A vegetarian town
Meat, eggs and alcohol are not served in Pushkar. Some resorts outside the town limits follow different rules, so ask your hotel if this matters to you.
Rajasthan
Pushkar and its sacred lake
Pushkar is a small, slow town built around a sacred lake, with whitewashed ghats and temples on every side and rocky hills behind. It is one of the holiest Hindu pilgrimage towns in India, and each autumn it hosts the Pushkar Camel Fair.
- Best: Nov–Feb
- 1 night for the lake, the Brahma temple and a sunset on the ghats; 2 if you add Ajmer or come for the fair.
Hindu tradition holds that the lake was created by Lord Brahma, and pilgrims bathe from its ghats (steps leading down to the water), especially at the full moon of Kartik. Of the town's hundreds of temples, the best known is one of very few in India dedicated to Brahma.
Pushkar is a vegetarian town: meat, eggs and alcohol are not served there. It lies about 15 km from Ajmer, between Jaipur and Jodhpur, so it fits easily into a wider Rajasthan trip.
What to see
Sights in Pushkar
- 1
Pushkar Lake and ghats
Around fifty ghats ring the lake, each with its own temples. At sunset the evening aarti (a prayer with lamps) draws crowds to the main ghats, with drums and bells carrying across the water.
- 2
Brahma Temple
The Jagatpita Brahma Mandir, with its red spire, is the best known of the very few temples in India dedicated to Brahma. Queues can be long during the fair and on festival days.
- 3
Savitri Temple
On Ratnagiri hill above the town, the temple to Brahma's consort Savitri is reached by a long flight of steps or, usually, a ropeway. Go early for sunrise over the lake.
- 4
Sadar Bazaar
The main bazaar curves along the lake from the Brahma temple, selling silver jewellery, textiles, rose water, gulkand (a rose-petal preserve) and malpua, the syrupy fried sweet Pushkar is known for.
- 5
Ajmer Sharif Dargah
About 15 km away in Ajmer, the shrine of the 13th-century Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti draws people of every faith. Cover your head, remove your shoes, and expect very large crowds during the annual Urs, whose dates follow the Islamic calendar.
Things to do
Experiences in Pushkar
Sunset on the ghats
Find a quiet spot on the ghats or a rooftop café as the sun sets over the lake, then stay on for the evening aarti.
The Pushkar Camel Fair
Held in the Hindu month of Kartik, usually in October or November, the fair begins with camel and livestock trading on the dunes at the edge of town and ends with pilgrims bathing in the lake on Kartik Purnima, the full moon. Dates change each year.
A puja by the lake
If you would like to take part in a puja (a prayer ritual) at the ghats, a priest will guide you. Agree on the dakshina (the offering to the priest) beforehand, and politely decline if you are approached and would rather not.
When to go
- January: best time
- February: best time
- March: good, with caveats
- April: hard: heat, monsoon or closures
- May: hard: heat, monsoon or closures
- June: hard: heat, monsoon or closures
- July: good, with caveats
- August: good, with caveats
- September: good, with caveats
- October: good, with caveats
- November: best time
- December: best time
October to March is the best time to visit, with November to February the most comfortable; the camel fair usually falls in October or November. April to June is very hot, and July to September brings monsoon showers.
Getting there
- By air: Jaipur International Airport (JAI) is about 145 km away, around 3 hours by road; Kishangarh Airport (KQH), near Ajmer, is closer but has fewer flights.
- By rail: Ajmer Junction, about 15 km away, has frequent trains to Jaipur and Delhi, including fast daytime services.
- By road: About 145 km from Jaipur (about 3 hours by road), 15 km from Ajmer and 190 km from Jodhpur (3.5–4 hours).
Local knowledge
Tips for Pushkar
Respect at the ghats
Take off your shoes before stepping onto the ghats, dress modestly, and don't photograph people bathing.
Check the fair dates
During the camel fair, rooms are scarce and roads crowded. If you want to see it, book early; if not, check the dates before fixing yours.
Questions
Pushkar: FAQs
When is the Pushkar Camel Fair?
The Pushkar Camel Fair is held in the Hindu month of Kartik, usually in October or November, and ends on Kartik Purnima, the full moon. The dates change every year, so check them before you plan.
Is Pushkar a vegetarian town?
Yes. Pushkar is a Hindu pilgrimage town, and meat, eggs and alcohol are not served there.
How far is Pushkar from Jaipur?
Pushkar is about 145 km from Jaipur, around three hours by road via Ajmer.
How far is Ajmer Sharif from Pushkar?
The Ajmer Sharif Dargah is about 15 km from Pushkar, a short drive over the hills, so the two are easily visited together.
How many days do you need in Pushkar?
One night in Pushkar is enough for the lake, the Brahma temple and a sunset on the ghats. Stay two nights to add Ajmer, the Savitri temple at sunrise or a day at the camel fair.
Combine it with
Nearby destinations
Rajasthan
Jaipur
The Pink City
Rajasthan's capital, with Amer Fort, the walled Pink City, Jantar Mantar and bazaars full of textiles and gems.
Best: Nov–Feb
Rajasthan
Jodhpur
The Blue City
Mehrangarh Fort above a blue-washed old city, and the gateway to Jaisalmer and the Thar Desert.
Best: Nov–Feb
Rajasthan
Udaipur
The City of Lakes
Mewar's old capital: palaces on Lake Pichola, hills all around, and Kumbhalgarh, Ranakpur and Chittorgarh within a day's drive.
Best: Nov–Feb
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