The Pushkar Camel Fair is an annual livestock fair and pilgrimage in Pushkar, Rajasthan, built around Kartik Purnima. In 2026 the full moon falls on Tuesday, 24 November.
This guide covers dates, the expected schedule, camel rides, stay costs and routes from Jaipur. However, sources disagree on the fair dates, so we show each figure with its source.
Key Takeaways
- Kartik Purnima, the main holy dip day, is Tuesday, 24 November 2026.
- Sources list the fair as 17 to 24 or 17 to 25 November.
- Rajasthan Tourism’s 2026 schedule was not published in the sources we read.
- Fairground entry is described as free, and a one-hour camel ride is listed at ₹400 to ₹600.
- Book stays early, since rates rise two to ten times during fair week.
When Is the Pushkar Camel Fair in 2026?
Kartik Purnima falls on Tuesday, 24 November 2026, according to HinduTone, which cites Drik Panchang. The tithi runs from 11:42 PM on 23 November to 8:23 PM on 24 November.
| Source | Fair dates |
| Incredible India | 17 to 24 November 2026 |
| VisitPushkar | 17 to 24 November, peak 23 to 24 November |
| Trivenicabs | 17 to 25 November |
| HappyFares | About 17 to 25 November |
Therefore, plan for about 17 to 25 November, with the main holy dip on 24 November. Rajasthan Tourism had not published the 2026 programme, according to Trivenicabs.
VisitPushkar calls its 10-day schedule tentative, and its day count runs past its stated end date. We treat every day-by-day plan as the expected pattern, not an official timetable.
Holidify still shows the 2025 dates, 30 October to 5 November 2025. Ignore that page for planning, and confirm the 2026 dates with Rajasthan Tourism.
What Is the Pushkar Camel Fair (Pushkar Mela)?
Incredible India says villagers started the fair more than a century ago to honour Kartik Purnima. It links the date to a legend of the gods gathering at Pushkar.
People use several names: Pushkar Camel Fair, Pushkar Mela, Pushkar Fair and Pushkar Cattle Fair. They all point to the same Kartik gathering near Ajmer.
World Nomads says cattle outnumber camels, and that most trading happens in the days before the festival. It also says the event has become more about entertainment over time.
Is the Camel Trade Still Big?
World Nomads gives about 50,000 camels and 200,000 people, without a date. Times of India reported that officials barred camels from the 2022 venue over lumpy skin disease.
Therefore, treat old camel counts with caution. We could not find a 2026 figure, so check the latest news before you plan a trip around camels.
Pushkar Camel Fair Schedule and Events
Incredible India lists puppet shows, moustache competitions, camel sports, Matka Tod competitions, camel parades, beauty pageants and camel dance shows. It also lists a bridal competition and snake charmers.
| Day (VisitPushkar, tentative) | Events |
| Day 1 | Flag hoisting at 9:30 AM, camel races, opening fireworks |
| Day 2 | Camel dance competition, Marwari horse show, rural games |
| Day 3 | Turban-tying challenge, women’s matka race, tug-of-war |
| Day 4 | Longest moustache contest, bridal makeover contests |
| Day 5 | Shilpgram craft bazaar, musical chairs, camel acrobatics |
| Day 6 | Kalbelia dance and fire dancers |
| Day 7 | Deep Daan diya floating from about 6:00 PM, Maha Aarti at Brahma Ghat |
| Day 8 | Kartik Poornima Maha Snan from 4:30 AM, then parikrama |
| Day 9 | Matka Phod, wrestling and tug-of-war finals |
| Day 10 | Prize distribution and closing ceremony |
HappyFares gives a different pattern: trading on 17 and 18 November, contests on 19 and 20, races on 21 and 22, and the holy dip on 24 and 25.
The two plans disagree on which day hosts which contest. Therefore, wait for the official list before you book flights or tours around one event.
VisitPushkar says folk performances at the cultural arena are free. Holidify lists concerts, a Sufi night and rural sports such as kabaddi and cricket, though that page shows 2025 dates.
Kartik Purnima and the Holy Dip
Pilgrims bathe in Pushkar Lake on Kartik Purnima. VisitPushkar lists a pre-dawn holy dip from 4:30 AM, but HinduTone gives no official muhurat time.
HinduTone says many pilgrims bathe near sunrise, which is 6:51 AM in New Delhi on 24 November. Pushkar’s sunrise differs, so check Drik Panchang for Pushkar or Ajmer.
VisitPushkar lists a Deep Daan with diya floating on the lake from about 6:00 PM, followed by the Maha Aarti at Brahma Ghat.
Incredible India calls the Brahma temple the only one dedicated to Brahma in the world. HinduTone calls it one of very few, and says rules can change on festival days.
For other holy-dip gatherings, see our guides to Gangasagar Mela and the Maha Kumbh Mela. Both pages cover dates, history and attractions.
Camel Ride in Pushkar: Prices and Welfare Tips
VisitPushkar lists a one-hour sunset camel ride at ₹400 to ₹600. Outlook Traveller (January 2024) gives ₹500 to ₹2,500 for a safari, depending on duration.
| Experience | Price | Source |
| One-hour sunset camel ride | ₹400 to ₹600 | VisitPushkar |
| Camel safari | ₹500 to ₹2,500 | Outlook Traveller, 2024 |
| Jeep safari, 3 to 6 hours | ₹1,800 to ₹2,800 | Outlook Traveller, 2024 |
| Hot air balloon ride | ₹6,000 to ₹15,000 | Outlook Traveller, 2024 |
Negotiate the price before you start, as VisitPushkar advises. Outlook Traveller’s prices date from 2024, so treat them as a guide, not a quote.
VisitPushkar advises you not to ride camels that look distressed or malnourished. Our advice: ask the operator how long each camel works each day.
Hot air balloon rides run during fair week, according to VisitPushkar, which advises booking two to three days ahead. Outlook Traveller says rides last about an hour.
World Nomads adds that tented camps often offer camel-pulled cart tours of the grounds. For another Rajasthan desert festival, read our Jaisalmer Desert Festival guide.
Is There an Entry Fee at Pushkar Fair?
VisitPushkar says fairground entry and cultural programmes are free. Incredible India lists ticket status as No, and Holidify says adventure zone activities carry separate tickets.
Where to Stay During Pushkar Mela
| Stay type | Per night in fair week (HappyFares) |
| Luxury tent city | ₹15,000 to ₹55,000 and above |
| Mid-range hotels | ₹6,500 to ₹15,500 |
| Budget guesthouses | ₹2,500 to ₹5,500 |
HappyFares says standard rates rise two to three times in fair week. World Nomads says accommodation can cost up to 10 times the normal rate.
Booking windows differ. HappyFares says premium tents sell out by mid-September, Trivenicabs says camps sell out by October, and VisitPushkar advises booking luxury camps three to four months ahead.
VisitPushkar says heritage havelis with rooftop views book up in August or September. Trivenicabs names Ajmer, about 30 minutes away, as a fallback if Pushkar is full.
How to Reach Pushkar Fair Rajasthan
Pushkar has no airport. Incredible India names Jaipur International Airport (JAI) as the major airport, and HappyFares puts it about 140 to 145 km away.
| Route | Distance or cost | Source |
| Jaipur to Pushkar by road | About 150 km, 2.5 to 3 hours | Trivenicabs |
| Delhi to Pushkar by road | About 400 km, 7 to 8 hours | Trivenicabs |
| Ajmer to Pushkar | 14 km, about 30 minutes (Trivenicabs); about 11 km (Holidify) | Two sources |
| Jaipur taxi | ₹3,500 to ₹8,500 | HappyFares |
| Jaipur shared cab | ₹1,200 to ₹1,800 per seat | HappyFares |
| Jaipur RSRTC bus | ₹350 to ₹650, 3.5 to 4 hours | HappyFares |
| Ajmer station to Pushkar | Bus ₹20, auto ₹200 to ₹250 | VisitPushkar |
Ajmer is the nearest railway station, according to Holidify. HappyFares suggests the Shatabdi Express to Ajmer for Delhi travellers as a cheaper, faster alternative to a flight.
Holidify names “Kishanganj” as the nearest airport, which is likely Kishangarh. We could not verify this, so rely on Jaipur for flights.
Trivenicabs advises leaving NH-48 at the Ajmer bypass, since the city is slow during the fair. Police keep cars on the fairground edge, about 15 minutes’ walk from the ghats.
For stops around Jaipur, see our guide to places to visit near Jaipur within 100 km. Pushkar lies about 150 km from Jaipur, so allow time for detours.
Best Days to Visit and the Day-Trip Debate
Trivenicabs suggests coming early for camels, around 17 to 20 November, mid-week (about 21 to 23 November) for the cultural programme, or on 24 November for the lake.
World Nomads agrees that early days suit camel viewing. It says cameleers usually arrive about a week early, and many leave when the festival starts.
Opinions differ on a Jaipur day trip. Trivenicabs says leave about 7 AM and return by about 9 PM, while HappyFares says you would miss the dawn and dusk events.
Our advice: stay at least one night if you want the dawn holy dip on 24 November. A day trip suits only a first look at the fairground.
Rules, Etiquette and Safety
These rules come from HinduTone, VisitPushkar, HappyFares and World Nomads. Follow temple notices and police instructions on the day, since festival rules can change.
- Remove shoes before the ghat steps. VisitPushkar says about 30 feet before.
- Dress modestly and carry a change of clothes (HinduTone).
- Do not photograph bathers. VisitPushkar says photography is prohibited at bathing ghats.
- Do not use soap or shampoo in the lake, and keep plastic out of it.
- Agree on any priest-led puja offering before the ritual starts, and decline politely if you prefer.
- Pushkar is vegetarian and alcohol-free, and HinduTone adds that eggs are not allowed.
- Drones need a DGCA permit (HappyFares).
- Carry cash and drink only sealed water (HappyFares).
- Vendors and performers may expect payment for photos (World Nomads).
- Ghat steps get very hot from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM (VisitPushkar).
- Emergency numbers from VisitPushkar: Pushkar Police 0145-2772022, ambulance 108, tourist helpline 1363. Verify them first.
Other Things to Do in Pushkar
Outlook Traveller lists Savitri Temple on Ratnagiri Hill, a steep climb of about 15 minutes. A ropeway costs ₹165 and runs 8 AM to 7 PM (January 2024).
Pushkar Lake has about 50 ghats, per Outlook Traveller, while HappyFares says 52. Outlook Traveller lists the evening aarti at 7 PM in summer and 5:30 PM in winter.
For more desert stops in Rajasthan, see our guide to places to visit in Jaisalmer. Treat Jaisalmer as a separate trip.
Details We Could Not Verify
Some figures lack an official or current source. We flagged each one in this guide, so you can confirm it before you travel.
- The official 2026 fair dates and day-by-day programme.
- The Pushkar-specific holy dip timing on 24 November.
- Current camel ride, balloon and jeep safari prices.
- Current stay rates and tent availability.
- The 2026 camel count and trade rules.
- Emergency numbers and ropeway timings.
Final Thoughts on the Pushkar Camel Fair
The Pushkar Camel Fair works best with at least one night in Pushkar. Come early for camels, or aim for Kartik Purnima on 24 November.
Confirm dates, prices and rules with Rajasthan Tourism before you travel. We will update this guide when the official schedule is available.
