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Savitri Temple, Pushkar
Goddess Savitri · Ratnagiri Hill · Pushkar, Rajasthan
॥ ॐ सावित्र्यै नमः ॥
The Savitri Temple crowns the Ratnagiri hill above Pushkar, dedicated to Savitri, the first consort of Brahma, who by legend withdrew to this height in anger when the creator married another to complete his great sacrifice below. From the hilltop the shrine looks down over the holy Pushkar lake and the rare temple of Brahma, and the climb — by long stairway or by ropeway — is rewarded with one of the finest views in Rajasthan.
The first wife of Brahma
The legend of Pushkar tells that Brahma, about to perform a great fire-sacrifice, needed his consort beside him; when Savitri was delayed, he wed Gayatri to complete the rite at the appointed hour. Savitri, arriving to find another in her place, withdrew in anger to the Ratnagiri hill — and from there she is worshipped, looking down upon the lake and the sacrifice that passed without her.
A shrine above the lake
The temple sits at the very top of the hill, and the goddess is honoured here as the steadfast wife and the power behind the creator. Below spread the blue Pushkar lake, its many ghats and temples, and the famous Brahma temple — one of the few in the world — so that the climb is also a slow unveiling of the whole sacred town.
The climb and the Pushkar Fair
Pilgrims reach the shrine by a long flight of steps, best climbed before dawn to catch the sunrise over the desert, or by the ropeway that now runs to the summit. The temple is busiest during the Pushkar Fair at Kartik Purnima, when the town fills with pilgrims, cattle traders and travellers from around the world.
How to reach the temple
- By road and climb: the trailhead is in Pushkar town; the summit is reached by a stairway of around a thousand steps or by ropeway.
- By train: Ajmer is the nearest major railhead, about 11 km from Pushkar.
- By air: Jaipur is the nearest airport, about 145 km away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the goddess Savitri?
Savitri is the first consort of Brahma, worshipped at the hilltop temple in Pushkar; by legend she withdrew to the Ratnagiri hill in anger when Brahma married Gayatri to complete his sacrifice.
What is the legend behind the temple?
When Savitri was late for Brahma’s fire-sacrifice, he wed Gayatri to perform it at the proper hour; the angered Savitri retired to the Ratnagiri hill, where she is now worshipped overlooking the lake.
How do you reach the Savitri Temple?
The summit is reached by a stairway of around a thousand steps from Pushkar town, or by a ropeway that now runs to the top.
What can you see from the temple?
The hilltop gives a sweeping view of the Pushkar lake, its ghats and temples, and the rare Brahma temple, with the desert beyond — especially fine at sunrise.
When is the temple busiest?
During the Pushkar Fair at Kartik Purnima, when the town fills with pilgrims, cattle traders and visitors from around the world.
How do I reach Pushkar?
Ajmer is the nearest major railhead, about 11 km from Pushkar, and Jaipur the nearest airport, about 145 km away.
॥ जय माँ सावित्री ॥ • Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide
| Deity | Goddess Savitri (first consort of Brahma) |
| Setting | Top of Ratnagiri hill, above Pushkar |
| Legend | Savitri’s anger at Brahma’s sacrifice with Gayatri |
| Access | ~1,000 steps or ropeway |
| Overlooks | Pushkar lake and the Brahma temple |
| Main Festival | Pushkar Fair (Kartik Purnima) |