Savitri Mata Temple, Ratnagiri Hill, Pushkar

Savitri Mata Temple, Ratnagiri Hill, Pushkar is a Hindu sacred place in Pushkar, Ajmer, Rajasthan, connected with Maa Savitri (Brahma's first wife; in self-imposed exile after the curse). The temple belongs to the Shakta stream of worship, where devotees seek the Mother through darshan, aarti, kumkum, vrata, and festival observances such as Navratri.

**Mythological Origin:** The temple's story is recorded in the Padma Purana, Skanda Purana, and Pushkar Mahatmya. Savitri's exile to Ratnagiri is the foundational event after Brahma's Pushkar yajna. **Pre-Modern History:** The hilltop site has been a pilgrimage destination for centuries. Successive Rajput dynasties (Kachwaha of Jaipur, Rathore of Jodhpur, Sisodia of Mewar) sponsored renovations. **Marathi Patronage (18th c.):** During the Maratha period in Rajasthan, the temple received additional patronage; current structural foundations date to this era. **Mughal Era:** The hilltop location protected the temple from Aurangzeb's iconoclasm — the difficult climb deterred organised demolition. **Modern Era:** The temple is administered by the Pushkar Tirth Trust. Pilgrim infrastructure has improved significantly in recent decades: - Step pathway widened and concretised - Drinking water booths installed every 100 m - Solar-powered emergency lighting **Pushkar Ropeway (2022):** The Pushkar Ropeway was inaugurated in 2022. It transports pilgrims from the base near Old Rangji Temple to the Savitri Temple summit in approximately 7 minutes. Ticket: ~₹130 each way. Cabins accommodate 8 pilgrims each. The ropeway has dramatically increased daily visitor numbers, particularly during off-season when steep climbs deterred elderly pilgrims.

Major observances connected with this profile include Savitri Vrat / Savitri Puja (May–June (Jyeshtha Amavasya)), Kartik Purnima Mela / Pushkar Mela (November), Brahma Jayanti (April–May (Vaishakh Shukla Pratipada)), Navratri (Chaitra and Sharad). During these periods, devotees should expect heavier crowds, longer queues, and a stronger emphasis on aarti, utsav, and local temple customs.

A useful visit plan begins with the darshan window, then works backward through route, footwear and bag rules, offering guidelines, queue options, and local transport from Pushkar. For older shrines and high-crowd temples, early morning and non-festival weekdays usually give devotees more time for quiet prayer.

For devotional preparation, visitors can keep the practice simple: learn the main deity's name, carry only permitted offerings, observe modest dress, and close the visit with a short mantra, pradakshina, or dana where appropriate. This keeps temple travel connected to sadhana rather than only sightseeing.