A small pilgrim town around a sacred lake, with one of India's few Brahma temples.
Pushkar is one of the oldest pilgrimage towns in India, built around a small lake that Hindus believe was created by Brahma, the god of creation. Fifty-two ghats lead down to the water, and the whitewashed town is full of temples, ashrams and the sound of bells.
For most of the year it is a relaxed place to slow down between Jaipur and Jodhpur. Once a year, around the full moon of the Hindu month of Kartik, it fills with pilgrims, traders and camels for the Pushkar Fair.
Pushkar offers something the big cities do not: a walkable, traffic-light town where religious life happens in front of you, from morning prayers on the ghats to the evening aarti. The Brahma Temple is one of very few in India dedicated to Brahma. The bazaar is good for textiles, silver and leather, and the views from the hilltop Savitri Temple are among the best in the region.
The sacred lake at the centre of town, surrounded by bathing ghats. Visit at sunrise or for the evening aarti, and remove your shoes before stepping onto the ghats.
The town's best-known temple, dedicated to Brahma, with a red spire and marble floors. Cameras and leather items are not allowed inside.
A temple on Ratnagiri hill, reached by a steep walk of about an hour or by a ropeway, with wide views over the lake, the town and the desert.
The main market street running around the lake, with textiles, silver jewellery, leather goods and rose products from the surrounding fields.
A livestock and religious fair held each autumn around Kartik Purnima, with camel trading, competitions and huge numbers of pilgrims. The official tourism listing gives the 2026 dates as 17 to 24 November.
Arrive from Jaipur or Ajmer, walk around the lake and the bazaar, and watch the evening aarti on the ghats.
Sunrise from the ghats or the Savitri Temple, then the Brahma Temple before continuing to Jodhpur or Jaipur.
One night is enough for most travellers; two nights if you want to slow down or are visiting during the fair.
October to March. The fair dates follow the lunar calendar and change every year, usually falling in October or November; hotels fill up months ahead and prices rise. Summer is very hot.
Pushkar is about 15 km from Ajmer, whose railway station has fast trains from Delhi and Jaipur. The nearest airport is at Kishangarh, with limited flights; most travellers come by road from Jaipur.
Pushkar sits between Jaipur and Jodhpur, about three hours from Jaipur, and is a natural overnight stop on the way west, as in our 8-Day Rajasthan Heritage Tour.
Opening hours, fees and seasonal conditions change. We confirm current details when we plan your trip.
It is held around Kartik Purnima, the full moon of the Hindu month of Kartik, which usually falls in October or November. Rajasthan Tourism publishes the dates each year; for 2026 the official listing gives 17 to 24 November.
For most visitors, one afternoon and the following morning is enough to see the lake, the temples and the bazaar.
Private itineraries you can take as they are or change to suit you.
7 nights / 8 days
Rajasthan's royal cities in order: the Pink City, holy Pushkar, the blue city of Jodhpur and lakeside Udaipur.
Price on request, quoted for your group
11 nights / 12 days
Our most complete North India journey: the Taj Mahal, Rajasthan's royal cities and the ghats of Varanasi.
Price on request, quoted for your group
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