Pushkar

Located 179 miles (288 kilometer) west of Jaipur along the edge of the Thar Desert sits the town of Pushkar, one of India’s most sacred pilgrimage sites. According to legend, the god Brahma dropped a lotus flower to earth, and the petals landed in three places. One of those places was Pushkar, where a holy lake was formed. Even though Brahma is the creator in Hinduism, Pushkar houses one of the only temples to him in the world -- one of some 500 in the city.

Today, visitors come to Pushkar to visit the Brahma Temple, drive around the lake and visit its 52 ghats, shop the largely traffic-free main bazaar and attend the annual camel fair, one of the world’s largest such festivities.

While you’re in the enchanting desert town of Pushkar, set aside some time for a camel safari into the surrounding desert. The views are often breathtaking, and depending on how much time you have, you can visit a few more rural villages to get a more authentic India experience.