Quick answer
The Pushkar Camel Fair runs from 17 to 24 November 2026 and ends on Kartik Purnima. Go for the first three or four days if you want the camel and cattle trading, and for the last two if you want the pilgrimage and the holy dip at Pushkar Lake. Book tents or rooms by August, as rates roughly triple in fair week.
Highlights
- Camel, horse and cattle trading on the dunes west of town in the opening days
- The Kartik Purnima dip at the 52 ghats of Pushkar Lake
- Mela-ground contests: longest moustache, matka phod, turban tying and camel races
- Sunrise among the herders' camps, with campfires and chai
- The Brahma Temple and the Savitri Temple hilltop at sunset
What actually happens at the Pushkar fair
Two fairs share one week. The first is a livestock market: Raika and Rebari herders walk camels, horses and cattle in from across Marwar and camp on the sand west of town, and trading is heaviest in the opening days. The second is a pilgrimage. As Kartik Purnima approaches, lakhs of devotees arrive to bathe in Pushkar Lake and visit the Brahma Temple, and the fair turns religious and much more crowded.
In between, Rajasthan Tourism runs a programme on the mela ground: camel races, a longest-moustache contest, matka phod, turban tying and folk music in the evenings. These are fun but staged. The real fair is out on the dunes at sunrise.
Which days to go
For the 2026 fair, aim for 17–20 November if you want camels and photographs, and 23–24 November for the full-moon ghats. Two nights is enough for most people; three if you photograph seriously. By the last day many herders have already left.
Where to stay and what it costs
Pushkar is small and fills early. Guesthouses that charge ₹1,500 in October ask ₹4,000–6,000 in fair week. Swiss-tent camps near the mela ground start around ₹8,000–12,000 a night for two with meals, and luxury camps run ₹25,000 and up. Book by August. If Pushkar is full, stay in Ajmer (14 km, about 30 minutes) and drive in before dawn.
Crowds, safety and etiquette
The lanes around the lake are packed and pickpocketing happens. Self-styled priests at the ghats press a flower into your hand and then demand a large donation for a puja; decline before you take anything. Ask before you photograph herders and women; many expect ₹50–100 for a portrait, which is fair. Pushkar is a holy town, and meat, eggs and alcohol are not sold inside it.
What to wear
Days are 27–30°C and nights drop to about 12°C, so pack a fleece. Cover shoulders and knees at the temples and ghats, and wear closed shoes on the dusty dunes.
Combining it with the rest of Rajasthan
Pushkar is about 145 km from Jaipur, three hours by road. A tidy week runs Jaipur, Pushkar and Udaipur, or Jodhpur and Jaisalmer if you want more desert. See what to do in Jaipur, when Rajasthan is at its best and our November travel ideas, or ask us for tour packages built around the fair.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Pushkar Camel Fair in 2026?
How early should I book a stay for the Pushkar fair?
Is the Pushkar fair suitable for families and older travellers?
Can I get non-vegetarian food or alcohol in Pushkar?
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Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
