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Pushkar

Pushkar

pilgrimage site · Rajasthan

Pushkar is an ancient, sacred pilgrimage town curled peacefully around the perimeters of the natural, sacred Pushkar Lake.

State
Rajasthan
Type
Pilgrimage Site
Best season
Winter
Things to do
3+

Pushkar is an ancient, sacred pilgrimage town curled peacefully around the perimeters of the natural, sacred Pushkar Lake. Flanked by the rugged hills of the Aravalli range near Ajmer, it ranks as one of the oldest living cities in India and a paramount spiritual core for Hindu theology. The town's unique identity is tied to hosting the rare 14th-century Jagatpita Brahma Mandir, one of the few temples dedicated to the Hindu Creator God. The landscape features 52 historic stone bathing ghats that step directly down into the clear waters, where pilgrims perform ritual cleansing dips among continuous chanting. The town transitions from a spiritual enclave into a massive cultural phenomenon during late autumn, when its outer desert fields host the world-famous Pushkar Camel Fair, attracting global communities.

When to go

The recommended months to experience Pushkar are from October to March, with November hosting the legendary annual camel fair.

Why visit

Pushkar has one of the very few Brahma temples in India and a lake with fifty-two ghats around it. The town is dry and vegetarian, the camel fair fills it in November, and the priests at the ghats will press a puja on you — settle the amount first or decline plainly.

Cultural notes

According to ancient Hindu scriptures, the sacred lake was naturally formed when a celestial lotus fell from the hands of Lord Brahma. It is spiritually revered as the King of Pilgrim Sites (Teerth Raj). The annual camel fair is an institutionalized market exchange that has occurred for centuries, serving as a massive bastion for folk music, matching crafts, and camel trading.

How to reach

The closest airport is Kishangarh Airport (45 km), though Jaipur International Airport (145 km) provides broader transit links. The nearest railway station is at Ajmer Junction (15 km), smoothly connected to Pushkar via a winding mountain pass road corridor.

2 days in Pushkar

Take the whole plan, or add any single stop.

Pushkar Lake GhatsDay 1

Day 1

Pushkar Lake Ghats

Fifty-two ghats ring the water, each attached to a different community or ruler, and the lake is old enough to appear on coins from the fourth century BC. Hindu tradition calls it tirtha-guru, the teacher of pilgrimage places, and a bath here is held to wash away sin; more than five hundred temples stand around the shore. The crowds peak at Kartik Poornima in October or November, when the Pushkar fair runs. Shoes off on every ghat, and photographing people bathing is not welcome. A priest will press a puja on you the moment you sit down — fix the amount first or say no plainly.

Day 1

Brahma Temple

Brahma Temple

Day 1

Main Bazaar & cafes

Main Bazaar & cafes

Day 1

Savitri Mata sunset by ropeway

Savitri Mata sunset by ropeway

Day 2

Day 2

Camel or horse ride in the dunes

Camel or horse ride in the dunes

Day 2

Pushkar Camel Fair (if in season)

Pushkar Camel Fair (if in season)

Day 2

Day trip to Ajmer Sharif

Day trip to Ajmer Sharif

Pushkar guide & itineraries

Pushkar is perfect for

spiritualbackpacker-workationcouples

What & where to eat

Main Bazaar

falafel

Traveller-cafe global food

Main Bazaar

Cafe bowls

Traveller-cafe global food

Malpua

Main Bazaar

Malpua

Griddle-fried sweet pancake with thickened milk

Rabri

Main Bazaar

Rabri

Griddle-fried sweet pancake with thickened milk

Rajasthani Thali

Pure-veg Pushkar thali (the town is vegetarian)

Kulfi

Kulfi

Cooling sweets and drinks

Lassi

Lassi

Cooling sweets and drinks

Dal Baati Churma

Dal Baati Churma

The classic Rajasthani plate

Nearby getaways

Ajmer

~30 min

Merta

~1.5 hrs

Frequently asked questions

When is the Pushkar Camel Fair?
Around Kartik Purnima (October-November); dates shift yearly with the Hindu calendar.
Is Pushkar vegetarian?
Yes - it is a holy town where meat, eggs and alcohol are traditionally not sold.

Things to do

How to spend your time in Pushkar.

Pushkar Lake & 52 ghats

Sacred lake ringed by bathing ghats

Pushkar Camel Fair

Vast camel-and-livestock fair (October-November)

Savitri Mata Temple ropeway

Hilltop temple with sunset views

Hidden gems

Bazaar & rooftop cafes

Bohemian markets and rooftop cafes

Popular attractions

The places in Pushkar most people come for.

Jagatpita Brahma Mandir

Jagatpita Brahma Mandir

Attraction

Pushkar Lake Ghats

Pushkar Lake Ghats

Viewpoint

Savitri Devi Temple

Savitri Devi Temple

Viewpoint

See all attractions

Reviews & ratings

What travellers say about Pushkar

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