| Pushkar Lake | |
|---|---|
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  Pushkar Lake | |
  Interactive Map | |
| Location | Pushkar, Rajasthan |
| Coordinates | 26°29′14″N 74°33′15″E / 26.48722°N 74.55417°E |
| 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.