Pushkar camel festival complete visitors guide india

Pushkar Camel Festival, Complete guide for visitors

India still accommodate its thousands year old cultures and traditions, which world get to see through various festivals and fairs. Throughout the year, India celebrate some or other festival, International fair of Pushkar is also one of these. And, here is a complete guide that can help you in planning your trip for Pushkar Camel festival.

Pushkar camel festival, Visitors guide

Though, Pushkar festival is mainly a cattle trading fair, where traders come to sell or buy horses and camels. But we Indian always look for a chance of Singing, Dancing, shopping and Celebration. So, we celebrate this camel fest once in a year, and exhibit our historic culture that still breath in our villages.

Different breed of camel in Pushkar fair
A merchant handling a group of Camels
Camel merchant at Pushkar fair
Camps of Camel merchant at the time of Pushkar fair

Every year, thousands of cattle merchant gather at Pushkar from the nearby states. They install their tents and stay here around a month. To cater need of these merchants and buyers, lots of eatery get open. Games, that are usually part of our village life, become part of Pushkar fair.

Due to various cultural activities and events Pushkar Camel fair got world fame and become an International fair. Apart from the traders, this fair attracts lots of pilgrim, tourists and photographers from the globe.

Top attraction & activities in Pushkar Camel Festival

Colorful attire: People of Rajasthan (mainly in rural) are still rooted to their tradition, whether it is about their peculiar attire or food. Where women look in colorful Lehnga-Chunri with heavy ornaments, while men in their typical Kurta-Paijama with turban ( Pagdi). Their dressing give them a unique identity and it may be the first thing that draw anyone attentions.

Rajasthani typical attire
Rajasthani men & women in their typical attire

Pushkar as Tirth Raj: As, the timing of Pushkar festival coincide with sacred month (according to Hindu calendar), thousands of pilgrim visit Pushkar Lake and only Brahma temple in the World.

Pushkar is also known as Tirth Raj (King of holy city). And, it is said in Hinduism that if some one visit all the four Char-Dham but left Pushkar, then his pilgrim visit will not be considered complete. Read here: Dwarka, Char-Dham of west India

Country market: To cater the shopping needs of both tourists and pilgrims, merchants install many shops and stall, of handicrafts & food items. The items bring at Pushkar fair, are mainly related to rural life style.

During the Pushkar festival, this desert town of Rajasthan turn into an alive and colorful market place. Apart from shops, many Jhoole, circus also get install, that still have charm among rural kids.

Items in Pushkar fair India
A Rajasthani man purchasing beads with neck bell for his cow or camel
Handicraft item in Pushkar festival
Woman selling typical item used in villages

Camel Safari: Camel merchants decorate their camel with many ornaments and colorful clothes. Some camel owner adorn their camel via making beautiful pattern on the camel body just by trimming camel’s body hair. In this fair people also get opportunity to ride on the camel back or in camel-cart. Also read Camel Safari in the Thar desert

Decorated camel in Pushkar fair
A decorated camel waiting for customer

pattern on Camel body Pushkar fair

Camel Race: In the Pushkar festival, opening of grand events starts with camel race in fair ground. Fair management organise lots of team events like tug of war, Matki Fod for both men and women.

Talent of Individual: Some competition exhibit the individual talent like; who has the longest moustache, has the longest hair or the longest turban. You can also see the camel and horse dancing in Pushkar festival.

In this fair snake charmers also get chance to show their history old tradition to global tourist. You can also enjoy the dance performance of ladies or kid on the Rajasthani folk song. Here, you can enjoy live performances of other street artists too.

snake charmer at Pushkar fair
Snake charmer at Pushkar fair
Street artist at Pushkar fair
Street artist giving performance in Pushkar fair

Street artist at International Pushkar fair

performance of street artist in Pushkar fair
Local visitors enjoying performance of street artist

Hot air balloon: The Pushkar festival contribute a lot in tourism of Rajasthan, so nowadays Pushkar fest become the important and integral part of Rajasthan Tourism. And for making this festival more popular among the international tourists, Rajathan tourism welcome Hot air balloon operators.

So, if you are looking for a life time experience of flying in Hot air balloon, Pushkar is the perfect destination though this ride will cost you hefty amount.

Timing of Pushkar Camel Festival

The Pushkar festival held almost for a month, usually from mid October to mid November. Almost all the cultural activities take place during the last 5 days of the fest ( from Kartik Ekadashi to Kartik Poornima as per Hindu calendar).

Gujarat also organise Run Utsav to give boost to their tourism, that also start from November and last up to Feb. So if you plan properly, you can enjoy both the festival in same period.

Venue of Pushkar Camel festival

International Pushkar fair or Pushkar camel fair held every year at the ancient town of Pushkar. Which lies in the Ajmer district of Rajasthan, around 150 Km from Jaipur and around 415 Km from the nation capital Delhi.

How to Reach Pushkar

Pushkar is just 12 Km from the Ajmer which is also a famous pilgrim site. Ajmer have very good connectivity with Jaipur and Delhi via Rail and road route, while the nearest Airport located at Jaipur. If you plan your trip via Jaipur, then must explore these 10 top most attraction of Jaipur city.

Train between Ajmer and Pushkar. Train no. 59607 run from Ajmer at 9:50 AM and take 1 hour to reach Pushkar and same train come back at 4:00 PM. Nowadays Ola cab service is also available between Ajmer and Pushkar.

Hotels in Pushkar

On the expedition of exploring cultural festival of Puskar, you get plenty of options to stay from budget to luxury. You can also book your stay at Ajmer, as it is itself a tourist destination and very close to Pushkar.

But if you want to have experience of camping in tent, you get that option too in Pushkar but on higher price as compare to hotel.

Pushkar Lake & temples

Brahma temple : As I said Pushkar is the only place on the Earth, where you can see a temple of Lord Brahma. So, you must take benefit of this opportunity during your trip.

Pushkar Lake : It is Just 5 minute walk away from the Brahma temple. This lake is sacred for Hindu, more than 50 King have built ghat around this sacred lake.

sacred Pushkar lake

Shri Rangnath temple: Pushkar town have temple in every small street but Rangnath temple is a must visit, It is beautifully designed in South Indian style. Temple walls have thousands of unique sculptures.

Note: Camera is not allowed at Brahma temple and Rangnath temple

Coming to Pushkar at the time of Camel festival offer you complete package in a single trip. You can visit most sacred lake and unique temple and at the same time can enjoy the colorful Camel festival of Pushkar.

Must see places of Rajathan

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