Where the most popular camel fair in the world is on…
1. Good weather
Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/ Reuters
There’s no better time to travel to Rajasthan than in November. It’s that time of the year when summer heat is at bay and winter is yet to kick in.
2. Click till you drop
Photograph: Himanshu Sharma/ Reuters
You’d have never seen so many camels at one time, in one place. It’s an irresistible sight! Every photographer’s delight, Pushkar comes alive during the camel fair.
You can spend hours watching the gloriously decorated camels. And then, there are the stunning Rajasthani people, the natural beauty of Pushkar itself and the entertaining acts put up across the fair.
If that does not have you grabbing your camera already…
3. Watch the camels shake their booty
Photograph: Owen Young/ Creative Commons
Yes! You heard it right. Here’s where you can watch camels and horses dance and cheer for camels as they race.
You can also take a camel ride and soak up the magic of the desert.
We recommend you do this closer to twilight; it makes for a truly memorable experience.
3. Cleanse your sins
Fulvio Spada/ Wikimedia Commons
It is said that a dip in the PushkarLake will cleanse you of all your sins.
Later in the evening, you can witness the Maha Aarti at Varah Ghat, take a quiet walk or just sit back and watch the dance performance at the OldRangjiTemple.
4. Food you actually want to try
Photograph: Owen Young/ Creative Commons
Bite into a delicious creamy kulfi or almond ice cream, taste delicious gulab jamuns and feast on scrumptious Rajasthani fare.
The bhaang lassi is to die for! Try it out if you get a chance.
The special chocolate balls at the Out of the Blue café are delicious as well, but not for the faint-hearted.
5. Shop till you drop
Photograph: Mantra_man/ Wikimedia Commons
Trinkets, dupattas, silver, handicrafts, jewellery, leather goods, harem pants, bandanas, colourful puppets… name it and you’ll find it here.
Enjoy the art and craft bazaar at the fair. Just remember to bargain :)
6. Stop over at Ajmer
Photograph: Glenna Barlow/ Creative Commons
Ajmer is just a 30-45 minute drive away. Known for its rich history and heritage, Ajmer is famous for the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
A day at Ajmer is a must if you are at Pushkar.
7. Detox
Photograph: A Vahanvaty/ Wikimedia Commons
Remember, Pushkar is a holy place. Alcohol is a strict no-no. Non-vegetarian food is not allowed either.
Here’s your chance to detox, lose those love handles and fit into your sexy LBD for the New Year’s party.
8. The Sadhus
Photograph: Himanshu Sharma/Reuters
You don’t need to travel to the Himalayas to meet sadhus who live in caves. You will spot all of them -- including the Naga sadhus – at Pushkar.
You’ll also bump into snake charmers, gypsies and people dressed as mythological characters all over the place.
9. Back to school feeling
Photograph: Tracy Hunter/ Wikimedia Commons
Remember participating in competitions when you were in school? Well, at Pushkar, you’re never short of opportunities to win prizes.
There are many contests like turban tying, tilak and moustache competitions, in which people with 17-feet long moustaches are known to participate.
You can also choose to watch a football match, a game of tug-of-war played between locals and foreigners or a wrestling competition.
Or cheer for the women participating in the matka race (water pot) competition as they balance half a dozen matkas on their head and run.
10. Camp out
Photograph: Kamal Kishore/ Reuters
There is no dearth of accommodation at Pushkar.
You could stay in tents in the desert. Nothing quite beats a night out around the campfire.
For people in the mood to spend, try the Heritage Sarovar. This hotel was once called the Man Mahal palace. It was built by Raja Man Singh and is situated close to the lake.
11. Hot air balloon ride
Photograph: Swati Kulkarni/ Creative Commons
Watch the fair from a hot air balloon. But if you cannot take a hot air balloon ride, there are other options too.
Out of the Blue cafe has a cozy little terrace from where you can watch the glorious sunset. You can sit there for hours and watch the balloon rides in progress.
12. Unusual contests
Photograph: blog100days/ Creative Commons
One of the special segments of the Pushkar Fair is the Indian Bride and Groom Competition. Only foreigners are allowed to participate.
You’ll get a chance to watch foreigners dressed as Indian brides and grooms in traditional Rajasthani attire.
They definitely make for a pretty picture :)
