Opportunity abounds in India’s religious circuit

REPORT FROM INDIA—“Jai Ho,” “Insha’Allah,” “Waheguru”—while these and other phrases of blessing are commonly heard along India’s religious circuit, global hotel chains are flocking to the region with another word in mind: opportunity.
The underserved religious tourism market segment drew 450 million tourists during 2010, or approximately 60% of the country’s 740 million domestic travelers, according to estimates from India’s Department of Tourism. By contrast, foreign tourist arrivals numbered only 5 million for the year in 2010, though both segments continue to grow.
Religious tourism has long been a fundamental characteristic of India’s domestic travel industry. “Pilgrim tourism forms an important segment of domestic tourism,” said Kashmira Commissariat, COO of tour operator Kuoni India’s outbound division. “India, as a confluence of different religions, has always attracted pilgrims from all over the world,” as well.
Religions that have their origins in the country include Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Islam has been practiced in India since the seventh century, while Christianity came to India in 52 A.D. India also serves as home to a sizeable population of Zoroastrians (Parsi), Bahá'ís , Ismaili (followers of Aga Khan) and Jews.
The top shrines in India, whether Tirupati, Vaishno Devi, Ajmer Dargah or Golden Temple, each draws an average of 50,000 to 100,000 visitors a day. Shirdi, the Abode of Sai Baba, sees a daily visitor level of 70,000 people on weekdays; weekends inflate to approximately 100,000 visitors, according to figures released by the management of these shrines.
Gaurav Sarin, associate VP of business development and quality assurance at Best Western India, said pilgrims stay one and half days at Best Western’s Shirdi property. Rajat Gupta, associate director of sales at Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Hotels India, said the approximate stay of religious travelers is two days; at Carlson’s Ajmer property, guests generally stay overnight. What is less definitive, however, is where those stays occur.

Source: http://www.hotelnewsnow.com/Articles.aspx/7102/Opportunity-abounds-in-Indias-religious-circuit

Pushkar Fair – An Unforgettable Experience

Do you wish to get a feel of the vibrant tradition and culture of India? Then visit the Pushkar Fair in Rajasthan with indianholiday.com. One of the most colorful and charming fairs in India, Pushkar is a fine example of the diversity of culture and tradition in the country. A visit to this fair is simply an unforgettable experience.

The Pushkar Fair is held every year in the small town of Pushkar in the state of Rajasthan. Located in the Thar Desert around 14 km from Ajmer, this small town is surrounded by mountains and sand dunes. The fair takes place between the months of October and November during Kartik Shukla Ekadashi. The fair goes on for a period of 5 days and ends on Kartik Purnima.

Coming to Pushkar is also easy. You can hire buses, cars of taxis for coming to the town. It takes around 30 minutes to come to Pushkar from Ajmer. The nearest airport is located in the city of Jaipur. Buses and cars ply between Pushkar and Jaipur.

Wide spread celebration takes place during the Pushkar Fair. You will simply be awe inspired by the intensity of fun and frolic during these 5 days. Around 20,000 people participate in the fair on average. Thousands of tourists from all over the world come here to have an experience of the rich Indian culture and tradition.

Pushkar Fair is an ideal shopping destination if you wish to buy beautiful Rajasthani handicrafts and local artifacts. From colorful turbans and ghagaras to local jewelry, you can pick up almost everything here at reasonable rates. You can also shop for woolen textiles and garments from the shops and markets. Food lovers can have a taste of mouth watering local and Indian delicacies in the fair. You will enjoy various Rajasthani snacks and refreshing beverages that are served in the food joints in the fair.

A major attraction of the Pushkar Fair is the camel festival. Around 50,000 camels participate in the camel race. The camels are decorated with colorful garments and jewelries. There is also a well known camel market in Rajasthan where various types of camels are sold at moderate rates. Other than camels, domestic animals like bulls, cows and horses are also sold at affordable rates.

There are also some attractions around Pushkar which you can visit. Popular tourist attractions like Pushkar Lake and Brahma Temple draw plenty of tourists.

Various tours and packages are offered by the tourist board and travel agencies for the Pushkar fair. Some of the popular tours are Colorful Pushkar tour, Pushkar Village tour, Pushkar Delight, Pushkar Special, Pushkar Splendor and lots more.

There are plenty of lodges, resorts and hotels in Pushkar which cater to the booming tourist inflow during the fair. Discounts and packages are offered during this season to lure more visitors. The hotels and resorts are equipped with contemporary facilities and services and offer you high degree of comfort and satisfaction.

Pushkar Camel Fair: Experience the vibrancy of colors

Every November the camping grounds in a small hamlet of Pushkar are abuzz with activity. This is the month of ‘kartik purnima’ when the advent of tourists is at its peak to witness the presence of camels, ‘ships of desert’. Pushkar camel fair comes forth as an attractive tourist destination for visitors overseas due to its abundance of colors which is normally missing in the western nations.

Rajasthan fits this bill nicely due to the magnanimity with which the nature has bestowed it and is nowhere to be seen in any part of the planet. Thousands of camels are attired in the best of accessories lending the whole scenario a magic which often overwhelms the tourists. While they savor the delights of desert life, the memories become etched in their minds forever with a thirst for coming back to the place again.

The Pushkar camel fair is world’s largest camel fair held in the holy town of Pushkar and is a unique experience. An added charm to this place comes with the onset of winters which makes the ambience quite pleasurable for the visitors. The festival hosts around 50,000 camels which are sold decorated or utilized in the races held annually and is quite a sight to be witnessed.

Often, the crowd swells from a mere 14,000 to a massive 200,000 appearing as an ocean of humanity which surges forth during the festival months. The charm of this place comes alive with its originality due to the rustic element present in the natives and the visiting guests are enthralled by their innocence. The plus point of this place is the song and dance in which the locals indulge often forgetting their miseries and troubles enjoying the camel races.

At Pushkar camel fair, people buy innumerable souvenirs for their loved ones which are actually exquisite pieces brought forth by the craftsmen. Besides the religious factor, the tourists are attracted to the place because of the fun factor involved due to the camel races and other interesting activities.

Apart from the fun and games, Pushkar is equally famed for its temple dedicated to Lord Brahma, the only one in the country. The legend that is doing the rounds is that while searching a proper place to perform ‘yagya’ the lotus fell off from the hands of lord. The place where it fell down was the place we now know as Pushkar and out sprung the water. The quantity just increased as time passed and took the shape of a lake and it is commonly believed that taking a holy dip in its sacred waters washes off the sins of many lifetimes.

Coming to the culture part of the fair, one can visit innumerable shops set up by the traders. These traders sell a variety of items like woolen blankets of Merta, broad necklaces of Nagaur, textiles printed in Ajmer and Jodhpur, brassware of Jodhpur and Jaipur etc. Other items of utility which are sold at these shops are saddles, ropes and other assorted items. After one is done with the fair, one can wind it up with a leisurely trip around the state of Rajasthan. In fact, visiting these places is a refreshing idea after witnessing the hustle bustle of a fair. Also, one can interact with tribal folks who dot the landscape of the state and are a living testimonial of myriad cultures of the land.
Source: http://www.bestsyndication.com

Ajmer, Pushkar hottest destinations in Rajasthan:

The enigma of enchanting forts, palaces, havelis, the shimmering dunes and sanctity of religious places in Rajasthan will no longer be a 182-day phenomenon. The effervescence of the desert state continues to enthrall tourists well into what was once considered "not the right time to be in Rajasthan," and thereby making it a round-the-year, 365-day destination for domestic as well as foreign tourists.

If the inbound tourist figures to the state are any indication, then Ajmer has a clear edge over Jaipur as the hottest destination with the domestic travellers. As per the figures of the last four years, compiled by the department of tourism, the pilgrim city, Ajmer has been the favoured destination for domestic tourists. Pushkar follows on the quick trot followed by the Pink City, ranking third on the tourists itinerary.

And if you thought that the state thrives mostly on foreign tourists, then the figures prove otherwise. The number of domestic tourists have marked a steady increase compared to foreigners. With the economy on a roll, and with higher earnings and disposable incomes, the travel bug seems to have bitten people living even in smaller cities. Travel packages are in plenty for a frequent weekend get-away and off peak season is no longer a term to reckon with. If in January 2007, 10,500 people travelled to Pushkar, in April when the weather in the state is considered not as pleasant, about 1,15,900 domestic tourists made it to the pilgrim city.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Urs at Ajmer start from July

Ajmer, June 27: The 796th Urs of Khawaja Moinuddeen Chisty will begin from July 3 or 4 at Ajmer this year and conclude on July 13 or 14, said Sneh Lata Panwar, Urs Mela Magistrate and Additional Collector.

Five hundred Pakistani Jayreen will participate in the Urs this year, said Panwar.

Pakistani Jayreen will arrive in Ajmer on July 6 and will leave the holy place for their country on July 13. During their week-long stay in the country, they are also scheduled to visit Delhi, Panwar said.
source: http://www.saharasamay.com/

Dargah Sharif Ajmer:

Ajmer is an oasis wrapped in the green hills. The city was founded by Raja Ajay Pal Chauhan in the 7th Century. Today, Ajmer is a popular pilgrimage centre for the Hindus as well as Muslims of all around the world. Especially famous is the Dargah Sharif-tomb of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, draws piligrams and devotees from all parts of the Islamic world.

The Dargah Sharif Ajmer(दरगाह शरीफ़ अजमेर) is the burial place of the Muslim saint Khwaja MoinuddinChishti. In the heart of the city is the tomb of Saint MoihuddinChishti (1142-1256).

Every year many number of Muslims and pilgrims of other faiths come to visit the Ajmer shariiph Dargah। The death anniversary of Moinuddin Chishti, is decorated as a Urs, In the day of Urs the number of visiting devotees goes up into lakhs. The days of Urs attract pilgrims not only from India, but from other countries also like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Irak etc. It is said that whoever visits the Dargah Sharif in Rajasthan doesn't leave the place empty handed. The all the wishes of every visitor get fulfilled.

The many Mughal rulers got the Dargah constructed over a period of time. The Dargah bazaar is the main point for entry to the dargah. The silver doors of the Dargah are exquisitely carved. Covering the grave of the saint, is a silver railing and a partial marble screen. There are also separate prayer rooms for men and women.

Pushkar Dham:

Pushkar (:पुष्कर:) is a town in the state of Rajasthan in India. Vacations to the sleepy Pushkar that ornaments the deserts of Rajasthan can be an amazing experience. Pushkar means born due to a flower. By the Hindu mythology it is say that the gods released a swan with a lotus in its beak and let it fall on earth where Brahma would conduct a grand yagna. The place where the lotus fell was called Pushkar. It is situated 14 Km from Ajmer. It is often called "Tirth Raj" and It has in recent years become a popular destination for foreign tourists.

The Pushkar is one of the five sacred dhams. According to Hindu mythology, all the gods visit Pushkar for five days in a year to bless the devout and absolve them of their sins. Pushkar lies on the shore of Pushkar Lake. It has five principal temples, many smaller temples and 52 ghats where pilgrims descend to the lake to bathe in the sacred waters. One of the primary temples is the 14th century temple dedicated to Brahma, the Hindu god of creation. Very few temples to Lord Brahma exist anywhere in the world. Pushkar is also famous for its annual Pushkar Camel Fair.