Thousands of camels, folk musicians and pilgrims gather on the desert edge in the lunar month of Kartik.
The story
- A fair with more than a century of history, held around .
- Pilgrims bathe in Pushkar's sacred lake and visit its Brahma temple.
- Camels are paraded and judged, and there are moustache contests and matka tod (pot breaking).
What happens
- Opening days
Trading on the dunes
Herders arrive with camels and cattle; trading is busiest early on, at sunrise.
- Mid-fair
Competitions and folk shows
Camel races, decorated camels, moustache contests and Rajasthani folk performances at the ground.
Holy dip
Pilgrims bathe in Pushkar Lake; the glow with evening .
Best places to see it
What to eat
Malpua with rabri
Pushkar's best-known sweet: a thick, soft pancake soaked in syrup and served with rabri.
Sweet shops in Halwai Gali.
Kachori and kadhi pakora
Fried kachoris and gram-flour fritters in a tangy yoghurt curry.
Street stalls in the market lanes.
Gulkand lassi
Lassi sweetened with gulkand, a rose-petal preserve. Pushkar is a temple town and its food is vegetarian.
Lassi vendors in the market.
Know before you go
- Pushkar is a holy town: no alcohol, meat or eggs.
- Remove shoes on the and dress modestly.
- Agree on a price before any camel ride.
- Ask before photographing people; some expect a small tip.
Organised by
Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan