November 2026
Pushkar, Rajasthan
Pushkar Camel Fair
Luxury tents a short walk from the fairground and the ghats.
Dates November 2026
Details
National Chambal Sanctuary
International Bird Festival
Gharial, skimmers and river dolphin on one of the cleanest rivers left in northern India — and a camp on the bank of it.
The festival
A river that was left alone
The National Chambal Sanctuary runs for a few hundred kilometres along the Chambal river where Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh meet. The ravines on either side kept farming and industry off the banks for most of a century, and the result is a river in far better condition than most in the region.
That is why the wildlife is here. The Chambal holds one of the last significant populations of gharial anywhere, along with mugger crocodile, Ganges river dolphin, smooth-coated otter and several turtle species found in very few other places.
For birdwatchers the draw is the sandbars. Indian skimmers nest on them, black-bellied terns work the channels, and through the winter the river carries large numbers of migratory waterfowl and waders.
What you come for
On the water, and on the sandbars
01
Boat safaris
The sanctuary is best seen from the water. A slow boat along the channels puts you level with the sandbars, which is where almost everything is.
02
Gharial and mugger
The Chambal is one of the strongholds for gharial, the fish-eating crocodilian with the narrow snout. Mugger crocodile share the river with them.
03
Indian skimmer
One of the reasons serious birders make the trip. The skimmers nest on the river's sandbars and feed by cutting the surface with the lower mandible.
04
Winter migrants
Bar-headed geese, ruddy shelduck, waders and raptors through the cold months, when the river is at its most productive.
The festival itself
The bird festival brings together birdwatchers, photographers, researchers and conservation groups for a few days of guided boat trips, walks along the ravines and talks in the evenings.
It is a working event rather than a spectacle — the people who run the sanctuary use it to show what is there and why it still matters. Come expecting early starts and long sessions on the water.
Camping on the bank
There is very little accommodation near the sanctuary and the good light is at either end of the day, which makes a long drive in and out of a town a poor way to see the place.
Our camp puts you on the bank, so the first boat of the morning leaves while it is still cold and the evening session does not have to end early to get you back somewhere.
Where you stay
The camp, not the nearest hotel
We build a camp on the ground for the length of the fair and take it away again afterwards. Everything in it is trucked in and installed for that window.
Swiss tents with attached washrooms
Proper beds, solid flooring, running hot water and a sit-out. Not a sleeping bag on the ground.
Power, water and drainage
Installed for the event and maintained through it, including lighting across the site after dark.
Dining and housekeeping
A kitchen and dining tent on site, and the tents serviced daily while you are out at the fair.
Our own crew on the ground
The people who built the camp are the people running it. Nothing is subcontracted to a local agent.
Practicalities
Getting to the Chambal
- Agra is the usual arrival point for the northern stretch of the sanctuary, with a road transfer from there.
- The sanctuary spans three states, so the exact approach depends on which stretch the festival is running from. We confirm this with your booking.
- Bring layers. Mornings on the water in winter are much colder than the afternoons suggest.
Gallery
International Bird Festival, in pictures
Photographs: PJeganathan (CC BY-SA 4.0), Arjun Bharioke (CC BY-SA 4.0), Yann (talk) (CC BY-SA 4.0), Hari Mohan Meena (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
Also this season
Other fairs and festivals
November 2026
January – February 2027
Nagaur, Rajasthan
Nagaur Cattle Fair
The second-largest cattle fair in India, and far quieter than Pushkar.
Dates January – February 2027
Details
Announced by the Office of HH
Bodh Gaya, Bihar
Kalachakra
Pilgrim camp with heated tents for the winter teaching.
Dates Announced by the Office of HH
DetailsQuestions
International Bird Festival, answered
Not covered here? Call reservations or send an enquiry — someone who has actually been there will answer.
Do I need to be a serious birder?
No. The river is worth the trip for the crocodilians and the landscape alone, and the guided boats are pitched at mixed groups. Serious birders will be well served too — the skimmers are a genuine draw.
What will we realistically see?
Gharial and mugger are close to certain on a good boat trip. River dolphin are present but shy. The bird list through winter is long. Nobody can promise a particular species, and anyone who does is selling something.
Is the boat suitable for cameras?
Yes, and photographers are a good part of who comes. Tell us in advance if you want a boat configured for long lenses rather than a full group.
How cold does it get?
Cold enough on the water at dawn to want a proper jacket, even when the afternoons are mild. Our tents are set up for it.
How far in advance should I book?
Earlier than feels necessary. These camps run for a handful of days a year, the dates do not move, and the tent count is fixed by what we can physically install. For the better-known fairs the good dates go a season ahead.
What is included in the tariff?
Accommodation in a furnished Swiss tent with an attached washroom, meals at the camp, housekeeping and on-site assistance. Travel to the festival, entry to ticketed events and anything personal sits outside it. We confirm the exact inclusions in writing with the quote.
Can you arrange transfers?
Yes. Tell us where you are arriving from and we will quote the transfer with the tent. For the remoter camps this is worth arranging in advance rather than on the day.
Is the camp suitable for families?
Yes. Tents can be set up for families, and the camp is staffed and lit through the night. Tell us the ages when you enquire and we will put you somewhere sensible on the site.
What does it cost?
It depends on the festival, the dates within it, the tent category and how many nights you want. There is no single rate across the seven. Send us the festival and your dates and we will send a written quote.
Camping at the Chambal
Tell us your dates and we will confirm the festival window, the stretch of river and what the camp costs.