Pushkar, the quiet little town of eastern Rajasthan, is located 13 km from Ajmer, on the edge of a small and beautiful lake. Pushkar is a city of 400 temples and 52 bathing ghats. Pushkar prides itself on being the site of the only temple of the Hindu God of Creation, Brahma.

Every November, the sleepy little township of Pushkar in Rajasthan, India comes alive with a riot of colors and a frenzied burst of activity. The occasion: PUSHKAR FAIR. Very few, if at all any, fairs in the world can match the liveliness of Pushkar. Most people associate the Pushkar Fair with the world's largest camel fair. But it is much more than that.

Fun & Frolic

"As the tempo of business goes down, the men folk turn to merriment, for the day of the camel sports is at hand. Camel races are the first event. Usually a lumbering beast of burden, the camel all decorated in finery, imagines itself to be an ostrich, and rushes through the race like one. Then comes the event analogous to musical chairs. Here, as the music stops, the camel is supposed to manage to stick its long arching neck between two poles, each camel owner guiding its entrant by means of a silken cord attached to its nose ring.

Shopping & Recreation

The contrast to the blank desert is the riot of Colours - the large gaudy turbans of the native males arriving here to trade their animals or to set up the stalls to cater to the booming captive market, and the loud hues of the pleated ghagaras (ankle-length skirts) of the belles bangled by the armful, bejewelled from head to toe-adding charm and zest to the massive affair. A large number of traders gather at the Pushkar Fair and set up shops. They sell a host of products like bead necklaces of Nagaur, woollen blankets of Merta, textiles printed in Ajmer and Jodhpur, brassware of Jodhpur and Jaipur etc. Also on sale are saddles, ropes, and assorted household items. Vendors peddle their dazzling range of wares at hundreds of roadside stalls. Small groups of men and women can be seen tatooing names and pictures on their hands and other parts of the body.During the fair, cultural shows and exhibitions are organized to enliven the event.

Pushkar Attractions:

Pushkar Lake
The pious Pushkar Lake, believed to have been created by the falling of lotus from the hand of Lord Brahma.It is considered to be as old as the creation.

Brahma Temple
It is said that Lord Brahma's lotus flower fell in three separate places in the Pushkar area, and that water came from the ground at each place. The three places are located with- in a radius of six miles.

Camel Market
Pushkar has one of the best shopping bazaars in India. There are hundreds of shops selling camels, horses, bulls, cows and much more. Most of theanimals sold are low prices and the prices are some of the best in India.

Pushkar Near By Attractions:

Ajmer Sharif
Ajmer is 132 kms. south-west of Jaipur and 198 kms. east of Jodhpur. It is connected by road to Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Udaipur and Kota. Ajmer is a railway junction on the Delhi-Ahmedabad section of the Western Railway. During the Urs, special buses ply from cities all over India carrying people to Ajmer and back. The lakeside city of Ajmer is located in central Rajasthan, and is held in great reverence by devotees of all communities who call it 'Ajmer Sharif' (Holy Ajmer). It is here that the mortal remains of the highly respected Sufi saint Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti lie buried.

Desert Festival
One of the most popular of all festivals it is a journey into the heart of the desert, the golden city of Jaisalmer that has a charm of its own. Held in the month of January - February, the Desert Festival exudes a delightful spirit. For three days ,he otherwise barren land of Jaisalmer comes to life and is cluttered with hordes of colorfully dressed people . Infact during these days Jaisalmer gets a chance to paradeits exuberant charm to the world. Traditional dance backed by high pitched music take the folk dancers and the audience on an euphoric trip. The turban-tying competition and Mr. Desert contest add a touch of excitement to the festive celebrations. The famous Gair dancers and the traditional fire dancers leave the crowd enchanted whenever they perform. The grand finale is a trip to the sand dunes where one can enjoy the pleasure of a camel ride & at times also view the musicians and dancers performing on the dunes.

Pushkar Fair Dates

2007 : November 21 - 24, 2007.
2008 : November 10 - 13, 2008.
2009 : October 30 - November 02, 2009. 2010 : November 18 - 21, 2010.

How to Reach Pushkar by Air Jaipur is the nearest airport from Pushkar. It is about 138 km away from the Pushkar town. Regular buses from Jaipur are available for Pushkar. You can also hire taxi from Jaipur. How to Reach Pushkar by Road Ajmer, about 11 Km from Pushkar, is the nearest railhead and well connected to Delhi, Ahmedabad, Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur Udaipur and Abu Road by regular trains. How to Reach Pushkar by Road Pushkar is well connected to other cities and towns of Rajasthan. Regular bus services operate from Pushkar/Ajmer to popular destinations around. Distance from important tourist centers is as follows. Jaipur: 138 km. Delhi: 392 km. Ahmedabad: 526 km. Jaisalmer: 490 km Bikaner: 233 km