Pushkar Camel Fair: Dates, Things to Do & Travel Guide

Pushkar, a historic temple town in Rajasthan, hosts a colourful camel and livestock fair each year. Originally a gathering for local traders, the Pushkar Camel Fair has also become one of India’s best-known cultural attractions.

Planning at a glance: Visit early in the fair for livestock activity, later for the pilgrimage atmosphere, and allow two or three nights if you want time for both the town and the fair. The listed 2026 dates are 17–24 November; final event details should be rechecked.

This festival of vivid colours attracts visitors from across the globe. Besides livestock trading, folk performances, handicraft stalls and competitions add to the atmosphere. The programme and scale vary each year; check the current schedule rather than expecting a fixed number of animals or visitors.

Source: flickr

The Pushkar Fair has two overlapping sides: livestock trading and religious observances. Trading activity is usually concentrated earlier, while pilgrimage builds towards Kartik Purnima. Ask locally about the livestock programme if photography or trading is your main interest; it may not match the dates of every cultural event.

 

About Pushkar city

Pushkar is a small religious town near Ajmer in Rajasthan. Its Brahma Temple and sacred lake are central to a visit. The temple is one of the best-known temples dedicated to Brahma, rather than the only one in the world. The lake’s ghats are active places of worship, so ask before photographing rituals and respect any local restrictions.

 

When is the Pushkar Camel Fair held

Pushkar Mela follows the Hindu month of Kartik, usually in October or November. Rajasthan Tourism’s published calendar lists 17–24 November 2026. Livestock arrivals, trading and cultural programmes can have different schedules, so reconfirm the final daily programme before booking. See the official Rajasthan fairs calendar and Pushkar Fair visitor page.

 

When to visit Pushkar otherwise

State of Rajasthan being in north western part of the country and much of it falling in the Thar Desert, it gets pretty hot during the summers; winter nights can be cool. November to February is the ideal time to visit most of Rajasthan including Pushkar.

 

What happens at the fair

source: flickr

A huge carnival mostly concentrated on the road along the Pushkar Lake takes place. Camels are dressed nicely and decorated, entered into races, paraded in beauty contents and traded. Carnival attracts wonderful mix of musicians, folk dancers, magicians, snake charmers and other artists who entertain visitors at this marvelous celebration.

The fairgrounds can be busy, especially around major events and the final pilgrimage days. Allow time to walk between the town, lake and fairground; avoid crowd bottlenecks and agree on a meeting place if travelling together. Not every event runs daily.

source: flickr

Where to stay at Pushkar

Choose accommodation using recent reviews, a clear location and a written booking confirmation. Ask about the walk or transfer to the fairground, bathroom facilities, hot water and late-evening access. A tented camp can be atmospheric, but its facilities and distance from the centre vary considerably.

Demand rises during the fair, so book well in advance and compare the complete stay price, including meals, taxes and transfers. Accommodation ranges from basic guest houses and ordinary hotels to heritage properties and temporary tourist camps. Do not use old room-rate ranges as a current budget.

Packages may include accommodation, meals or selected activities; check each inclusion before paying. Some visitors stay in Ajmer and travel to Pushkar by road, but allow for fair traffic and the return journey after evening events.

 

What and Where to Eat in Pushkar

For a small town, Pushkar has plenty for the food lover: vegetarian Indian meals, cafés and international dishes reflecting its long history of visiting travellers. Restaurant ownership, menus and opening hours change. Choose somewhere that is open, busy and preparing food freshly, and check recent information rather than treating an old restaurant list as a current recommendation.

 

Things to do in Pushkar

The Holy Pushkar Lake along which the whole town transforms into a marvelous carnival

Source: flickr

1. Hot-air balloon ride: If flights are offered for your dates, confirm the operator, weather policy, meeting point and what happens if a flight is cancelled. Availability is seasonal and weather-dependent.
2. Camel Safari: Take the Camel Safari and enjoy the desert landscape and the camel fair spectacle from the best seat in town.
3. Witness or take a dip in Holy Pushkar Lake: Pilgrims do it as part of religious rituals and it is believed to wash away sins committed just like a holy dip in River Ganges.
4. Brahma Temple: Visit the ancient and famous Brahma Temple.
5. Shopping: you can buy a wide variety of things such as clothes, jewelry, Beads, bangles, small idols, lovely glassware, antique items etc. Pushkar offers one of the very unique shopping experiences in India. Bargain politely where prices are negotiable; respect fixed-price shops.
6. Experience the culture: Take a walk through makeshift bazaars & colorful streets. Witness cultural events, interesting exhibitions and folk performances.

Pushkar Travel Tips:

• Respect Pushkar’s religious customs and local rules on food and alcohol. Do not carry alcohol into a restricted area or assume a hotel permits it.
• Arrange a reliable return journey after dark and keep your belongings secure in busy areas.
• Agree on any guide or ritual-service charge beforehand. Donations are a personal choice; do not feel pressured to pay an amount you have not agreed to.

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Team Trodly

Getting to Pushkar and planning your days

Ajmer is the main rail gateway for many visitors, with an onward road transfer to Pushkar. Jaipur is another useful arrival point, followed by a longer road journey. Check your actual train or flight and book the final transfer separately if it is not included in your stay. Rajasthan Tourism’s Pushkar guide explains the transport options.

Use one day for the fairground and another for the lake, Brahma Temple and bazaars. Compare the timing with our guide to festivals across India or combine a Rajasthan trip with the Jaipur Literature Festival guide when the dates suit.

Frequently asked questions

Credits and last update

This post was originally published on Trodly travel blog. 

Featured image by dobs

 

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Last updated: 17 October 2026. Fair dates, accommodation advice and practical visitor information reviewed; original photographs and credits retained.