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
Pushkar, Rajasthan
Pushkar Camel Fair
One of the world's largest camel fairs, on the banks of a lake ringed by fifty-two bathing ghats — and a camp within walking distance of both.
The festival
Pushkar means blue lotus flower
Pushkar in Sanskrit means blue lotus flower. It is derived from two Sanskrit words Pushpa and Kar, where Pushpa means flower and Kar- means hand. Pushkar word is derived from word 'Pushkarni' which means - Lake.
Pushkar fair aka Pushkar ka mela attracts thousands of tourists to the holy town of Pushkar in Rajasthan, every year. The Pushkar Fair is believed to be one of the world's largest camel fairs! This camel fair is graced by the presence of over 50,000 camels and more than 100,000 global travelers. While many flock the place to catch a glimpse of the camels, there's much more than just that to Pushkar. Here's a list of 4 reasons why you should visit Pushkar.
Four reasons
Why you should visit Pushkar
01
The unique celebration
The Pushkar Fair takes place on the banks of Pushkar Lake. Apart from selling livestock, there's a large exhibition of clothes, bracelets, jewelry, textiles and much more. The 5 day festival begins with a camel race, followed by music and songs to add to the merriment. It hosts unique competitions like 'matka phod,' 'longest moustache,' 'bridal competition,' and much more.
02
Camel safari
One can try the camel safari in Pushkar, to visit the small villages around the town. Apart from visually enticing views, one can get a closer feel of the life in a small town and also notice the difference in culture.
03
Little Israel of India
Pushkar can rightly be called the little Israel of India. It is a lesser known fact that Pushkar has numerous Israelis, and many of the locals can speak Hebrew! Israelis have set up a 'Chabad,' (Jewish Community Centre) here. Traditional Jewish delicacies like jachnoon, moussakas, cinnamon cakes have found a place in the menu books in Pushkar! So while exploring rural India, you will be treated by Jewish culture too!
04
Brahma Temple
The Brahma Temple or Jagatpita Brahma Mandir is one of the very few existing Brahma temples, dedicated to the Hindu creator, Lord Brahma. After taking a ceremonial sacred bath in the Pushkar Lake, holy men and sages enter the temple. Only ascetics are allowed to perform a puja at the temple, and one has to give the offerings to the priest, from the outer hall of the temple. If you visit the Pushkar Camel Fair, you should certainly visit this temple!
The camel competition
One another important factor that lures travelers into this charismatic fair is the camel competition. An array of camels is adorned in the best way possible for awe-inspiring beauty content. The owners leave no stone unturned in making their camels look dynamic and eye catching as the one looking the best wins the prize.
The sights of beautifully decked up camels with their owners sitting on the backs are just astonishing and leave many jaws drop out of fascination. In one of the competition, large numbers of people are made to sit on the camel's back. The camel then lopes across the sand and throws its riders off its back, amidst cheers and jeers from thousands of spectators. The camel which succeeds in accommodating the maximum number of people on its back, wins the competition.
The bazaar, and what comes home with you
The grand occasion of Pushkar festival is definitely a priceless treat for those who wish to eye the vibrant cultures and traditions of Rajasthan. Travelers partaking in the festival get a lifetime opportunity of bagging some traditional Rajasthani souvenirs such as ornaments, garments, footwear, artifacts and a lot more. Ornaments of silver and bead necklace, patchwork, printed textiles as well the famous tie and dye fabrics from Ajmer are the main attractions of the Pushkar Fair.
In the past few years, the art of body tattooing has also become a trendy attraction in the Pushkar Fair. The locals have set up small tattoo stalls here making traditional Rajasthani tattoos which are extremely loved by the travelers.
Visiting Pushkar fair is a chance to please your hunger with delectable Rajasthani dishes cooked with rich Indian spices. Being a religious destination, one may find only vegetarian dishes served in this fair. All local dished here are cooked in pure ghee which oozes mouth-watering flavors. Dry fruits, traditional spices and homemade yogurt are used in most of the delicacies. Whether it is delicious dal baati or sugery churma and missi roti, travelers visiting Pushkar Fair always end up licking their fingers.
Fifty-two ghats on a holy lake
Many travelers flock at the Pushkar Fair to get the blessings of the almighty. The holy Pushkar Lake features 52 bathing Ghats which stay jam packed during the fair. It is believed that each of these ghats have their own unique features and powers to heal all kinds of sins and diseases.
Being a spiritual destination, Pushkar is home to numerous small and big temples which are decked up with pleasing illuminations and painted with vibrant colors especially for the Pushkar Fair. Pushkar Fair is a great occasion to take a plunge into the blessings of divinity and attain the everlasting nirvana.
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 Pushkar
- Ajmer is the nearest railhead, a short road transfer from Pushkar, and is on the main line from Delhi, Jaipur and Ahmedabad.
- Jaipur has the nearest large airport; Kishangarh, closer still, handles a smaller number of flights.
- The town is small and the fairground is walkable from our camp, which matters most in the evenings when the roads in are slow.
Gallery
Pushkar Camel Fair, in pictures
Photographs: Ninara (CC BY 2.0), Sudipta Dutta Chowdhury (CC BY-SA 4.0), Jakub Hałun (CC BY-SA 4.0), Adityavijayavargia (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
Also this season
Other fairs and festivals
January – February 2027
February 2027
National Chambal Sanctuary
International Bird Festival
Riverside camp on the Chambal, gharial and skimmer country.
Dates 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
Pushkar Camel Fair, answered
Not covered here? Call reservations or send an enquiry — someone who has actually been there will answer.
What actually happens at the Pushkar fair?
Livestock trading first — camels, horses and cattle — alongside a large exhibition of clothes, jewellery and textiles. The five-day festival opens with a camel race and runs on through music, folk performances and competitions including matka phod, the longest moustache and a bridal competition.
Is the fair only about camels?
No. The lake and its fifty-two ghats, the Brahma temple, the bazaar and the food are reasons people come who have no interest in livestock at all.
Can we visit the Brahma Temple?
Yes, though only ascetics may perform a puja inside. Visitors give their offerings to the priest from the outer hall. It is one of very few Brahma temples anywhere.
What food is available?
Pushkar is a religious town, so the food at the fair is vegetarian throughout. Rajasthani cooking in pure ghee — dal baati, churma, missi roti — with dry fruits, spices and homemade yogurt through most of 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 Pushkar fair
Tell us your nights and how many of you there are. We will come back with what is left and what it costs.