Pushkar Camel Fair 2026 Dates, Best Days & Pushkar Fair Tours from Jaipur

Travel Guide 6 min read 512 views Updated On: October 26, 2026

Pushkar Camel Fair 2026 is expected to run from 17 to 24 November 2026 in Pushkar, Rajasthan, with the main holy dip on Kartik Purnima, Tuesday, 24 November 2026. Entry to the fairground is free. Pushkar is about 145 km (3 hours by road) from Jaipur and 14 km from Ajmer, the nearest railway station. Come in the first three days to see camel and cattle trading at its busiest, and in the last three for the cultural contests, hot-air balloons and the full-moon snan at Pushkar Lake. Book your stay and transport now: rooms and desert camps in Pushkar sell out weeks before the fair.

We are Rajasthan Tour Services, a Jaipur-based tour operator from Bani Park. Our drivers and guides run Pushkar fair tours every November, so this guide mixes verified 2026 facts with what we see on the ground each year. If you are planning a Pushkar fair tour from Jaipur, Delhi, or abroad, everything you need is below.

A note on dates: The 17–24 November window is listed on the official Incredible India portal. As of mid-October 2026, Rajasthan Tourism had not yet published the day-by-day programme. The lunar calendar fixes Kartik Purnima on 24 November. We will update this page when the state programme is released.

Pushkar Camel Fair 2026 at a Glance

Pushkar Camel Fair 2026 Dates and Day-by-Day Flow

The Pushkar Mela always ends on Kartik Purnima, the full moon of the Hindu month of Kartik. In 2026, that full moon falls on Tuesday 24 November, so the fair runs through the week before. Herders often arrive with their camels several days before the official opening, so trading can start as early as 14–15 November.

Rajasthan Tourism usually releases the event programme only a week or two before the fair. Until then, this is how the Pushkar Mela Rajasthan week has run in recent years:

Travel Tips: if you have only two days, choose 21–22 November. You still catch trading in the dunes, the contests are on, and crowds are lighter than on Purnima.

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What Happens at The Pushkar Fair, Rajasthan

The Pushkar fair in Rajasthan is two events running side by side: one of Asia’s largest livestock fairs and a major Hindu pilgrimage. You will see both within a few hundred metres.

1. Camel and Livestock Trading

Thousands of camels, horses and cattle are bought and sold in the dunes west of town. Herders from the Raika, Rebari and other pastoral communities camp beside their animals. Camels are decorated with tassels, anklets and shaved patterns. Trading is serious business here, so ask before you photograph a deal in progress.

2. Competitions on The Mela Ground

The official programme lists contests such as the longest moustache, matka phod (pot breaking), the bride competition, camel beauty and camel dance. A Rajasthani-versus-visitors match, usually kabaddi or tug-of-war, is a crowd favourite. Foreign travellers are often invited to take part.

3. Hot-Air Balloons and Camel Safaris

In recent years, balloon flights have taken off over the fairground at sunrise, weather permitting. Camel cart and camel safari rides into the dunes run all day. Agree on the price and duration before you get on.

4. Kartik Purnima and The Holy Lake

Pushkar Lake is one of Hinduism’s most sacred lakes. Legend says it formed where a lotus fell from Lord Brahma’s hand. Pushkar is also home to the Jagatpita Brahma Temple, one of the very few temples to Brahma in India. On Kartik Purnima, pilgrims bathe at the 52 ghats at dawn, and the lake glows with diyas the evening before.

5. Markets and Food

The bazaars sell camel-leather goods, bandhani textiles, silver jewellery, bangles and saddlery. Try malpua from the sweet shops in the main bazaar, kachori, and kulhad chai. Pushkar is a holy town: meat, eggs, and alcohol are not served in town.

What We Have Learned Running Pushkar Fair Tours

Every November our Jaipur team drives guests to Pushkar, sometimes for a day and often for three nights. These are the things we tell every guest before they leave.

• Be on the dunes by 6:30 am. The light is soft, herders are feeding and decorating camels, and balloons go up. By 10 am, the ground is dusty and hot.
• Expect your car to stop outside town. During the fair, police close the inner roads and divert traffic to parking near the Mela Ground. Plan a 10–20 minute walk or an e-rickshaw to your hotel. Pack light.
• Leave Jaipur early on Purnima weekend. The Ajmer–Pushkar stretch over the Nag Pahar ghats slows sharply on the last two days. We leave Jaipur by 5:30 am on those dates.
• Carry small cash. Camel rides, fair snacks, and photo requests are cash-only. ATMs in Pushkar run dry on peak days.
• Beware of “priests” offering flowers at the ghats. A flower is placed in your hand, and a large donation is demanded for the puja. Politely refuse, or go with a guide.
• Ask before photographing people. Many herders are happy to pose; some expect a small tip. Women from herding families often prefer not to be photographed.
• Cover shoulders and knees, and remove shoes near the ghats. Pushkar is a holy town, and photography at the bathing ghats is restricted.
• Dress in layers. Afternoons feel warm, but nights get cold. Bring a fleece and a scarf for the dust.

Our honest view: The Pushkar Mela is busy, dusty and loud, and that is its charm. Travellers who give it two nights almost always enjoy it more than day-trippers.

How to Reach Pushkar and Where to Stay

Pushkar has no airport or railway station. Most visitors fly into Jaipur or take a train to Ajmer, then go by road.

A private car with a driver is the easiest choice during the fair. The driver drops you at the closest permitted point, waits, and avoids the scramble for taxis on Purnima evening. Rajasthan Tour Services runs sedans, SUVs, and tempo travellers from Jaipur to Pushkar for the fair.

Where to Stay During Pushkar Camel Fair 2026

• Tent cities and desert camps — Rajasthan Tourism and private operators set up luxury and Swiss-tent camps near the Mela Ground. Closest to the action; book early.
• Heritage hotels and resorts — on the Ajmer road and the edge of town; calmer, with pools and parking.
• Guesthouses in town — walkable to the lake and bazaar, but rooms are small, and car access is restricted.
• Stay in Ajmer — a budget backup 30 minutes away if Pushkar is full.

Rates rise sharply during fair week, often two to three times normal. Most good camps fill up by early November.

Pushkar Fair Tour Options from Jaipur

Pick the Pushkar fair tour that fits your time. All three below are private tours by Rajasthan Tour Services, with an AC car, driver, and flexible timing.

Sample 3-Day Pushkar Fair Tour

• Day 1 — Jaipur to Pushkar. Leave Jaipur early. Stop at Ajmer Sharif Dargah. Check in to your camp, then watch sunset over the dunes from Savitri Mata Temple hill.
• Day 2 — The fair. Sunrise at the camel grounds and balloons. Mela Ground contests by late morning. Brahma Temple and bazaar in the afternoon. Evening aarti at Varaha or Gau Ghat.
• Day 3 — Pushkar to Jaipur or onward. One more early walk through the herders’ camps. Drive back to Jaipur, or continue to Jodhpur or Udaipur.

To book a Pushkar fair tour, call or WhatsApp +91-6350392319, or visit rajasthantourservices.com. We are based in Jaipur.