In a hilly stretch of Rajasthan's Aravalli Desert, just outside of the city of Ajmer, Pushkar is a holy city that's best known for the annual Puskar Fair, which attracts camel and horse traders from across India, who come to show off their livestock—and do business. While this massive annual celebration is among the city’s biggest draws, there are plenty of things to do in Pushkar throughout the year, from visiting its 14th-century Brahma Temple to watching the sun as it sets over the holy Pushkar Lake.
The best time to visit Pushkar, especially if you’re a first-time visitor, is during the annual Pushkar Fair, which takes place during the Hindu month of Kartik (usually in late October or November). It’s certainly the most festive time of year in Pushkar, but it’s also the busiest, so if you plan to come for the celebrations, book your tour or hotel well in advance.
Pushkar is geared toward pedestrians, and while motorbikes do pass through the main road that leads through town, cars are not allowed. If you’re staying outside the town center—either at a hotel or at one of the desert tent accommodations set up temporarily for the Pushkar Fair—you can always take a taxi to the parking area near the Brahma Temple and continue to explore on foot.
If a priest at Pushkar Lake offers you a “Pushkar passport” (or kalava, a red string tied on people’s wrists during rituals), you may want to decline. Say "Yes," and before you know it, you’ll be in the midst of a lakefront ritual. In the end, the priest may ask you for a hefty donation and appear upset if you refuse to pay up.
