sanskrit located town district state western india sacred lake hindu scriptures describe king pilgrimage sites related water body relate mythology creator god prominent temple stands lake finds mention coins early 4th century surrounded bathing series steps leading lake pilgrims large numbers sacred bath especially october november held dip sacred lake believed sins cure skin diseases hindu temples situated lake tourism surroundings taken heavy toll lake adversely affecting water quality reducing water levels destroying fish population conservation measures government undertaking water treatment mass awareness programme geography town developed district state india amidst range hills mountain range known snake mountain separates lake city valley formed parallel ranges hills elevation range metres running south west north east situated kilometres northwest artificial created building dam surrounded hills sides lake categorized sacred lake list classification lakes india soil topography predominantly sandy low water retention capacity land use pattern valley drains lake comprises area shifting sand dunes hills degraded barren streams area agricultural climate region experiences semi arid climatic conditions dry hot summers cool winters summer months june hottest maximum temperature winter months maximum mean temperature range rain mainly occurs short spell months july august recorded average rainfall range millimetres rainfall recorded times winter months january february april september strong winds blowing southwest northeast direction add formation sand dunes lake drains hills covering area square kilometres lake water surface area hectares acres perennial lake sourced monsoon rainfall depth water lake varies season season metres total storage capacity lake million cubic metres million lake periphery encircled sizes surface water flow lake series arches foot bridge metres long southern end foot bridge performed pilgrims lake covering covers area hectares acres flora fauna rich fish aquatic life depth lake substantially metres maximum metres resulting death large fish weighing kilograms caused water lack oxygen fish survive region lake valley situated arid flora fauna recorded relate desert plants including bushes desert animals like cattle man eating menace resulting deaths people pilgrims aware fact considered lucky eaten caught nets british shifted nearby reservoir history history dates 4th century form punched greek coins date lake time inscriptions found lake existence 2nd century suggests pilgrimage centre lie trade route fifth century chinese traveller reference number visitors story tells ninth century king chasing white lake shore hunting expedition order hand lake hand disappeared impressed sacred nature lake got lake restored glory discovering characteristics lake water people visited lake holy dip cure skin problems creation artificial lake credited 12th century dam built 10th guru said recited sacred text banks lake rule short break lake importance levy tax ban religious emperor built hunting lodge seen total ruins shores celebrate victory local king came lodge times hunting stay kilometres act violated local tradition killing animals sacred lake committed act breaking image avatar god resembled pig symbolically hurt islamic sensitivity grandson emperor destroyed temples later rebuilt rule father emperor revival lake dedicated saint devout follower rulers great efforts restore importance lake surrounding temples credits given modern additions building renovation construction temples man amber man temple temple temple governor british rule combining religious pilgrimage cattle fair generate taxes improving lake surroundings religious significance legends hindu scriptures mention town surrounding according hindu scripture saw demon version trying kill children people immediately demon weapon lotus flower process lotus fell ground places springs emerged creating lakes greatest middle lake lowest youngest lake came earth named place flower fell hand said sacred emerged streams lakes assigned presiding deities respectively came earth named place lotus fell decided perform place main wife called versions present designated time perform essential married dominant agricultural race named completed new consort sitting finally arrived venue found sitting rightful place agitated cursed result performed presence gods said dip lake created place credited assuring salvation sins centres pilgrimage refer original sacred water body famous sanskrit poet play writer referred lake poem mentions performed lake thousand years spite appearing granting higher status instead royal sage continued came lake bath beauty decided live pursuit pleasure years realized main activity disturbed took leave went away north continue meditation described building temple mentions holy place god considered millions united sunrise sunset visiting lake taking holy bath lake wash sins according hindu theology sacred lakes collectively called means lake considered sacred places india belief dip waters lake equal benefits performing fire sacrifices centuries called king pilgrimage sites related water bodies scriptures mention lakes main temple old tree krishna temple exists cover distance kilometres highly identified religious places world sacred pilgrimage places india cultural attractions offer monuments national importance city temple periphery lakes lake central divine theme popularity monuments seen town held city population census oldest cities india city lies shore date actual origin known legend associates creation concurrent lake said performed sight god lies fact historic religious cultural background result attracts approximately visitors month apart large congregation occurs annual central religious centre tourist arrivals reported million said maximum tourist attractions foreign tourists temples apart sacred lake said temples large rest small old temples destroyed muslim rule built subsequently important temple current structure dates 14th century original temple believed years old described scriptures temple world owing curse king sacred places temple remain temple existing temples dedicated india prominent hindu pilgrims including holy men visit temple taking ceremonial sacred bath notable temples lake include temple dedicated incarnation god temple temple dedicated stone steps laid gradual bank slope descend lake edge integral lake sacred bathing rites ancestor worship pilgrims holy bath lake important periphery lake adjoining declared monuments national importance sacred declared heritage monument refurbished centuries royal families kings undergoing improvements heritage improvement programme launched funds provided government departments government india strict codes followed taking bath removing shoes away avoiding passing comments hindu religious beliefs non temples linked divine lake sacred water lake said skin diseases local belief water special power named built particular importance named appeared incarnation named renamed ashes immersed close stuffed display known passport visitors lake denotes red thread tied pilgrims priests unspecified fee indicates visited usually approached priests rites fees heavily populated annual religious economic aspect fair large gathering pilgrims takes holy dip lake fair celebration 11th lunar day bright fortnight ends moon day month october november important day fair fair held honour god ritual bath considered lead salvation believed highly hindu holy men gather stay moon day caves fair asia largest fair colourful lively reportedly attracts people fair held banks lake decorated sand dunes southern lake tribes neighbouring villages seen traditional colourful costumes fair day believed concluded establishing lake organized fair colourful cultural event folk dances music races cattle fair war popular entertaining sport held fair event held foreigners locals invariably win event status conservation issues natural environment increasingly degraded decades problems arise primarily development tourist facilities surrounding area critical issues related conservation lake identified rainy season soil erosion hills inappropriate agricultural practices flowing streams shifting sand dunes hills surrounding areas causing rise bed level lake upstream interception farmers check dams farming practices causing reduction reduction reflected reservoir level metres achieved years resulting displeasure reduction maximum depth lake reported metres large sewage surrounding caused water pollution rate fall ground water level occurred vicinity lake high extraction uses recent years storage reduced leaving small water years festival season pilgrims flock lake sacred bathing hindu holy month held fair situation grim lake dried entirely alternate arrangements facilitate sacred bathing providing water concrete tanks near upper fed tube wells ground water sources authorities blamed poor planning lake drought situation resulted insignificant rainfall area fill lake water quality issues lake meet high concentration considering adverse impact lake water quality pressures holy rituals tourism water quality study specifically undertaken sites monthly basis months sampling sites chosen represent pressure pilgrims pollution locations water samples analysed temperature total dissolved dissolved oxygen potassium total oxygen demand chemical oxygen demand analysis period revealed lake water concentrations high sites lower levels dissolved oxygen sites greater pollution load high account excess calcium surface run period annual distinct relationship parameters analysed degree water pollution lake called urgent actions undertaken government agencies involved lake management people participation restoration works supplement water supply lake early government built deep tube wells supplement water supply lake tube wells dysfunctional problem included lake list lakes restoration providing funds restoration works situation eased development plans stages implementation address critical issues related lake aim improve water quality increase water storage capacity prevent lake periphery improve lake introduce recreational revenue generating schemes sewage lake proposed completely stopped interception diversion lines lining main lake setting water treatment plants continuously treat lake water envisioned conservation measures proposed adoption clean lake way water treatment inlet lake construction check dams conservation hills soil moisture conservation measures sand dunes planting vegetation suitable species plants restriction cultivation bed channels addition institutional measures considered improvement lake mass awareness programmes population participation control fish reduce risk death fishes periods inadequate water depth lake
Pushkar Lake