Pushkar city:
From the moment we arrived, Pushkar felt unlike anywhere else we had visited in Rajasthan. This is one of the oldest cities in India, and one of the holiest on the planet. Pushkar is a beautiful small city, situated around a sacred lake, and has long been a major pilgrimage destination for Hindus. Pushkar attracts many spiritual visitors today, this makes it a very special destination where you can feast your eyes.
Pushkar Camel Fair:
Pushkar is hugely impressive in its own right, but the best time is to visit it during an event. We visited Pushkar during the hugely popular Camel Fair. This took place in early November 2022. Unfortunately, there were far fewer Camels present due to a Cow Disease. Normally this would be about 30,000. We have now spotted several hundred. But even without the thousands of camels, this was a very impressive event.
The Pushkar Camel Fair, also known as Kartik Mela, is one of the most beautiful camel festivals in the country. The festival is an 8-day long vibrant and colourful affair held in the month of November every year. This fair is organized every year to promote the local camel and cattle traders to do business during holy Kartik Purnima. Multiple shops across the fairground are set up which feature Rajasthani handicrafts, art and culture. Also, the best part about this fair is that each day of the fair has a unique set of activities including magic shows, snake charmers, puppet show, camel parade, and gipsy dance.
Be prepared, the Camel Fair is visited by about 400,000 people. Mostly Indian people who come from areas where they never see Western people. This means a lot of views, and even more selfies. The fair was actually impossible for us, for every selfie there were 20 Indians in line with their phones. So avoid the busiest places and give yourself some rest between the crowds.
Pushkar Lake:
Surrounded by more than fifty bathing ghats, this lake is located in the Ajmer district of Rajasthan. Legend has it that Lord Brahma was looking for a place to conduct a religious ceremony. He dropped a lotus to guide him. The lotus fell on the site which is now the Pushkar Lake. It is a sacred water body for Hindus and is where the Pushkar Fair is held. Thousands of pilgrims visit here to take a holy dip during the fair which is said to cleanse sins. The lake is generally full through the year and has different varieties of fish. The surrounding regions are home to exotic flora and fauna. Numerous migratory birds visit the water body during certain seasons.
Brahma's Temple:
Also called the Jagatpita Brahma Mandir, this temple is located near to the Pushkar Lake. It is one of the few Brahma temples remaining in the country and is amongst the rare places to visit in Pushkar. The place of worship was built in the fourteenth century. Constructed of marble and stone, it has a unique architecture along with the majestic red pinnacle. Entrance is free, and opening hours are from 05.30am to 10.00pm. Shoes and camera are not allowed.
Go shopping:
Pushkar has a huge range of nice souvenirs. There are many types of shops and boutiques. So if you want to buy a nice souvenir from a special place, Pushkar is ideal for this. From books, to lots of clothing, jewelry, or a beautiful dream catcher as decoration, they have it all here.
Walk around Pushkar:
Pushkar has a lot to offer as a city, but it is a shame if you only stay in the city. Pushkar is located in a beautiful rural area with beautiful rose fields and surrounding mountains. We had a lovely walk around here. There is even a cable car to one of these mountains to enjoy the amazing surroundings from a height.
