Once a year, Pushkar’s population swells many times over for one of India’s most distinctive festivals — part livestock trading fair, part religious pilgrimage, part full-blown carnival.
What actually happens
Camel and cattle traders converge on Pushkar from across Rajasthan, alongside camel races, competitions (including a much-photographed "longest moustache" contest), folk music, and a temporary tent city on the fairgrounds outside town.
When it happens
The fair is timed to Kartik Purnima, a full-moon date that typically falls in late October or November — check the specific dates each year, since they shift with the lunar calendar.
How to experience it well
- Book accommodation months in advance — Pushkar’s limited rooms sell out fast for fair dates
- Visit the fairground early in the day for the trading and camel activity, before peak crowds
- Combine it with the lake ghats and Brahma Temple, which draw their own pilgrimage crowds during this period
- Expect significantly higher prices and crowds than a normal Pushkar visit — this is the trade-off for a genuinely unique event
Visiting during the fair
Dates, crowds and accommodation all change for the fair, so book early and confirm the dates before you commit. Our Pushkar Spiritual Tour is a short trip around the lake, and the Weekend Rajasthan Tour also includes Pushkar. Contact us if you want a plan built around the fair.
Further reading
- Rajasthan Tourism: the state tourism department, which announces the official fair dates each year.
Questions
Quick answers
It falls around Kartik Purnima, typically in late October or November — confirm exact dates for the specific year, since the lunar calendar shifts them annually.
For most travelers, yes — it’s a genuinely unique cultural event, but go in expecting significantly higher prices and crowd levels than a normal Pushkar visit, and book well ahead.
