Every year around the Kartik month, usually in October or November, the quiet pilgrim town of Pushkar fills with camels, horses, traders, musicians and visitors from around the world. The Pushkar Camel Fair is one of the best-known gatherings in Rajasthan, and it blends livestock trading with devotion and entertainment. Dates follow the lunar calendar and change each year, so check the official schedule.
What Is Happening at the Fair
- Livestock trading: Herders bring camels, horses and other animals to buy, sell and show. Decorated camels are a highlight.
- Competitions and sports: Camel races, moustache contests, turban tying and other games add to the fun.
- Cultural events: Folk music, dance and street performances take place in the evenings.
- Religious bathing: The festival peaks around Kartik Purnima, when pilgrims bathe in the sacred lake and offer prayers.
Pushkar Lake and the Brahma Temple
The town is built around a holy lake lined with ghats. It is also home to one of the few temples in India dedicated to Brahma. Many pilgrims visit the lake and temple before or after the fair. For more detail, read our Hindi guide to Pushkar’s Brahma Temple and lake. You can also visit the hilltop Savitri Temple for sunrise or sunset views.
Tips for Visitors
- Book early. Hotels and camps fill up months before the fair.
- Dress modestly, especially near the lake and temples, and remove shoes where required.
- Be careful at the ghats. Some people offer flowers and then demand large sums. Agree on a price or politely decline.
- Ask before photographing people or animals, and never photograph bathing pilgrims.
- Be gentle with the animals. Avoid rides that tire the camel.
- Dress in layers. Days can be warm, and nights are cold.
- Eat vegetarian. Pushkar is a holy town, and non-vegetarian food is not served.
Getting There
Pushkar is close to Ajmer, which has a major railway station. Many visitors come from Jaipur by road. Read about PUSHKAR for district information, and see our Hindi guide to Ajmer Sharif and Ana Sagar for a good companion stop.
Plan More Festivals
For more winter events, see the Bikaner and Jaisalmer festivals. To plan the rest of your trip, read our season guide.
