Pushkar Camel Fair

How the fair runs

Pushkar Fair is a camel and livestock fair held in the Rajasthan town of Pushkar in the Hindu month of Kartik, which falls in October or November. Rajasthan Tourism describes it as a five-day fair and says it has become a major tourist attraction on top of its role as a livestock market. It ends on Kartik Purnima, the full-moon day, when pilgrims bathe in Pushkar Lake. In 2026 that is Tuesday 24 November.

The exact dates are set locally each year. Most sources give 17 to 24 November 2026, a few extend it to the 25th, and the cultural programme comes from the local administration close to the date. Plan around 17 to 24 November, and treat it as expected until the programme is out.

Two things happen in different weeks. Midnight Blue Elephant, a tour operator, says the livestock trading takes place the week before the official cultural programme for visitors. If you want to watch camels, horses and cattle change hands, arrive before 17 November. If you want the contests and the bathing, 17 to 24 November is the window. Hindutone adds that the sacred bathing period starts at Kartik Ekadashi, around 20 November, and builds to the full moon.

What to watch

The lake is semi-circular and ringed by 52 ghats, the bathing steps, and about 400 temples, according to Wikipedia. Kartik Purnima is the day pilgrims come to bathe. EaseMyTrip, a travel site, lists dawn rituals and an evening aarti with floating lamps among the fair-week sights. The lake is a place of worship first, so dress and behave as you would at a temple.

The livestock market is the original reason for the fair, with camels, horses, cattle, sheep and goats traded. For visitors, Rajasthan Tourism lists the matka phod (a pot-breaking contest), a longest-moustache contest and a bridal competition. In recent years it has added a football match between the local Pushkar Club and a team of foreign tourists. EaseMyTrip also lists camel races, camel parades and beauty contests, Ghoomar and Kalbelia dance, folk music and puppet shows. Which of these are on, and when, depends on the programme the administration publishes.

The red-spired Brahma Temple is the most important in town and one of the few dedicated to Brahma. EaseMyTrip says it is decorated during the fair. Expect it to be among the busiest places in Pushkar on the bathing day.

Getting there

Pushkar is about 10 km north-west of Ajmer, on a road (Highway 58) that crosses the Aravalli range, and about 150 km south-west of Jaipur. Ajmer is the nearest major railway station. The nearest airport is Kishangarh, about 45 km north-east. For the Rajasthan capital itself, see Jaipur in 2 or 3 days.

The e-Visa options and fees for India are in the India e-Visa guide.

Where to sleep

Rooms in Pushkar fill early for the fair. Staying in town puts the lake, the ghats and the temple on foot, which matters most on Kartik Purnima. Ajmer, 10 km away, has the station. Kishangarh has the airport. Jaipur, about 150 km away, has far more hotels; see where to stay in Jaipur.

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• Near the Pushkar Camel Fair centre
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Town rules

Pushkar is a holy city and vegetarian. The sale of meat, fish, eggs and alcohol is banned, and drugs are prohibited. That applies in fair week as on any other day, so do not plan an evening drink in town.

Booking before the dates are fixed

The programme comes late, so the safest plan covers both ends. Arrive by 16 November and leave on 25 November and you cover every date any source gives. Choose refundable rooms where you can, and check Rajasthan Tourism and the Ajmer district administration for the announcement before you pay for anything that cannot be changed.