Pushkar is a well-known Hindu pilgrim centre. The small and beautiful town of Pushkar is set in a valley just about 14 km off Ajmer in the north Indian state of Rajasthan. Surrounded by hills on three sides and sand dunes on the other, Pushkar forms a fascinating location and a befitting backdrop for the annual religious and cattle fair which is globally famous and attracts thousands of visitors from all parts of the world.


About Pushkar Fair
Over the first five days of the fair, camels, horses, cows, goats, and sheep are sold and purchased. There may be long-drawn negotiations, or sometimes, a quick transaction. Hard bargains are struck, the vendor praising the long list of virtues of his camel to the prospective buyer. An array of stalls all along the main bazaar are renowned for embroidered fabrics and shoes colourful beads and bangles, brass utensils, belts studded with brass, cloth covers for camels with mirror work colourful saddles and leather goods beautiful wall hanging and shoulder bags. The prime shopping spots are home circus, Bazaar, Sarafa bazaar, Malakhera Bazaar and Kedalganj Bazaar.


Kartik Purnima,(the full moon night in Nov.) the day of ritual oblation , is also the closing day of the world's most colourful festivals. Bathing begins at dawn. There is quite a scramble for getting a place on the bathing ghats. The famed waters of the Pushkar Lake wash away the sins of a lifetime. The mystical water is also believed to cure skin diseases, making Pushkar the Lourdes of the east. After bathing, the devotees line up in long colourful queues to take their turn to worship the Creator, Brahma. Most people associate the Pushkar Fair with the world's largest camel fair. An interesting part of the Pushkar Fair is the mass trading of camels. Of course, cattle and other livestock are also traded, but it's camels that hold center stage at Pushkar. Camel-traders and villagers from miles away converge to Pushkar with their humped beasts. Over 25,000 camels (on the conservative side) are traded; making this world's largest camel fair.


Shopping
The roadside stalls sell beads, bangles, embroidered clothes, camel cover, leather goods brass utensils etc during the fair. The shopping centres are Baza Bazar, Sarafa Bazar, Kedalganj bazar.


Climate
Summer, 25 to 40 deg C; winter, 5 to 25 deg C; Best season: July-March


How to reach

• Air
  The nearest airport is in Jaipur, 145 km from Pushkar.
• Rail
  Nearest railhead is in Ajmer, 10 km.
• Road
  There is bus service to all major towns from here and nearby Ajmer. Ajmer to Pushkar is 20 minutes by bus, 10 km.