Nov
09
2013
Nov
17
2013
Oct
28
2014
Nov
06
2014
Pushkar Camel Fair
Published by Daniel Cummings, Writer
Country: India 
The Experience
On the edge of the Thar Desert lies the holy little lakeside town of Pushkar, small enough to explore in one day, yet full of travelers who have changed their plans to stay indefinitely. The entire town is dedicated to the worship of Brahma, creator of all things, so it's only fitting that so much inspired creativity should take place here every year for the three day Pushkar Camel Fair held in late October/early November. What started as a venue for buying, selling and trading camels has become a spectacle of music, dance and artistry. The sheer number of camels themselves cause sensory overload, and are living canvasses for colorful textiles, embroidery, and jewelry.
At first the camels' blank, oddly contented stares seem humorous in contrast to their ornate costumes. Once you become used to it, the contrast becomes the perfect symbol for the Pushkar way of life, where tranquility is surrounded by explosions of creativity. Unique Rajasthani artistry brings so much color and vibrancy to its dessert surroundings, and is on full display in the fabrics and jewels that the women wear as they dance to the pulsing tabla beats under the full moon at the bazaar. Not to be outdone, even the camels dance in a hilarious competition. A horse dancing competition is also on the ticket, and though they're not the guests of honor, the horses make much better dancers.
Coinciding with the Camel Fair, a pilgrimage comes to Pushkar. Millions of worshippers arrive to pay tribute to Brahma and wash their sins away by bathing in the Pushkar Lake. Away from the ghats and back on the streets, the Pushkar Camel Fair pays homage to Brahma as well, with astonishing displays of inspired energy and creative expressions everywhere you look.
At first the camels' blank, oddly contented stares seem humorous in contrast to their ornate costumes. Once you become used to it, the contrast becomes the perfect symbol for the Pushkar way of life, where tranquility is surrounded by explosions of creativity. Unique Rajasthani artistry brings so much color and vibrancy to its dessert surroundings, and is on full display in the fabrics and jewels that the women wear as they dance to the pulsing tabla beats under the full moon at the bazaar. Not to be outdone, even the camels dance in a hilarious competition. A horse dancing competition is also on the ticket, and though they're not the guests of honor, the horses make much better dancers.
Coinciding with the Camel Fair, a pilgrimage comes to Pushkar. Millions of worshippers arrive to pay tribute to Brahma and wash their sins away by bathing in the Pushkar Lake. Away from the ghats and back on the streets, the Pushkar Camel Fair pays homage to Brahma as well, with astonishing displays of inspired energy and creative expressions everywhere you look.
When to Go to Pushkar Camel Fair
Odds n' Ends
Pushkar is said to be the only place devoted to Brahma. Being a holy town, alcohol and meat are both forbidden. If you are asked if you'd like to make Puja (a ceremony involving throwing flowers in the holy lake) and receive a "Pushkar Passport" be aware that you will be expected to pay afterward. Whatever you deem a fair price you will probably be asked for more. Some travellers will refuse this, others find that doing it once and receiving the red bracelet will prevent them from being hassled any further during their stay.
Want a Guide?
- Pushkar Camel Festival - GAPAdventures.com
- Witness one of India's largest and most colourful livestock and religious festivals. Thousands of people from rural India flock to Pushkar during the fair and around 50,000 camels are sold, decorated, shaved and raced. After the festivities, discover the beautiful pink city of Jaipur.
Places to Stay Nearby
Search over 900,000 global hotel deals from over 30 merchants. Book via Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, Booking.com, Priceline and the websites of popular hotel chains.
Ana Sagar Lake is a 20 minute car ride from the Kampsite - Wanchoo Agro Farm. Brahma Temple at Pushkar and Pushkar Lake are also ...
The Pushkar Fort conveniently provides free parking for guests. The hotel has a laundry service, a safe-deposit box and an outdoor pool. The guests can ... 0 miles away
$2591 INR+
+ 23 others. Show all.
More Experiences Nearby
- Soar Sky High During the Jaipur Kite Festival in India
- If you're a kite lover then you can't miss the Kite Festival in Jaipur, India on January 14th each year. Kite flying is traditional celebratory fare in various parts of India, as this day marks the the occasion of Makar Sankranti - the retreat of the winter season. Family and friends gather in throngs on top of roofs, celebrating Makar Sankranti and unleashing their kites on the sky. The band of revelers is so great, that the sky becomes almost invisible behind the mosaic of colourful paper creations. The Jaipur Kite Festival is a three-day celebration that starts on the ...82 miles away.
Video
Video Wall
You are now being transfered to our Video Wall
Books and DVDs
- Rajasthan, Delhi & Agra Travel Guide - LonelyPlanet.com
- There's only one way to sum up this attraction-packed region of India: all killer, no filler. Take your pick from timeless sights like the Taj Mahal, the milky-white city of Udaipur, Delhi's manic medieval bazaars or the Pushkar Camel Fair. Overwhelmed? Escape the crowds and head for the desert
- A Year of Festivals: How to Have the Time of Your Life (Paperback)
- Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2009: 850 Trends, Destinations, Journeys & Experiences for the Year Ahead
Elsewhere on the Web
- Pushkar Fair - Pushkar-Camel-Fair.com
- One of the most popular and colorful fairs of the Thar desert is the Pushkar fair, which begins on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi & goes on for five days till Kartik Purnima.
- Pushkar Fair - PushkarCamelFair.com
- Held each November at the time of the Kartik Purnima full moon, Pushkar Camel Fair is one of India’s most highly-rated travel experiences, a spectacle on an epic scale, attracting 200,000 people and 25,000 camels, cattle and horses.
- Pushkar Fair - RajasthanTravelGuide.com
- Every year thousands of devotees throng the lake around the full moon day of Kartik Purnima in October-November to take a holy dip in the lake. Huge and colorful cattle fair "The Pushkar Fair", is also held during this time. Pushkar fair is well-known for it's Camel trading and other attractive activities.
Media References
- Planning a Trip Rajasthan - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
- Rajasthan has so much to see, with long travel distances between top sites, that a trip here requires careful planning (particularly if you're going to hire a car and driver, which is the best way to tour the state).
Travel Insurance. Simple & Flexible.
Language Guides
Hindi 
,
Portugese
,
Russian
are some of the languages spoken in India. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!
Discussion
Experienced this and have something to share? Experienced something like this somewhere else? Looking for advise or travel companions? Use this space to leave your mark. Our writers and editors are more than happy to help answer your questions.
People with experience
People who wish to experience
Recent Tweets
Listed below are the most recent comments made on Twitter for "pushkar camel fair":
