgrimage renders incomplete.

According to the sacred texts, impressed by Sage Agastya’s austerity,  Lord Brahma gave him a blessing.

A part of that blessing states that without visiting Agastya Muni’s Cave, no pilgrimage to Pushkar will be complete.

Another reason for the sacredness of this place is that it was here that Lord Rama ( the protagonist of the Hindu Epic Ramayana) attained his celestial powers.

To pursue it, he meditated on a spot now popularly called “Ramjhoroka”.

A trip to this cave is not for the faint-hearted; you have to climb the wild terrain to reach the cave. But the scenic landscape makes the trek a lot easier.

Once you reach the cave, you are welcomed by the narrow gate of the ashram: passing through which one can enter the ashram complex and the famous cave.

While you explore the place, look out for the two carved feet of the sage on the stone.

Not that far away from mainland Pushkar, lies the 27th of the 51 Shakti Peethas of Goddess Sati.

In Hindu religion, the Shakti Peethas are the places where the various body parts of Sati fell after she sacrificed herself at a Yajna.

Temples were erected at these places to commemorate different manifestations of the Goddess. At the Chamunda Mata Temple in Pushkar, devotees worship the wrists of Goddess.

Gayatri Mantra, one of the most powerful verses in Hinduism, is chanted on repeat here, making its aura cosmic and very positive.

Near the temple, there is a massive mountain too. If you travel to the summit of this mountain, you will find a cave temple here.

So, do not forget to ask your guide to show you the Puruhita Mountain.

Next up on our places to visit in Pushkar Rajasthan list we have another miraculous Kund that is lesser-known to tourists.

Kapil Kund is a miracle pond that you can find on the Ajmer highway. Revered as an important historical place of Pushkar, this Kund has a lot of buzz around its name.

It is believed that Rishi Kapil spent a fair amount of time here meditating. As a result of which the water of this pond turned into a miracle.

The belief of the locals goes even to say that the water can cure leprosy. Now that’s something to look forward to, don’t you think?

Last but not the least we have a mysterious hidden gem of Pushkar that lies not that far away from the epicentre of bustle.

The Gaumukh Temple, also famous as the Cow faced temple is 3 km away from the downtown.

Drenched in the hues of red and orange are the two prominent ancient temples of this temple complex- Neelkanth Mahadev and Bhima Dev.

The temple complex has five Kunds (Ponds) too.

Each of these Kunds belonged to different Pandavas (from the Hindu epic Mahabharata), and it was they who built it when they came to this place during their exile.

The temples here are a few centuries old; however, the Kunds have existed here since the beginning of time.

The first temple, one which is easily accessible via a vehicle, consists of three of the five Kunds and the NeelKanth Temple.

A little higher on the terrain, you will find the other temple and Kunds. The Gaumukh spring will be in this region.

This spring is considered sacred among the masses, so much so, that people draw water from it to treat allergies and other holy purposes.

Did you know that water appears out of nowhere in these Kunds? Locals say that even many researchers weren’t able to determine the source of water.