Kolayat

Kolayat is a town in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The town is 51km from Bikaner on the highway to Jaisalmer.

Kolayat is an historical centre of pilgrimage where the Vedic sage, Kapil Muni is believed to have shed his body under a Peepul tree. Kolayat has a series of marble temples, sandstone pavilions and 52 ghats - bathing places - built around a large artificial lake which never goes dry.

A temple dedicated to Kapil Muni is the venue for an annual fair held in the month of Kartik (Oct-Nov) when, on the day of the full moon, thousands of devotees of the Sankhya philosophy gather to take a dip in the holy waters of Lake Kapil Sarovar. The lake is believed to have the power to wash away the sins of devotees. A livestock fair, mainly for the trading of camels is part of the festivities. The town has both road and rail links to Bikaner.