Lake
First-timersAround the ghats.
Pushkar town guide
Things To Do In Pushkar
A holy lake ringed by white ghats and temples, a rare temple to Brahma, sunset from a hilltop shrine, and a camel fair that draws tens of thousands in November.
18
Hostels in the city
8.3
Average, from 2,146 reviews
52
Ghats around the lake
1
Of the few Brahma temples
0
Alcohol in town
The holy lake
Pushkar is one of the holiest towns in India, built around a lake said to have formed where Brahma dropped a lotus flower. Fifty-two ghats lead down to the water, and the town has hundreds of temples, including one of the very few dedicated to Brahma.
As a holy town, Pushkar is vegetarian and alcohol-free, and meat and eggs are not served.
Each November, the Pushkar Camel Fair brings traders, pilgrims and tens of thousands of animals. Two days is right.
Where to stay
Stay near the lake and the main bazaar.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 4 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Pushkar
Pushkar is a small holy town around a sacred lake, one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Hindus, with 52 ghats and hundreds of temples.
The Brahma Temple is one of the very few temples in the world dedicated to Brahma, the creator god. Watch the evening aarti, when priests wave lamps over the lake, from the ghats; remove shoes, and do not photograph bathers.
Climb to the Savitri Temple, on a hill above town, for sunrise, by steps or cable car, and the Gayatri Temple for sunset.
The main bazaar sells textiles, silver and souvenirs, and the town's rooftop cafés are a pleasant place to slow down.
The Pushkar Camel Fair, in October or November around the Kartik full moon, brings tens of thousands of camels, traders and pilgrims for a livestock market, races and festivities.
Ajmer, half an hour away, holds the Dargah Sharif, the shrine of the Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti.
Free things
Free things to do in Pushkar
The ghats, the lake, the Brahma Temple and the aarti are free, and so is the bazaar. Walking up to the Savitri Temple is free.
The desert around town is free to walk at sunset.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Pushkar
Pushkar is a holy town: meat, fish, eggs and alcohol are banned, so all food is vegetarian. Malpua, a fried sweet pancake, is the local speciality, and rooftop cafés serve falafel, thalis and lassis.
A meal is €1.50 to €5.
Nightlife
Going out in Pushkar
Pushkar has no alcohol by law; evenings are spent at the aarti, in rooftop cafés and listening to music.
Getting around
Getting around Pushkar
Buses reach Ajmer in about 30 minutes, the nearest railway station, with trains to Jaipur and Delhi. Buses reach Jaipur in about three hours.
The town is small and walkable.
Costs
What Pushkar costs
Pushkar is cheap. Dorms start around €5 and a careful day is €15 to €25.
The Savitri Temple cable car is a few euros. Prices rise sharply during the Camel Fair.
The currency is the rupee (INR), at roughly 95 to 100 rupees to the euro; prices here are euro equivalents. UPI phone payments are everywhere, and some apps now accept foreign cards; carry cash for small shops, autos and markets.
Safety
Staying safe in Pushkar
Pushkar is safe, but beware the 'Pushkar passport' scam: men at the ghats offer flowers for a blessing, then demand a large donation. Politely decline the flowers.
Alcohol, meat and eggs are banned; respect it. Remove shoes near the ghats, and do not photograph bathers.
Women travellers often face staring and comments, and sometimes groping in crowds; dress conservatively, use women's carriages on metros and trains, and book cabs through apps. Drink only bottled or filtered water, and be wary of raw salads and ice; stomach upsets are common.
Most visitors need an Indian e-Visa, applied for online before travel. Since 1 April 2026, all foreign nationals flying in must also submit the free e-Arrival Card online within 72 hours before landing; screenshot or download the QR code, as it cannot be retrieved later.
Emergency number is 112.
Day trips from Pushkar
Ajmer and the desert.
Ajmer
The Dargah Sharif Sufi shrine.
Jaipur
The pink city.
Desert walks
Dunes around the town.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The Camel Fair is one of the great festivals of India.
Staff pick
17–24 November
Pushkar Camel Fair
Known as one of the world's largest camel fairs, the Pushkar Camel Fair in Rajasthan, India, is a vibrant spectacle that draws in visitors…
Hostels
Where to stay in Pushkar
The top-rated places to stay in Pushkar right now, live from Hostelworld.
When to go
October to March. November brings the Camel Fair.
Jan
Good
Feb
Good
Mar
Holi
Apr
Hot
May
Very hot
Jun
Very hot
Jul
Monsoon
Aug
Monsoon
Sep
Humid
Oct
Good
Nov
Camel Fair
Dec
Good
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in rupees locally; these are euro equivalents. Camel Fair prices are much higher.
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Pushkar travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Can I drink alcohol in Pushkar?
No, alcohol, meat and eggs are banned in the holy town.
What is the Pushkar passport scam?
Men offer flowers at the ghats for a blessing, then demand a large donation; decline politely.
When is the Camel Fair?
In October or November, around the Kartik full moon.
How do I get there?
By bus from Ajmer, about 30 minutes, or Jaipur, about three hours.
How many days do you need?
Two.
When is the best time to visit?
October to March.
What should I eat?
Malpua.
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