The Varaha Temple is one of Pushkar’s older shrines, dedicated to Varaha, the boar incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Architecturally it looks powerful rather than delicate – thick stone pillars, heavy arches and a robust sanctum that feels like an early Rajput structure. Inside, an idol of Varaha with human body and boar head is worshipped, and the courtyard sees regular Vishnu pujas and Vaishnav festivals. The temple is close to the lake and lends its name to Varaha Ghat, where many pilgrims bathe before visiting the shrine.
About this place
History & highlights
Historical accounts say the Varaha Temple was originally built in the 12th century by King Anaji (Arnoraja) Chauhan, a ruler of Ajmer, at a time when the Chauhans were promoting Pushkar as a major Shaiva and Vaishnava pilgrimage centre. The shrine suffered during periods of iconoclasm; Mughal emperor Aurangzeb is recorded as having ordered its destruction around 1728, and the Varaha idol was removed. In the 18th century, the temple was rebuilt by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur, restoring Varaha worship and reasserting Rajput patronage at Pushkar. The present building thus carries layers of medieval foundation, Mughal-era damage and late-Rajput reconstruction, mirroring the wider religious and political history of Rajasthan.
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