Late Bhausaheb Hiray S.S.

Trust’s

DR. BALIRAM HIRAY COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE

Affiliated to University of Mumbai

DISSERTATION ON:

CULTURAL RESORT AT PUSHKAR, RAJASTHAN

SUBMITTED BY

Mr. NAITIK RUPESH SHAH

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

PROF. SHALLU SETH

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF

BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE (2019-20)

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 CERTIFICATE

It is certified that the work contend in the dissertation title

CULTURAL RESORT AT PUSHKAR, RAJASTHAN

by

Mr. Naitik Rupesh Shah

has been carried out under my supervision and that this work has not been submitted
elsewhere for a degree in fulfilment of requirement for Award of
Bachelor of Architecture of University of Mumbai

______________________________________

PROF. SHALLU SETH

(Thesis Guide)
November 2019

______________________________________

AR.SUNIL MAGDUM
(Principal I.C.)
Dr. Baliram Hiray College Of Architecture, Mumbai

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 DECLARATION

I, Naitik Rupesh Shah

a bonafide student of Bachelor of Architecture in
Dr.Baliram Hiray College of Architecture, Affiliated to University of Mumbai
would like to declare that the dissertation entitled

CULTURAL RESORT AT PUSHKAR, RAJASTHAN

submitted by me in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the
Degree of

BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE
is my original work. Whenever I have used material from other sources, due credit is given to
them by citing the sources.

Place:

Date:

______________________________________
Signature of the candidate

Mr. Naitik Rupesh Shah

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 ABSTRACT

Pushkar is a culturally rich town bordering the Thar Desert, in the northeastern Indian
State of Rajasthan. It's set on Pushkar Lake, a sacred Hindu site with 52 ghats (stone staircases)
where pilgrims bathe. The town has hundreds of temples, including 14th-century Jagatpita
Brahma Mandir, dedicated to the god of creation, which has a distinctive red spire and walls
inlaid with pilgrims’ silver coins, a sacred site that attracts millions of tourists every year.
Endowed with natural beauty and a great history, tourism is a flourishing industry
in Rajasthan. Rajasthan is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India, for both
domestic and international tourists. Rajasthan attracts tourists for its historical forts, palaces,
art and culture with its slogan 'Padharo mahare desh'. Tourism serves as the main economic
source for the residents. Increase in tourism has been producing an increasing demand for more
accommodation in Pushkar. The proposal is to build a cultural resort for the tourists of Pushkar
which can let the tourists enjoy the culture of Rajasthan, particularly Pushkar and also at the
same time have a leisure time with some activities. The project further dives into the rich
culture of Pushkar and highlighting the essence of Rajasthani culture in the design. The project
is located about 3.5kms from the Pushkar’s famous Brahma Temple, the only temple of Lord
Brahma in the world.
This dissertation plans on using the land to reimagine the open spaces for the people of
Pushkar and the visitors of Pushkar, and to provide a resort that highlights the culture of
Pushkar and Rajasthan.

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 INDEX

1. CULTURE

2. TOURISM

3. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CULTURE AND TOURISM

4. RESORTS

5. CLASSIFICATION OF RESORTS

6. WHY RAJASTHAN?

7. PUSHKAR

8. CASE STUDY: SHAAM-E-SARHAD

9. CASE STUDY: CHOKHI DHANI

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 CULTURE

INTRODUCTION
Culture is the characteristic of group of people defined by everything such as language,
religion, lifestyle etc. Different people in different societies have different culture but they also
have some similarities. The culture varies in different things such as clothes, foods, religion
and many others.
Culture is the identity of a group of people living in specific place; they have their own
sketch of life what the culture says they follow that. We have seen that a lot of people do some
specific thing they first thought about their culture, what my culture says on this occasion.
Especially on the occasion of wedding, and some other celebrating days they follow strictly
their culture. Those who do not follow their culture or do some changes in that, they haven’t
give any values to them because they are not following their religion.
Different people define culture in different ways, for example “Culture: learned and
shared human patterns or models for living; day- to-day living patterns, these patterns and
models pervade all aspects of human social interaction. Culture is mankind’s primary adaptive
mechanism”1. Another author says that “Culture is the collective programming of the mind
which distinguishes the members of one category of people from another.”2. From these
definitions it is clear that both explains the same idea but in different words, says that culture
is first learned after learning it is then shared so it’s a common fact that the younger first learn
the culture from their elders and when these young become elders they transfer it to the next
generation. But the culture learned it includes all the aspects of human interaction and thus it
become the mankind’s adoptive mechanism. In the second definition the author says that the
culture is the programming of mind so it includes everything related with the mind
programming and because of these different minds programming different group of people
distinguish from each other.
Being a mix of faiths, practices, and diversities, Rajasthan showcase a vibrant
display of cultures. Life in this desert land is all about traditional ways of living. Be it the
architecture, costumes, cuisine, local dialects, arts and crafts, or its fairs and festivals, you
can always find a unique charm and plethora of celebrations while travelling around this
state.
Today, Rajasthan has developed like any other Indian state. However, unlike them,
this gorgeous state has endured all its cultural aspects and never hesitates to introduce the
outer world with them. Let’s delve deep into the cultures of Rajasthan and have a livelier
glimpse of how life thrives in this desert land of India.

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Elements of Culture
Culture is transmitted to members of a society in a number of ways. The most significant are
stories, rituals, material symbols, and language.
The culture of society also comprises the shared values, understandings, assumptions, and goals
that are learned from earlier generations, imposed by present members of society, and passed
on to succeeding generations.
There are some elements of culture about which we should be aware of:

 Languages
 Religion
 Norms
 Symbols
 Values
 Attitude
 Rituals
 Customs and Manners
 Material Culture
 Education
 Physical Artifacts
 Language, Jargons and Metaphors
 Stories, Myths and Legends
 Ceremonies and Celebrations
 Behavioral Norms
 Shared Beliefs and Values.

Languages
It is primary means used to transmit information and ideas. Knowledge of local language can
help because-

 It permits a clearer understanding of the situation.

 It provides direct access to local people.
 Understanding of implied meanings.

Religion
The spiritual beliefs of a society are often so powerful that they transcend other cultural aspects.
Religion affect-

 The work habit of people

 Work and social customs
 Politics and business

Norms
Cultures differ widely in their norms, or standards and expectations for behaving. Norms are
often divided into two types, formal norms and informal norms.
Formal norms, also called mores and laws, refer to the standards of behavior considered the
most important in any society. Informal norms, also called folkways and customs, refer to
standards of behavior that are considered less important but still influence how we behave.

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Symbols
Every culture is filled with symbols, of things that stand for something else and that often
suggests various reactions and emotions. Some symbols are actually types of nonverbal
communication, while other symbols are in fact material objects.

Values
Values are a society’s ideas about what is good or bad, right or wrong – such as the widespread
belief that stealing is immoral and unfair. Values determine how individuals will probably
respond in any given circumstances

Attitude
Attitude is a persistent tendency to feel and behave in a particular way. Actually it is the
external displays of underlying beliefs that people use to signal to other people.

Rituals
Rituals are processes or sets of actions which are repeated in specific circumstances and with
specific meaning. They may be used in such as rites of passage, such as when someone is
promoted or retires.
They may be associated with company events such as the release of a new event. They may
also be associated with a day like Eid day.

Customs and Manners

Customs are common and establish practices. Manners are behaviours that are regarded as
appropriate in a particular society. These indicate the rules of behaviour which enforce ideas
of right and wrong.
They can be the traditions, rules, written laws etc.

Material Culture
Another element of culture is the artefacts, or material objects, that constitute a society’s
material culture. It consists of objects that people make. Like-

 Economic infrastructure (transportation, communication and energy capabilities)

 Social infrastructure (Health , housing and education systems)
 Financial infrastructure (Banking, insurance and financial services)

Education
It influences many aspects of culture.
Actually, culture is the entire accumulation of artificial objects, conditions, tools, techniques,
ideas, symbols and behaviour patterns peculiar to a group of people, possessing a certain
consistency of its own, and capable of transmission from one generation to another.

Physical Artefacts
These are the tangible manifestations and key elements of organizational culture. If you visit
different organizations, you’ll notice that each is unique in terms of its physical layout, use of
facilities, centralization or dispersion of common utilities, and so on.
This uniqueness is not incidental, instead, they represent the symbolic expressions of an
underlying meaning, values, and beliefs, which is shared by people in the organization. The
workplace culture greatly affects the performance of an organization.

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Language, Jargons and Metaphors
These elements of organizational culture play an important role in identifying a company’s
culture. While language is a means of universal communication, most business houses tend to
develop their own unique terminologies, phrases and acronyms.
For instance, in the organizational linguistics code, “Kremlin” may mean the headquarters; in
Goal India Limited, the acronym. J.I.T. (Just In Time) was jokingly used to describe all the
badly planned fire-fighting jobs.

Stories, Myths and Legends

These are, in a way, an extension of organizational language. They epitomize the unwritten
values and morals of the organizational life.
If you collect the various stories, anecdotes, and jokes that are shared in an organization, they
often read like plots and themes, in which nothing changes except the characters. They
rationalize the complexity and turbulence of activities and events to allow for predictable
action-taking.

Ceremonies and Celebrations

These are consciously enacted behavioral artifacts which help in reinforcing the organization’s
cultural values and assumptions.
For example, every year Tata Steel celebrates Founder’s Day to commemorate and reiterate its
adherence to the original values of the organization.
Stating the importance of ceremonies and celebrations, Deal and Kennedy (1982) say,
“Without expressive events, any culture will die. In the absence of ceremony, important values
have no impact.”

Behavioral Norms
This is one of the most important elements of organizational culture. They describe the nature
of expectations which impinge on the members’ behavior. Behavioral norms determine how
the members will behave, interact and relate with each other.

Shared Beliefs and Values

All organizations have their unique set of basic beliefs and values (also called moral codes),
shared by most of its members. These are the mental pictures of organizational reality, and
form the basis of defining the right or wrong in the organization.
In an organization, for instance, if the predominant belief is that meeting the customers’
demands is essential for success, any behavior which supposedly meets these criteria is
acceptable, even if it violates the established rules and procedures.
Values and beliefs focus organizational energies toward certain actions while discouraging the
other behavioral patterns.

References

https://www.erajasthantourism.net/culture-of-rajasthan/

Understanding culture (Dato’Dr Sothi Rachagan)

http://savior.hubpages.com/hub/Characteristics-of-Culture

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 TOURISM
Tourism can be defined as travelling to a place which is different from your home city
or country for various leisure or business purposes, and staying there for some considerable
period of time at a length. It is travelling for some purpose and for stay which is not very long
or permanent in nature.

Tourism becomes an activity which builds the base for the wide scale consumption
bringing far reaching benefits. Tourism gains importance as an activity which has far reaching
positive impacts on industries, economy, society and therefore for the whole growth, progress
and development of a country. The definition of tourism also creates the foundation and the
broad context of the tourism industry through which most of the advantages and benefits are
received by the country as a whole.

Why Tourism is Important?

Tourism industry is important for the benefits it brings and due to its role as a
commercial activity that creates demand and growth for many more industries. Tourism not
only contributes towards more economic activities but also generates more employment,
revenues and play a significant role in development.

Tourism first creates demand as an activity and then fulfils that demand as a group of industries.

Tourism is an individual activity of traveling and visiting places. It has created

travellers and tourists who visit different tourist places and destinations. They want to and
they travel to places and make those places more popular. This way they bring earning
opportunities. They also encourage development of those places, the nearby places and in fact
the whole country or region to facilitate growing tourist activities.

This is the unique aspect of tourism as this creates demand for economies on global
scale and more importantly for each country and even goes deeper in creating demand and
growth opportunities at city level and local level for various communities.

This makes tourists important for a country. Their role and significance increases as
they are also one of the best brand ambassadors for any country. Tourists come from different
countries and carry back image and perception about your country with them and share it with
many more.

Tourism is also a commercial activity because the whole tourism process involves
consumption of services and products. Hence tourists become highly important as they
are growth drivers and brand ambassadors. This highlights the importance of tourists and
significance of their roles for economies and countries.

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 Tourism adds to the consumer population of a country who for a short period of time
do almost all of the things and consumes most of the service and products which a country's
native population or consumers do. They are tourists. Tourism in simple words grows the
overall demand in a country's economy on a sustainable basis.

 Tourism activity creates demand

 Tourism industry value chain meets & spreads demand across industries & boosts more
economic activities
 Tourism requires country's wholesome development
 Motivates to reach Global Standards
 Tourism induces more consumption


Tourism brings many benefits, including but not limited to the following few:

 Growth and boost in Economic activities

 Boost wide scale industry revenues
 Infrastructure development
 Country's improved brand image
 Source of foreign exchange earnings
 Source of employment generation
 Connectivity and growth to local, regional and even the remotest areas
 Global connectivity
 Improvement in infrastructure and living standards
 Cultural growth
 Betterment of society
 Introduction of new technologies

Thus travel and tourism can give boost to the economy in terms of consumer spending, job
creation and more. For developing and emerging countries tourism can provide a great push to
the economy.

This sector is driving growth in industries, in fact pushing those industries and economies
to do better. This uniqueness of travel and tourism and its impact can be said to be more
pronounced in the business travel segment. Thus, tourism as a while and within it MICE or
business events are, or could be, a significant factor in developing world-class infrastructure
and level of services.

Reference: Market Width Travel Tourism Industries & Markets

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 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CULTURE AND TOURISM

Cultural tourism India is the predominant factor behind India’s meteoric rise in the
tourism segment in recent years, because from time immemorial, India has been considered the
land of ancient history, heritage, and culture.
Tourism based on cultural issues is growing fast in recent years. This type of tourism
promotes the diversification of demand and supply at destinations, while keeping and valuing
the local culture. Improving our knowledge on cultural tourism could help to foster the
sustainability of destinations. Despite efforts devoted to define the “cultural tourist”, still little
is known about her/his particular behaviour. Cultural tourism has been acting as a powerful
engine of the tourism and hospitality industry in the last years. This type of tourism not only
renders increasing levels of income to destinations, but also allows promoting a more
sustainable tourism model, improving the quality of life of local residents. Given its relevance,
cultural tourism represents an important area of research nowadays.
The diversity of cultural consumption emerging nowadays has expanded the role of
culture in tourism. In fact, the broad definition of cultural tourism adapted by literature includes
all movements of persons satisfying the human need for diversity, tending to raise the cultural
level of the individual and giving rise to new knowledge, experience and encounters.
India has had many rulers over the centuries and all of them made an impact on
India's culture. One can see the influence of various cultures in dance, music, festivities,
architecture, traditional customs, food, and languages. It is due to the influence of all these
various cultures that the heritage and culture of India is exhaustive and vibrant. This richness
in culture goes a long way in projecting India as the ultimate cultural tourism destination
given boost to tourism in culture in India.

The most popular states in India for cultural tourism are:

 Rajasthan
 Tamil Nadu
 Uttar Pradesh
 Uttaranchal
Among the various states for cultural tourism in India, Rajasthan is the most popular. The
reason for this is that Rajasthan is famous for its rich cultural heritage. The state is renowned
for many magnificent palaces and forts which showcase the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan.
The various folk songs and music also reflect the cultural heritage of Rajasthan. A large number
of festivals and fairs are held in Rajasthan such as the camel festival, Marwar festival, and
Pushkar festival. All these attract many tourists to Rajasthan for they get to see the rich culture
of the state.

Reference:

https://business.mapsofindia.com/tourism-industry/types/cultural.html
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13032917.2017.1414444

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 RESORT

INTRODUCTION
A resort is a full-service lodging facility that provides access to or offers a range of amenities
and recreation facilities to emphasize a leisure experience. Resorts serve as the primary
provider of the guests’ experience, often provides services for business and meetings and are
characteristically located in vacation-oriented settings.

Resort Definition

Based upon input from resort executives and professionals, an appropriate definition for the
term resort as related to lodging was determined to be:

A resort is a full-service lodging facility that provides access to or offers a range of amenities
and recreation facilities to emphasize a leisure experience. Resorts serve as the primary
provider of the guests’ experience, often provide services for business or meetings, and are
characteristically located in vacation-oriented settings.

For a lodging property to be considered a resort, certain minimum qualifications must also be
met. These include:

• Provide one signature amenity or anchor attribute

• Provide five secondary recreation/leisure/entertainment experiences

• Provide one full-service food & beverage outlet

• Bed-base must include short-term or overnight lodging

• Minimum of 25 rooms or other accommodations (exception to minimum for properties

with two signature amenity/anchor attributes)

• Emphasize a leisure or retreat-environment experience

While minimums provide guidance as to the type and scope of property that warrants
inclusion as a resort, new terminologies are also presented. These are new terms associated
with this definition and in determining property inclusion. These key terminology include:

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Signature Amenity

Signature amenities are amenities/attractions/geographically significant attributes that a resort

is required to provide access to in order to be considered a resort. These include, for example:
golf, ski/mountain, beach/ocean, lakeside, casino/gaming, all-inclusiveness, spa/ health/
wellness, marina, tennis and Water Park. For property-generated or man-made amenities, they
need to be considered full-service to be a signature amenity.

Anchor Attribute

An anchor attribute is a non-typical theme linking tertiary or secondary resort amenities and
attributes to provide a signature amenity. To be identified as an anchor attribute, a minimum
of five recreation/leisure/entertainment experiences linking to a common theme must be
provided. Examples include: couples, family, educational, tropical, and dude ranch.

Recreation/leisure/entertainment experiences (RLE-E)

A recreation/leisure/entertainment experience is a secondary amenity that adds to the resort

experience. Any leisure or recreation activities, which can range from croquet to beach
volleyball or organized kids activities, are considered RLE-E. While RLE-E is not considered
primary resort features, they are important in creating the appropriate atmosphere and
providing a range of activities for guests to participate in. These attributes are important, along
with food & beverage outlets, in determining whether properties should be included as resorts
once the signature amenity/anchor amenity minimums are met.

Full-Service

For the purposes of this definition, full-service shall be defined as a property that provides a
range of amenities and services to address customer wants and needs. This includes offering a
variety of amenities and activities, a restaurant offering two or more meal services daily, and
enhanced service levels (ex. concierge or room service).

Reference-

The New Definition of Resort

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 RESORT CLASSIFICATION

Once the criteria for considering a lodging property a resort were established, participants
identified categories under which properties could be classified. These four categories can be
described as, with minimum qualifications of each property, as:

Destination Resort
These properties are seen as resorts in the truest sense. They serve as the primary motivation
to visit a destination and have characteristically high levels of service. Properties provide most
or all amenities throughout a guests’ visit and provide access to substantial recreation or leisure
space. Properties frequently have capabilities for meetings/business and meet the minimum
resort requirements plus:
• Four signature/anchor amenities
• Fifteen or more unique secondary RLE-E
• Three or more food & beverage outlets
• Spa/health/wellness amenities
• Multiple shopping outlets
• Variety of lodging options

Intermediate Resort
These properties can serve as the primary reason to visit a destination but guests can have
additional motivations for visiting the resort. Properties frequently provide access to substantial
recreation and leisure space and are removed from major population centres. They are very
similar to destination resort properties except for their limited scope of signature or anchor
amenities. These properties meet the minimum resort requirements plus provide:
• Two signature/anchor amenities
• Ten or more unique secondary RLE-E
• Two or more food & beverage outlets

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Intermediate-Access Resort
These properties are typically located in vacation destinations or densely populated areas. They
are frequently clustered together and provide access to geographically-significant signature
amenities (ex. ski, beach). Properties may not serve as the primary attraction for guests but
provide adequate recreation/leisure/entertainment experiences to engage guests throughout
their stay. These properties must meet the minimum resort requirements plus provide:
• Two signature/anchor amenities
• Ten or more unique secondary RLE-E
• Two or more food & beverage outlets
• Provide direct access to external recreation or leisure experiences

Specialized Resort
These properties can be found in any location and provide a focused experience around one
signature amenity or anchor attribute. Properties generally tailor the guest experience around
the primary amenity or attribute and are typically smaller in size. These properties can serve as
the primary attraction for guests or as a complement to the destination. These properties must
meet the minimum resort requirements of:
• Provide one signature amenity or anchor attribute
• Provide five secondary RLE-E
• Provide one full-service food & beverage outlet
• Bed-base must include short-term or overnight lodging
• Minimum of 25 rooms or other accommodations (exception to minimum for properties with
two signature amenity/anchor attributes)
• Emphasize a leisure or retreat-environment experience

Reference-
The New Definition of Resort

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 WHY RAJASTHAN?

Also called the ‘Land of Maharajas’, a Rajasthan tour is all about royalty! Dotted with
numerous forts and palaces, every bit of this flamboyant state in the Thar Desert
showcases an imperial lifestyle that is indigenous only to the golden sands of the desert.
While in Rajasthan, every step will get one closer to the extravagant lifestyle of the past.
From the four walls of a living room to a journey across the state, you will get to enjoy
livelier glimpses of royalty and elegant lifestyle of the past. Unlike other destinations
across the country, a Rajasthan tour will fill one’s travelogue with all the royal charms
and appeal of a bygone era.
Even though history is now getting replaced with concrete jungles, Rajasthan boasts of
being one of the few places that has endured its indigenous cultures and traditions. While
on a tour to Rajasthan, you can still witness and experience the heart-warming colours
and ambience of India’s Desert Capital in the most befitting ways.
And to blend your tour with these aesthetic cultures and traditions, you must plan your
trip during any of the fairs and festival in Rajasthan. It is during these celebrations, almost
the entire of the state gets tinted with a mixed of colours. Rajasthan is undoubtedly one
of the best and magnificent places to visit in India, all the credits go to the class of art
and crafts of the Rajputs or the other rulers of the Desert Capital. Unlike most of the states
in the country, this desert state adopted the various styles of art and craft in the liveliest
ways.
Be it music or handicrafts, artefacts or paintings, Rajasthan is still considered as an
epitome of art and culture. While for the experts of art and culture, this gorgeous state
proves to be an ultimate destination to unravel the opulence of the past, the beginners can
get to learn a lot from this ocean of vivid arts and amazing crafts.
Rajasthan offers us an opportunity to understand traditional dwellings, giving importance to
interpenetration of classical and folks tradition to the interdependency of town and the
countryside in the morphology from rural to urban and in house type and grouping.
Rajasthan attracts tourists from all over the world which not only helps the economy of India
but also spreads India’s culture globally. Tourists from all over the world enjoy the Rajasthani
culture and go back to their countries with the most memorable memories.

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 PUSHKAR

Pushkar, the enchanting town in Rajasthan, is redolent with religious myths, divine antiquity
and a present firmly rooted in culture and commerce. The town comes alive during Kartik
Poornima, when millions of pilgrims and tourists throng Pushkar’s bathing ghats, its unique
Brahma temple and the camel fair. Pilgrims, mystics, sadhus, traders, herders and tourists
mingle in one of the greatest gatherings known to mankind. There is romance in the air as
Pushkar transforms into a riot of colours and reverberates with joy and music.
The town of Pushkar welcomes visitors with the fragrance of incense sticks, the pleasing
sounds of temple bells and the chants of hymns. It is an ancient historic town situated 11kms
to the northwest of Ajmer. It is surrounded on three sides by the majestic Aravalli hills, and on
the fourth by the sand dunes. A serpentine road, nag pahad (snake mountain) forms a natural
barrier between Ajmer and Pushkar.
This otherwise sleepy, somnolent town springs to life during seven days in the Hindu month
of Kartika which falls in October-November every year. During this week, pilgrims throng the
town to take a dip at the various ghats of the Pushkar Lake, in the belief that it will absolve
them of all sins, and visit the Brahma temple, the only such temple to Brahma in the world.
This also coincides perfectly with the annual Pushkar fair, when thousands of camels are
brought from the neighbouring states for sale in Pushkar for the Oont ka mela or camel fair.
The camel owners, along with relatives and friends come together to celebrate, enjoy and take
part in the various competitions, musicals, dance and cultural programmes. Local artisans and
craftsmen seize the moment and set up stalls of Rajasthani textiles, silver ornaments, blue
pottery and so on. The town rejoices in its popularity with the tourists and welcomes its visitors
with open arms.

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BRAHMA AND THE LEGENDS OF THE LAKE
The town of Pushkar is mainly its lake. And it’s intimately tied to Lord Brahma, one of the
three holy trinity of Hinduism. According to legend, Brahma slew the cruel demon Vajranabha
with his weapon – the lotus flower, which fell and struck the earth at three places within a
radius of 9 kms, creating three lakes. Brahma named the place Pushkar meaning lotus, and the
lakes, Jyeshtha (elder), Madhya (central) and Kanishtha (younger) Pushkar. Brahma then
decided to perform a yajna (fire-sacrifice) at the Jyeshtha Pushkar. It is said he created the hills
around Pushkar – Ratnagiri in the south, Nilgiri in the north, Sanchoora in the west and
Suryagiri in the east and positioned gods there to ensure peaceful conduct of the yajna. But this
was soon in danger of being derailed, not by the demons, but due to the delay in appearance of
Brahma’s consort Savitri (called Saraswati in some versions)

A LAND OF TEMPLES
Though the Brahma temple may be the most famous, Pushkar has more than 350 other temples.
One encounters a temple at virtually every step! An interesting and unique temple is the Old
Rangji Temple or Vaikunthnathji Temple. It has a gopuram typical of southern Indian temples,
and is an combination of South Indian, Rajput and Mughal styles of architecture. The complex
enshrines the presiding deities Shri Krishna, Ranganath, Lakshmi, Godamma and Shri
Ramanujacharya. Significantly, it is the first temple of Ramanuja Sampradaya of Shri Vaishnav
sect of south India in Rajasthan and poojas and rituals are being performed as per Pancharatra
Vidhi.
Beautiful paintings and sculptures depicting south Indian mythological themes, majestic
vahanas (vehicles) and gorgeous umbrellas used during festivals for the deities can be seen in
the temple. Steps in a corner, lead to a small cave dedicated to Shiva. The temple is governed
by the sanyasi (ascetic) sect priesthood. Foreign tourists are allowed to enter the outer
parikrama (circumambulation).

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A new consort (a shepherd’s daughter) was identified and sanctified (by passing her through a
cow’s body and given the name Gayatri in her second birth) and the yajna was completed with
Gayatri sitting beside Brahma, holding the pot of amrita (elixir of life) on her head and giving
ahuti (offering to the sacrificial fire). This didn’t go down well with Savitri, who then cursed
Brahma that he would never be worshipped anywhere in the world except in Pushkar. Thus,
Pushkar has the only temple in the world dedicated to Brahma! Savitri herself, so the legend
goes, merged into the Ratnagiri Hill and emerged as a spring known as the Savitri jharna
(stream); a temple in her honour exists here.
Since Brahma performed the yajna at the Pushkar lake, a dip in the waters of the lake on this
occasion is believed to be equivalent to performing yajnas for several hundred years. A woman
taking a dip in the lake, it is believed, absolves herself as well as her husband of all sins! Many
also believe that no pilgrimage to char dham {the four principal pilgrim centres namely,
Badrinath (Uttarakhand), Jagannath (Orissa), Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu) and Dwaraka
(Gujarat)} is complete without a dip in the holy waters of this lake. So, millions of pilgrims
flock to Pushkar to observe the ritual and bathe on the occasion of Kartik Poornima, or on any
of the four days preceding it. Then the pilgrims visit the Brahma temple.

HISTORICAL LEGACY
Hindu mythology attributes the creation of Pushkar to Brahma. Ancient historical literature
onwards there are references to Pushkar’s divinity. The great Hindu epics Mahabharata and
Ramayana make references to this religious place as the adi tirtha (King of pilgrimages). The
Indian scriptures, the vedas and puranas, record that Rishi Vyas undertook penance at Pushkar
and Shri Balram, brother of Lord Krishna visited Pushkar more than 5000 years ago. The
Harivansha Purana says that Lord Krishna himself spent some time here. The epic Ramayana
mentions that the sage Vishwamitra performed penance (tapa) at Pushkar and the celestial
enchantress Menaka came to bathe in its serene waters. Historically, the earliest reference to
this town is found in the scriptures of the Chinese traveller Fa-Hien. A more concrete reference
to Pushkar occurs in the 2nd century BC Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh which has a stone
inscription that mentions the charitable donations made by Buddhist monks or bhikshuks of
Pushkar. The earliest punch marked coins, anterior to the 4th century BC, have been found in
Pushkar’s environs along with Greek and Gupta coins. A unique and ancient Shivalinga, as tall
as a human being, with an image of Krishna, Balarama, Devi and Surya is found in the vicinity
of Pushkar. It is thought to date from 200 AD.
The great Indian poet, Kalidas also immortalised Pushkar in his classic, Abhijñâna Sâkuntalam.
In 1073 AD, a Chauhan king Singhraj, visited Pushkar, bathed at the ghats and in gratitude
donated four villages for the maintenance of the temples. Prithviraja I is said to have defended
the people of Pushkar from the invading Chalukyas in 1105 AD. The Rajput kings of Bundi,
Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Scindia made valuable contributions in making and developing the
ghats and structures around the sacred lake. Raja Man Singh I of Ajmer built a royal guest
house, namely Man Mahal – the largest one in Pushkar in the east of the sacred lake. It affords
a clear view of the banks and temples located around the lake. It has since been converted into
a heritage hotel.
In more recent times, one of the first contacts between the Mughal and the British took place
in Pushkar when Sir Thomas Roe met Emperor Jahangir. The Mughals, the Rajput kings of

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Amber, Bundi, Bikaner Jaisalmer, and the Scindias ruled this sacred place till the British placed
all the princely states under their direct control in Pushkar in 1818 AD. It was one of the few
places in Rajasthan which was directly under the control of the British Government. The British
combined religion with trade and introduced the cattle fair in Pushkar. Col. James Tod has
made many references to Pushkar in his classical masterpiece Annals and Antiquities of
Rajasthan.

THE ONE OF A KIND BRAHMA TEMPLE

Pushkar’s star attraction is its unique Shri Brahma Temple. On Kartik Poornima, a festival
dedicated to Brahma is held when large numbers of pilgrims take a bath in the sacred lake and
visit this temple.
The present temple structure dates to the 14th century, but the shrine is believed to be 2000
years old. It is mainly built of marble and stone slabs. A beautifully carved silver turtle sits on
the floor facing the garbha griha or sanctum sanctorum. The marble floor around the silver
turtle is embedded with hundreds of silver coins with donors’ names engraved on them. Similar
coins are also inset in the walls of the temple. Peacocks adorn the temple walls, as they are
believed to be the vehicle of Saraswati. It has a distinct red pinnacle (shikhara) and a hansa
(swan) bird motif. The sanctuary has silver doors inside a carved marble gateway. A small
image of Gayatri flanks the Chaumurthi, the four-faced image of Shri Brahma. The temple is
bereft of any exquisite carvings or artwork found in most other temples. This unique temple
pulls in thousands of pilgrims and tourists every year.

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THE PUSHKAR MELA
The other attraction of Pushkar, especially during the Kartik month is the Pushkar mela. This
mela (fair) held every year in this holy month, brings together the religious, the cultural and
the commercial in a perfect symphony. Preparations for the fair begin soon after Diwali The
fair begins on ashtami day (8th day of the Kartik month) and lasts till Kartik Poornima (full
moon night). It’s as much a celebration of divinity as it is of the town’s vivid culture and its
people.
The first 4-5 days are reserved for the camel fair considered the largest such fair in Asia. The
star attraction are the 50,000 camels, innumerable sheep, bulls, cows and horses, which
majestically amble their way through the golden sands to converge at Pushkar. In the
scrublands beyond the west of the Brahma temple, pitched tents and temporary barricades
become a temporary home to the thousands of camels. As the early morning mist of the desert
gives way to warm sunshine, the herders and traders busy themselves cooking rotis and sipping
tea at the golden sands, while the camels bask in the early morning sunlight in the desert.

THE GHATS OF PUSHKAR

The Pushkar lake has a whopping 52 ghats or lakefronts! Originally, there were only 12 ghats
around the lake. About 1100 years ago, King Rao Nahar Mal Parihara of Mandore got a few
permanent ghats constructed after he was cured of a skin disease after taking a bath in the
Pushkar lake. Other kings followed suit and today there are 52 ghats which also connect many
old and new temples. Of the 52, the Varaha, Brahma and Gau Ghat are considered the most
sacred.Lord Vishnu is believed to have appeared at Varaha Ghat in the form of a wild boar.
Brahma took a bath here and performed yajna at the Brahma Ghat accompanied by Vishnu and
Mahadev. In recent times, Shri Jayendra Saraswathi has got a Shankaracharya temple
constructed here. The Gau Ghat was renovated 400 years ago. There is also a Zenana Ghat
which was renovated by Queen Mary of London.
Each ghat’s water is said to be imbued with special curative properties. For instance, the Nag
Kund is known to cure fertility, the Roop Tirth Kund is known to enhance beauty, the water of
Kapil Vyapi Kund is said to cure leprosy while a dip in the Mrikand Muni Kund is said to grant

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the boon of wisdom! These beliefs are well-entrenched among the thousands who flock to
Pushkar every year. And beliefs tempered by religion are eternal!
Pushkar is one place where man-animal relationship acquires a new meaning. The camels are
lovingly sheared, scrubbed, washed and perfumed. Symbolic hair motifs called moondra are
carved onto the fur and tattoos are stamped on the sheared skins using back henna and heated
ladles. Then they are bedecked in their best finery, silver bells and silver jewellery for the
beauty contest! The camel race is another much awaited event at the fair. The camels are judged
on the basis of their gait, humps and ability to obey their master’s commands. An interesting
event called Laddoo Oont is held where camels compete to be pronounced the strongest based
on the maximum weight they can carry. And can you guess what is loaded on the camels to
test their strength? People! One after another people clamber on to the back of the camel till
the point when the camel dislodges its burden. In utter merriment everyone comes crashing
down!
In another event, reminiscent of musical chairs, the camel sticks its long neck between two
poles under the guidance of its owner, who prods the animal by means of a silken cord attached
to the camel’s nose ring. Visitors also enjoy the camel dance competition. This fair is not just
about fun and games, though that is an important aspect of the fair. This is also a trader’s fair
where camels are bought and sold. New owners walk away proudly with their animals in tow.
They are not averse to showing off their acquisition to the tourists gathered there! A day before
Kartik Poornima the traded animals are let off the grounds.

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CULTURE, COLOUR AND CONTEXTS
After this spectacular show of camels, the town of Pushkar puts its best cultural foot forward.
As the sun sinks and the evening turns mellow, the ringing of bells and the soft sounds of
hymns and prayers in the temples fill the air. Pilgrims and tourists gather in large numbers to
witness the maha aarti held at Varaha Ghat in the evening. Thousands of tiny leaf boats (pattals)
– each carrying flowers and an oil lamp – are set afloat on the crystal clear waters of the lake,
giving it a mystical tint. A thousand stars flicker and twinkle together in the divine lake, which
is illuminated in magical hues of golden yellow, orange and red!
At a stone’s throw away from Varaha Ghat, exhibitions are organized at the Old Rangji Temple.
This year, the travel company, Indian Terrains plans to focus on art works relating to ‘India’s
vanishing works’. The same venue also traditionally hosts mesmerising dance performances
by noted artists in the evening. In the past, eminent artists like Malati Shyam (Kathak, Lucknow
Gharana) and Kavita Dwibedi (Odissi) have performed here. A spiritual walk Pushkar
Parikrama is organised from the Brahma Temple.
Brightly turbaned men with impressive moustaches and women in vibrantly coloured lehengas
(ethnic skirts) and odhnis (long colourful stoles worn by women over lehengas) lend a majestic
air to the fair. It is common to see village women in intricately embroidered, swirling skirts,
spontaneously pull the ghunghat (veil) over their faces at the sight of a stranger! Local artistes
amuse visitors with music and cultural dances of Rajasthan. Local women make beautiful,
intricate henna patterns on the hands and feet of visitors, adding yet another colourful
dimension to the fair.

The fair has many games and events for tourists, both domestic and foreign. For instance, the
matka (water pot) race between domestic and foreign tourists, moustache competition,
wrestling competition, turban tying competition, puppet shows, acrobat shows, magic shows,
tight rope balancing and cartwheels through flaming rings by young girls, snake and mongoose
fights, and snake charmers, who sway the crowds with their antics. A very popular contest,
especially among foreigners is the Indian bride and bridegroom competition, where the tourists
dress up in bridal clothes! This event is held at night in the mela ground and is a major draw
among the tourists. Prizes are given away to the best dressed couples.
The mela ground becomes a beehive of activities during the fair. The giant wheels, merry-go-
round, and magic shows are a big draw among children. Artistes of various age groups who
perform in poor rural areas assemble here and present shows one after another. One can also
see many nautankis or street shows through the day. There are also camel safaris on offer and
many tourists enjoy this experience of riding the colourfully canopied camels. The mela ground
turns into a sea of humanity on the last day of the fair. Visitors start arriving since early hours

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of the morning to occupy the gallery for the daylong valedictory celebrations. Cultural
programmes by folk artistes, camel parade, camel race, horse race, tug of war, water pot race
and jalebi race are part of the closing ceremony of the mela.
Besides pilgrims, visitors, traders, domestic and foreign tourists, thousands of sadhus also
throng the sands of Pushkar. Dressed in saffron clothes with garlands of flowers about their
necks, the ash-smeared sadhus are held in great respect by the pilgrims. The devotees offer
food, sweets, clothes and cash to the sadhus and seek their blessings.

SHOPPING MECCA
The Pushkar mela is also known for the multitude of shopping options, especially of ethnic
handicrafts. The markets are full of stalls selling lovely colourful bangles, beads, necklaces,
embroidered shawls, clothes embedded with mirrors, textiles, ethnic jewellery, costume
jewellery, miniature paintings, beautiful wall hangings, blue pottery, puppets, brass utensils,
leather goods, shoulder bags, and ropes; the list is endless! It is not just tourists, but locals too
who find this the perfect place to pick up various items, especially textiles like odhnis, ghagras,
leharia fabrics, intricate silver ornaments, hairpins and so on. Numerous stalls of trinkets, silver
ornaments, chains, nose rings, necklaces, waistbands, anklets, toe rings, hairpins, chains and
the ivory bangles worn from wrist to shoulder lure the rural women and foreign tourists.
Garments and tattoos are also very popular among womenfolk. Rustic women dressed in their
finery sell glittering wares.An Art and Craft Bazar (Shilpgram), Rural Grama Haat (exhibition
ground) and the Pushkar Udyog Craft Mela are also organised to help the Rajasthani craftsmen
to sell their produce to the tourists.

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PUSHKAR IN A NUTSHELL
The annual fair at Pushkar is a combination of the religious, the social and the cultural. Visitors
can just laze around the ghats in the pre-dawn hours and be mesmerized by how life unfurls
here in all its beauty and serenity. A late evening visit to the ghats, to the accompaniment of
soft music playing in the various hotels and guesthouses along the lakefront, can be a most
invigorating experience.
A popular thing to do is to go up to the Savitri Devi temple on the Ratnagiri Hill and enjoy the
beautiful sunset views; or just pay a visit to the Gayatri temple atop another small hill for a
beautiful sunrise! One can also explore the sand dunes on a Foreign tourists participate in the
‘Indian bride’ competition camel, learn some local music and get an Ayurvedic massage.
Pushkar’s food is a big part of its appeal. One can satisfy one’s taste buds with the sweet,
mouthwatering malpua in the Halwai gali, or try the famous Rajasthani delicacies like dal baati
churma or indulge in some shakes and juices at a café! No visit to Pushkar can be rounded off
without indulging in at least a few souvenirs! The religiously inclined can visit the temples and
take part in the chanting of hymns and bhajans. Though Pushkar can be visited at any time of
the year, the month of Kartik lends a special fervour to the town and should figure on every
tourist’s bucket list!

LOCATION
Pushkar city is located 26 270 North latitude and 74 370 East longitude and is 525m above sea
level accessible by state highway 18. Jaipur 153kms from Pushkar via Pushkar bypass road
through National Highway no.8. The Pushkar City is not connected by a railway line and the
nearest station is Ajmer.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND PHYSIOGRAPHY

Pushkar City is located in the valley of 2 parellel ranges of Aravali Hills and is surrounded by
hills on three sides. Papmochani Mata and Devi Saraswati temples are located on the peaks of
North and West hills respectively Nagpahar, Guramba Pahar and Parvati Pahar are located in
the East, North East and the South East direction of the city respectively.

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PUSHKAR REGIONAL SETTINGS
District – Ajmer
Located 12 kms west of Ajmer
Can be approached from Merta, Nagaur and Msangan
Nearest railway station – Ajmer

PHYSIOGRAPHY
General slope of the land is towards west and south west.
It is 525mts above sea level.

CLIMATE
Moderate climate through the year. It can be characterised by semi arid type climate. Hot dry
summers from March to end of June. Summer. Mean daily maximum temperature 39.4 C and
mean daily minimum temperature is 26.9 C. Heat waves blowing from South West direction
in the summer months. Most of the rainfall is between July and September. Annual average
rainfall is about 527mms.

Winter Season in Pushkar

Winters season of the region starts from the month of November and then it lasts till the month
of February. Winter season of the city are quite pleasant. Generally in the winter season, the
town witnesses a maximum temperature of almost 22°C and the minimum temperature is of
8°C.

Best Season in Pushkar

Best time to visit Pushkar is from the month of October to March and generally visitors avoid
visiting the city during summer and monsoon.

Monsoon Season in Pushkar

Monsoons season of the town starts from the month of July and then it ends in the month of
September. The city witnesses low average rainfall during monsoon season and the city
experiences quite humid conditions.

Summer Season in Pushkar

Pushkar witnesses a hot and sultry summer season. From the month of March to June, the town
bears the brunt of hot temperature that rise up to almost 45°C. The minimum temperature of
the city is around 25°C.

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TRANSPORT
How to reach Pushkar by Air
Sanganer Airport is located in Jaipur which is considered as the nearest airport that further links
the town of Pushkar to the other major cities of the country. The airport is located at a distance
of almost 146 kilometers from Pushkar. This airport is well equipped with other major cities
of the country such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Indore, Jodhpur and Udaipur.
Nearest Airport, Kishangarh Airport, Ajmer

How to reach Pushkar by Rail

Ajmer is the nearest railway station which is well linked with Pushkar through a number of
taxia and buses. The railway station is located at a distance of almost 11 km. Ajmer itself is
well connected with major cities of Rajasthan and then the other cities of whole country as
well.

How to reach Pushkar by Road

Pushkar is well connected to the major roadways and main national highways of Rajasthan
which further connects the town with other major cities of the country. The Marwar bus stand
is located in the northern side of Pushkar. This beautiful city is well connected with major cities
of the country such as Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Bikaner, which are situated at a distance of
405 KM, 141 KM, 215 KM and 330 KM respectively

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 STATISTICS FOR PUSHKAR
PRESENT LAND USE

SR. USE AREA IN %DEVELOPED %

NO. ACRES URBANISED
AREA
1 HOUSING 50.00 20.20 15.20
2 TRADE 06.00 06.50 04.80
3 STATELY 02.50 01.00 0.80
4 ENTERTAINMENT 08.50 03.40 02.60
5 PUBLIC & SEMI 114.00 46.20 34.50
PUBLIC ISNT. SOCIAL
AND CULTURAL
INSTITUTES
6 TRANSPORT 56.00 22.70 17.00
7 DEVELOPED AREA 247.00 100.00 74.90
8 WASTE LAND 45.00 - 12.10
9 GARDEN AND 13.00 - 04.00
NURSERY
10 PONDS 25.00 - 09.00
11 URBANISED AREA 300.00 - 100.00

GROWTH OF POPULATION

YEAR POPULATION TOTAL RATE OF GROWTH

GROWTH
1941 5034 732 17.2
1951 5934 900 17.2
1961 6703 769 12.96
1971 7341 638 9.52
1981 9368 2027 23.72
1991 11497 2129 22.73
2001 14791 3294 28.65
2011 21626 6,835 46.21

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

FAIR FESTIVAL MONTH ESTIMATED IMPORTANCE

CONGESTION
SAVITRIKA AUGUST 2500 NATIONAL
MELA
AUGAST-RISHI- SEPTEMBER 3000 NATIONAL
KAMELA
NAVARATRI NOVEMBER 3000 NATIONAL
KARTIK NOVEMBER 2-3 LAKHS NATIONAL
PURNIMA

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 TOURIST
Tirth Yatra for Hindus of the Prami Khchar Dham is not complete without a holy dip in the
Pushkar Raj. It is a world known Hindu religious place there are many reasons which attract
the tourists in addition to the lake, there are many temples and festival which has made this
place religious. One of the best is the Pushkar Camel Fair that is held in November. Pushkar
conducts the largest camel fair in the world. Villagers meet to trade 2000 camels. Buy, trade
goods and cleanse themselves in the local goat during the fair. There are excellent tourist
facilities available. Extensive arrangements are made to cope with the large attendance. A host
of cultural programmes are staged to enthral the audience. The biggest draws of events are the
cattle auctions and the camel puppet show are the major crowd pullers.

INFLOW OF TOURIST IN PUSHKAR

YEAR DOMESTIC FOREIGNERS TOTAL NO. OF

TOURISTS
1989 395069 14104 409173
1991 421299 11964 435263
1992 481102 14876 495978
1993 654827 18863 673690
1994 505157 14710 520067
1995 662699 39325 722024
1996 702604 48993 751597

Estimation of Visitors in each Visitor Location

The total visitors (overnight visitors*+day tourists**) to the State of Rajasthan for the period
of April 2005 – March 2006 was 17549628, out of this, 9231132 were Domestic, 1010904
were Foreign and 7307592 were Day tourists. .The location wise details of number of visitors
are given in tables below:
The term overnight visitors have been defined as “the tourists visiting the destinations/locations
and staying overnight”. In the report, the overnight visitors have been further classified into
domestic overnight visitors and foreign overnight visitors and have been so referred.
The term day tourist is defined as” tourists visiting the destination/location for a single day and
not staying overnight”

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31 | P a g e
 CASE STUDY

SHAAM-E-SARHAD
(VILLAGE RESORT)

A spectacular landscape. Timeless Culture. Priceless Art and the artists, your hosts.
An incomparable experience for the artist, explorer, humanist in you. Live simply, sustainably
and in harmony with local culture. Shaam-E-Sarhad (Sunset at the Border) Village Resort is
owned and operated by the Village Tourism Committee of the indigenous people from Hodka
village.

Culture
Banni is renowned for its ‘designer’ Architecture- perfected by the local communities over
centuries. Kutchi embroidery is famed around the world. However what you can discover is
the other traditional Kutchi crafts- leather, clay, wood, metal and mud work- especially the
exquisite silver jewellery. Shop directly from artisans and swap stories with them.
Another undiscovered cultural treasure for you to explore is the wonderful folk music. Needless
to add, you can use Hodka as your bas to eplore the myriad fascinations that make Kachchh
truly captivating.

Nature
Hodka is located in the Banni grassland, right on the edge of the great salt desert – the Rann.
The skies are clear and the nights are spectacular. There is an amazing variety of flora and
fauna, and in winter, expect to see migratory birds as well. Explore the geological marvel Kala

32 | P a g e
Dunghar (‘Black Hill’), perfect for day treks. Drive to the last ‘civilian point’, India bridge,
before the India- Pakistan border.

History
Kutch is a living museum in more ways than one: it has several geological landmarks that
visually tell the story of the formation of the continents and prehistoric life. It also has sites of
Indus Valley settlements that are in excellent states of preservation, some of them yet being
unearthed. And finally, the people and their culture exist virtually untouched from millennia.
Share a cup of chai or a meal with survivors of the 2001 earthquake, in their reconstructed
homes.

CONCEPT
The Shaam-E-Sarhad Resort is open during mid of October to mid of March. It is a seasonal
resort. Operated and Managed by local community of Hodka Village. The Hodka Endogenous
Tourism seeks to promote Local Culture and Craft based Tourism for Sustainable Livelihoods
and integrated rural development.Imagine an authentic and charming retreat… Complemented
by the unique experience of being hosted by the local community… And the richness of culture
that awaits you here.
Designed in local style, and exquisitely decorated with mirror work, textiles and other local
crafts, the Shaam E Sarhad Village Resort is the perfect gateway to a genuine travel experience
in India.
The resort is situated in Hodka village, surrounded by an area of impressive natural beauty, an
ideal location from which to discover the captivatin lands of Kutch.

OBJECTIVES

 Direct employment
 Promoting Local Handicrafts, Music, Traditional food, life style, through Endogenous
Tourism.
 Give an opportunity to the local people (primary stake holders) to control the process
of tourism in their region.

ACCOMODATION
Accommodation at Shaam-e-Sarhad is comfortable, simple and clean. The rooms are set up in
local style and decorated with crafts of the area, creating an authentic atmosphere. There are
different types of accommodation at the resort: Eco-friendly Tents, Family cottages, Suite
Bhungas and Standard Bhunga. All of them have attached bathrooms with a western-style toilet
and shower with running water.
The Bhungas are circular mud huts with sloping roofs, typical of the Banni region. Each
Bhungas has a private open space with arm chairs, an ideal place to relax and look out into

33 | P a g e
nothingness. The Tents and Bhungas can normally accommodate 2 people, and the Family
cottage 4 people. Extra beds are available on request. There is a total of 6Tents, 2 Family
Cottage, 3 Suite Traditional Bhungas and 1 Standard Bhunga at the resort.

Categories of Rooms – Eco-Friendly Accommodations

 Premium Bhungas(mud huts) – 03 numbers

 Eco-friendly mud tents – 06 numbers
 Quadruple family cottages (four beds) – 02 numbers
 Standard Bhunga (Standard HUT) – 01 number

FACILITIES
At the resort:
Open parking
Front Desk (from 6am to 11pm)
Phone service (local phone calls)
Wake up call
Room service (from 6am to 11pm)
Laundry
Restaurant (7:30am-9:30 / 12pm-3pm / 7:30pm-10:30pm)

In the rooms:
Double beds in all rooms
Extra beds (on request)
Attached toilets with shower
Map and brochure with information of the area
Fan
Mosquito Repellents in all rooms.

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INTERESTS
Hodka Artists Village -You will explore its typical village houses, meet different artisan
families and admire the finest embroidery styles and leather crafts. You will explore the artisans
families to see their nicely decorated and painted traditional houses, learn about their
livelihoods and customs and admire their fine Embroideries (Pakko, Neran, Kambhiro,
Applique, etc) and Leather work which you can also buy directly from artisans. You will also
explore Virda or Well where you learn about the ancient process of water harvesting in the
Banni dry-lands, a flat and dry extension of land similar to Rann of Kutch, to enjoy the
particular landscape.
Dhordo village – You will see beautiful traditional mud houses (Bhungas) with Mirror Work
and fine Mutwa (Community) embroidery with tiny mirrors.
Great Rann of Kutch– to see Great Rann of Kutch near to Dhordo Village. Enjoy the sunset
from flat white land.
Khavda – Famous for its beautiful pottery work.
KaroDungar (Black Hill) – for the sunset, drive to the “Dattatray Temple” at the top of the
karodungar, from where you will have the best top views of the Great Rann.

GETTING THERE
Airport – Bhuj (65km) (Connected Only to Mumbai)
Rail link – Bhuj
Overnight buses are available from Ahmedabad (400km) to Bhuj.
Shaam-e-Sarhad village resort is situated towards Northern Kutch of Hodka Village.

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By Air:The nearest Airport is Bhuj (65 km). There are daily flights to and from Mumbai.
Kandla is about 150 km away and also has daily flights from Mumbai.

By Rail:There are daily trains from and to Mumbai and Delhi via Ahmedabad as well from
Bhuj. Gandhidham, which is about 80 km from Bhuj has weekly trains connecting it several
parts of the country including Pune, Bangalore, Trivandrum, etc.
Ahmedabad is well connected by air and train with the rest of the country.

Train Name Train Number Destination

Kutch Express 9131 Mumbai to Bhuj

BhujBandra 9115 Mumbai to Bhuj

By Road:
From Ahmedabad, Bhuj is about 350 kms away. There are comfortable overnight sleeper buses
from Ahmedabad to Bhuj and back which ply daily.
Hodka village is 63 km(One and half hour) far from Bhuj.

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ARCHITECTURE OF HODKA VILLAGE
Mud, or, to be more colloquial, Maati, is the essential material to which every Kutchi in Banni
relates to. Centuries of experience have given the people of Banni mastery over maati and their
Bhunga (circular hut) demonstrates a deep understanding of the ecological, social and aesthetic
features of architecture.
The thick maati (Mud) walls, which keep the interior cool during the hot Kutchi summers and
warm in the cold desert winters, terminate in conical roofs made of thatch. The roof protects
the walls which are adorned beautifully with colorful geometric and floral patterns also created
from hand shaped maati.
Women use earth colors to paint the different motifs and create mud-mirror work designs
(LippanKaam ) to decorate the exterior and interior walls of the Bhunga.
The traditional Bhunga is an engineering wonder. This sturdy structure has been known to
withstand severe winds and seismic activity because of its circular design and tough mud
plaster.

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 CHOKHI DHANI
(JAIPUR)

INTRODUCTION
Chokhi Dhani is a placid complex begetting a panaromic countryside view. In the magical land
of Rajasthan where the heat shimmers like the phantom water, where the things one sees are
not really there and where the things that vanish behind veils of illusion, stands Chokhi Dhani,
an ethnic village and resort with a blend of rustic environment and modern amenities making
it an important destination in the Pink city.

GENERAL INFORMATION

 Designer: Prof. Chinmay Mehta.

 Total Area: 18 Acres
 Cost: 1.30 crores (approx.)
 Year of completion: Phase 1- 1991 and Phase 2- 1995

DESIGN APPROACH
Prof. Chinmay Mehta, an artist designer. He made 3-D sketches in lieu of architectural
drawings, plans, etc. To visualise the idea.

LOCATION
The site is on the outskirts of Jaipur, located on Jaipur-Tonk highway. It lies 6kms away from
the airport and 18kms from city centre.
SITE
Site overseas an area of 18 acres, of which a five acre land is earmarked for future projects. It
has been divided into two parts: the first is meant for a resort (for tourists stay) while the other
caters to the needs of day-to-day visitors (i.e.) Chokhi Dhani village.

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CONCEPT

Chokhi Dhani Resort literally means the “Fine Hamlet”.

Chokhi Dhani’s concept is to join the Rajasthani tribes from the world.
Tourists are very much aware of Rajasthan and its culture, but still they are far away from its
roots.
This mainly focuses to reveal the real Rajasthan like the paintings , Art bani thani, the wall
decorations, the cow dung plasters, the pure food, the fresh air, the evening performances, the
enthusiasm, the manuhar (mouthful catering), the traditions, the costumes, etc.
Thus, preserving and encouraging the village art and culture, to get today’s generation closer
to their past, to change the philosophy of world about Indian Village culture.

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1. Entrance Gate 29. Lake
2. Guard room 30. Shiva temple with bridge
3. Panwari Hut 31. Jungle theme
4. Office Hut 32. Cave and waterfalls
5. Welcome Beat (Nagara) 33. National haat
6. Sangri Restaurant 34. Camel & Bullock cart rides
7. Chaupar Restaurant
8. Soft drinks counter (Jaljeera)
9. Rabbit cage & birds cage
10. Jaisalmer ki Dhani
11. Rath Khana
12. Resting kiosks
13. Kalbeliya Dance stage
14. Dry Veg. Shop
15. Hut for Henna Wali
16. Magic show
17. Puppet shows
18. Artisans village
19. Bioscop, Bird Astrologer,Astrologer
20. Museum
21. Village Bazaar
22. Elephant ride
23. Open Air theatre
24. Stage for dance
25. Studio
26. Maze (Bhul-Bhulaya)
27. Snake & Ladder
28. Boating shed

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ZONING ANALYSIS – CHOKHI DHANI VILLAGE
Cluster Planning
Functionally inter-related spaces were clubbed together and segregated in a haphazard manner.
The entire theme of Rajasthan was depicted in the terms of jungle, lake side, desert side, etc.
The proximity of these spaces were a beautiful amalgamation to the visitors.
Open spaces were rightly acknowledged with right use of activities like merry-go-rounds,
camel rides, chaat shops, etc.
Zoning enabled the visitors to view the whole place (open planning) and explore places of their
interests.
The site layout depicts a typical village plan with hierarchy of spaces.
Focally placed village head i.e. thakur’s haveli with luxury amenities nearby. Then the rest of
the village huts spreading all around.
The village huts were grouped together in one compound bringing in the feelof rajasthani
villages.

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Swimming pool is isolated from the resortin the rear side ensuring privacy.
Temples are placed here and there thus bringing in the village scenario.

COMPONENTS OF CHOKHI DHANI

Ganesha Temple
The magical allure of Chokhi Dhani embraced in Rajasthani Architecture welcomes with
beautifully carved Ganesha Temple.

Sargahsulli Shopping Arcade

The architecture depicts historical clock tower and the ancient craft of shopping arcade at its
best.

Bindola
The grandeur of this dining hall is truly breathtaking. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner of
Indian and Chinese cuisines.

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KOTRI
The reception hall cum lobby magnificently erected with mud plastered floor, bamboo net
ceiling adorned with Rajasthani paintings and murals will captivate your imagination.

Interiors of Kotri Exteriors of Kotri

VILLAGE HUTS
Chokhi Dhani has 31 Village Huts and 34 Executive Huts.

SHEKHAWATI HAVELI SUITES

The Shekhawati Haveli with 8 royal suites is expressly designed for quite, intimate moments,
languorous daydreaming and restful solitude enjoyed by Thakurs.

MANDANI
The conference hall accommodating 120 persons with all secretarial services.

SAJJAN GOTH
The place forms an ideal venue for board meetings and conferences.

KUND
Large traditional swimming pool like the one kings enjoyed in historic times and an adjacent
health club.

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COMPONENTS OF CHOKHI DHANI VILLAGE

1.Gorbandh – The open dining area

“Gorbandh” is an open area dining at semi round shape ground in form of “kalis in a ghaghra”
or Crease in skirt.
This area had a compound wall for 9m and it was richly coloured with floral motifs. It was an
open dining area and it can be viewed from the entrance plaza itself.
The serving counters were circular kiosks supported by wooden columns and the roofs were
bamboo thatched.
The preparation counters behind were richly coloured with stories of hunters, etc.

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2. Sangri – The Village Dining Hall

 This was a closed restaurant with an outer veranda around with wooden cots.
 The columns in outer veranda were shaped like tree branches.
 The interior flooring was finished with cow dung and the inner walls were thatched
with palm leaves for insulation.
 The interior columns were richly coloured with vegetable colours.

3. Chaupad Jeeman Ghar

 Apart from sangria there is another ethnic dining hall specially known for its shape-
chaupad jeeman ghar
 In India chaupad is an ancient game of royal families like tuday’s ludo, which has
four straight paths joined in the centre.
 This is what “chaupad jeeman ghar” has in its shape.
 It has four straight rows meeting at the centre.
 Each row has a 20 persons seating capacity.

Schematic Plan

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