Travel Guide

Pushkar Fair 2026: Dates, Camel Fair Schedule, Stay, Tips

Pushkar Fair 2026 is reported for 17-24 Nov, ending on Kartik Purnima 24 Nov. See tentative schedule, camel trade update, route, stay and tips.

Ayush Pandey November 6, 2026 · 13 min read

Pushkar Fair 2026: Dates, Camel Fair Schedule, Stay, Tips

The Pushkar Fair, also called the Pushkar Camel Fair or Pushkar Mela, is a livestock market and pilgrimage fair held every year in Pushkar, Rajasthan, ending on Kartik Purnima. In 2026 it is reported for 17 to 24 November, with the holy dip in Pushkar Lake on Kartik Purnima, Tuesday 24 November. This guide gives the dates and the tentative programme, how the fair has changed in recent years, how to reach Pushkar from Ajmer and Jaipur, where to stay, and tips for visitors from every state and from abroad. We checked news reports and guides up to 6 November 2026, and we mark every item that is tentative or from a tour operator.

Quick Answer: Pushkar Fair 2026

Pushkar Fair 2026 is reported for 17 to 24 November in Pushkar, Rajasthan, ending on Kartik Purnima, Tuesday 24 November, when pilgrims bathe in Pushkar Lake. Peak crowds are expected on 23 and 24 November. Ajmer Junction is about 14 km away. Book rooms now, since hotels fill months ahead.

Item	2026	Status
Fair dates	17 to 24 Nov 2026	Reported by Esquire India, citing the Rajasthan Tourism calendar. One guide calls the dates tentative
Kartik Purnima	Tue 24 Nov 2026	Purnima tithi checked by us: 23 Nov 11:42 PM to 24 Nov 8:23 PM IST
Peak days	23 and 24 Nov	Tourism guides
Venue	Pushkar Mela Ground and the ghats of Pushkar Lake	Reported
Entry	Reported free for the fair grounds	Tour guide, no official notice found
Nearest railway	Ajmer Junction, about 14 km	Esquire India
Nearest big airport	Jaipur, about 140 km	Esquire India
2025 dates for reference	30 Oct to 5 Nov 2025	ETV Bharat

One tour operator page lists 1 to 9 November 2026. That page is from a holiday tracking site and conflicts with the Kartik Purnima date, so we did not use it. Confirm the final programme with Rajasthan Tourism before you book non-refundable travel.

Pushkar Fair 2026 Dates and Kartik Purnima

The fair is tied to the Hindu month of Kartik and concludes on Kartik Purnima, according to Wikipedia. In 2025 it ran from 30 October to 5 November, and Kartik Purnima was on 5 November. In 2026 Kartik Purnima falls later because of the lunar calendar, on 24 November. We calculated the tithi with an astronomical library using the Lahiri ayanamsa. Purnima begins at 11:42 PM IST on 23 November and ends at 8:23 PM IST on 24 November, so it is present at sunrise on 24 November.

The same day is Dev Deepawali in Varanasi. Our Dev Deepawali Varanasi 2026 guide explains that festival, and the Kartik Maas in Ayodhya guide covers the holy dip in Ayodhya.

Tentative Programme, 17 to 24 November

A tourism guide at visitpushkar.com lists the following plan and says that the schedule is tentative and that exact timings will come from Rajasthan Tourism (RTDC). It is not an official programme, and the guide's own numbering runs past 24 November, so treat the list as a pattern and not a promise.

Date	Reported programme (tentative)
Tue 17 Nov	Flag hoisting at about 9:30 AM, camel races, decoration exhibitions, opening night fireworks
Wed 18 Nov	Camel dance, Marwari horse show, rural games
Thu 19 Nov	Turban tying contest, matka race, tug of war
Fri 20 Nov	Longest moustache contest, bridal makeover contests
Sat 21 Nov	Craft bazaar, musical chairs, camel acrobatics
Sun 22 Nov	Kalbelia dance and fire dancers. Livestock trading winds down
Mon 23 Nov	Deep Daan, the floating of lamps, and the Maha Aarti at Brahma Ghat at about 6 PM
Tue 24 Nov	Kartik Purnima Maha Snan from about 4:30 AM, then a walk around the lake

The same guide says some sources place the holy dip on 23 and 24 November, so ask your hotel or the priest family you hire for the exact time of the snan.

What the Fair Is Like Now

Pushkar is both a livestock fair and a pilgrimage, and the balance has shifted in recent years. ETV Bharat reported on 26 October 2025 that camel numbers had dropped sharply. Herders from the Rebari and Devasi communities said they expect far fewer camels in the next few years, and one trader said the fair is no longer profitable. Last year about 2,000 to 4,000 high breed camels sold for 60,000 to 70,000 rupees each, and the rest sold for 10,000 to 20,000, according to the same report.

Herders come from Jodhpur, Nagaur, Ajmer, Pali, Jaisalmer, Barmer and Bikaner.
Patrika reported that by 22 October 2025 only 207 animals had reached the grounds: 196 camels, 10 horses and one bull.
Herders were allotted plots free of charge through an online portal, and given QR codes with their details.
Parking information and one way routes were to be shown on Google Maps.
Herders said the state lifted an 11 year ban on the interstate transport of camels under regulated conditions, and some feared trafficking.

These are 2025 reports. Expect a smaller trading section and a larger tourist and cultural section in 2026, but we found no official count for the 2026 fair.

Pushkar Lake, Brahma Temple and Other Sites

Esquire India says Pushkar Lake has 52 ghats and that evening aarti is held at the water's edge. It also mentions the Brahma Temple, one of the few temples in India dedicated to the creator god, and the Savitri Temple on a hill with a ropeway and a view over the lake and the fair.

Agree on any fee before you accept a flower offering from a priest at the ghats.
Remove your shoes about 30 feet before the ghat steps, according to a tourism guide.
Do not photograph pilgrims bathing. A tourism guide says photography is prohibited at the bathing ghats.
Ask permission before you photograph herders or their animals, and consider a small tip.

How to Reach Pushkar

Esquire India gives Ajmer Junction as the railway station, about 14 km from Pushkar, with trains to Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Mumbai. A taxi from Ajmer takes under an hour, though traffic slows near the fair. Jaipur International Airport is about 140 km, roughly three hours by road, and Kishangarh Airport near Ajmer has limited flights. Delhi is about 400 km by road.

From	Route	Note
Ajmer	Taxi, under an hour	Traffic slows near the fair
Jaipur	Road, about 140 km, around 3 hours	Esquire India. Start early on 23 and 24 November
Delhi	Train to Ajmer or road, about 400 km	Book trains early
Abroad	Fly to Delhi or Jaipur, then road or rail	Check visa rules

Esquire India says traffic near the fairground is typically controlled, so confirm drop off and waiting points with your hotel. Our cab service, intercity cab and airport pickup can arrange the road from Jaipur or Delhi. Read how we handle everything after you land if you arrive from abroad.

Where to Stay

Esquire India says hotels fill months ahead and prices rise in fair week. It names The Westin Pushkar Resort and Spa as a top end option and Pushkar Palace as a heritage property by the lake, and says seasonal tented camps are common. A tour guide advises booking camps near the fairground three to four months ahead and heritage havelis in August or September. Good camps have proper beds, attached bathrooms and campfires.

Ask about heating. Late November nights are cold, and Esquire gives daytime temperatures of about 12 to 28 degrees Celsius.
Confirm the walking distance to the ghats and the fair, and the car access on 23 and 24 November.
Do not stay in Jaipur and visit by day, because of the long road travel, according to Esquire India.

Use our hotel booking help to compare rooms, and read your cancellation terms before you pay.

Hot Air Balloons and Camel Rides

Esquire India says hot air balloon rides have been offered in some years and that one operator lists 21 to 24 November for 2026. It advises confirming arrangements directly. A tourism guide lists a one hour sunset camel ride at 400 to 600 rupees and advises agreeing the price beforehand, and skipping rides on camels that look distressed or underfed.

Best Time to Visit the Fair

Period	What you will see
17 to 20 Nov	Herders arriving, trading at dawn, fewer tourists
21 and 22 Nov	Cultural events, craft bazaar, trading winds down
23 Nov	Deep Daan and Maha Aarti. Heavy crowd at the ghats in the evening
24 Nov	Kartik Purnima. The most crowded day

A tourism guide advises arriving around 7 AM for trading scenes. For photographs, the guide suggests 6:30 to 8 AM and 4:30 to 6 PM. If you want a calmer visit with the pilgrimage atmosphere, choose 21 or 22 November. This is our planning view from past reports of crowds, not an official forecast.

A Practical Plan

Book your room first, then your train or flight.
Arrive in Pushkar by 20 or 21 November and see the fair in the morning.
Visit the Brahma Temple and the ghats early, before the crowd.
If you plan to bathe on 24 November, reach the ghat before dawn and arrange your return for the next morning.
Leave on 25 November, after the peak traffic.

What to Pack

Layers, a scarf and sunglasses, for dust and temperature swings.
Small cash for stalls and tips.
A reusable water bottle.
Comfortable shoes that are easy to remove at the ghats.
A copy of your ID and booking details.

Visitors from Abroad

The fair draws many international visitors. Combine it with Jaipur and Agra in a Rajasthan trip. Our Agra travel guide 2026 and Agra one day itinerary help you plan the Agra leg, and the Rajasthan Diwali guide covers other festival ideas in the state.

Plan Your Rajasthan Trip with Your Travel Partner

Your Travel Partner is a travel company based in Ayodhya that arranges trips across India for visitors from every state and from other countries. For Pushkar we plan the road and the stay around the fair days.

Airport or railway pickup in Jaipur or Ajmer: airport and railway.
A cab to Pushkar with a fixed return time: cab.
Rooms in Pushkar or Ajmer: hotel booking.
Pushkar with Jaipur, Agra or Delhi as a custom package.
Send your dates, city and group size on WhatsApp or the enquiry form.

We do not sell fair passes, camel rides or priest services. See the packages page, our reviews, about us and the cancellation policy.

Common Mistakes

Booking rooms in the last week, when prices are highest and good camps are full.
Planning to drive to the ghats on 24 November without a drop off plan.
Paying a priest or guide before the fee is agreed.
Photographing pilgrims while they bathe.
Trusting a page that shows 1 to 9 November for 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Pushkar Fair 2026?

Reported for 17 to 24 November 2026, ending on Kartik Purnima. One tourism guide calls the dates tentative, so confirm with Rajasthan Tourism.

When is the Kartik Purnima snan at Pushkar in 2026?

Tuesday 24 November 2026. Purnima runs from 11:42 PM IST on 23 November to 8:23 PM IST on 24 November, by our calculation.

Where is Pushkar?

In Rajasthan, about 14 km from Ajmer Junction. Jaipur Airport is about 140 km away.

Is entry to the Pushkar Fair free?

A tourism guide reports free entry to the fair grounds and cultural programmes. We found no official notice.

Which are the peak days?

23 and 24 November, with the Deep Daan and Maha Aarti on 23 November and the holy dip on 24 November.

Is the camel trade still big?

No. ETV Bharat reported in 2025 that camel numbers had dropped sharply and that herders fear a further fall.

How do I reach Pushkar from Jaipur?

By road, about 140 km and roughly three hours. Start early on peak days.

Where should I stay?

In Pushkar for the fair, in a hotel, a heritage property or a tented camp. Book months ahead.

Are the nights cold?

Yes. Late November nights are cold, and daytime temperatures are about 12 to 28 degrees Celsius, according to Esquire India.

Can I photograph people at the ghats?

Ask permission before photographing herders. A tourism guide says photography is prohibited at the bathing ghats.

Are hot air balloons available?

One operator lists 21 to 24 November for 2026. Confirm directly before you book.

What is Deep Daan?

The floating of lamps on the lake. A tourism guide lists it for the evening of 23 November with the Maha Aarti.

How many ghats does Pushkar Lake have?

52, according to Esquire India.

What should I pack?

Layers, a scarf, sunglasses, small cash, a water bottle and comfortable shoes.

Can Your Travel Partner arrange my Pushkar trip?

Yes. We arrange cabs, pickups and hotels. We do not sell fair passes, camel rides or priest services.

Conclusion

Pushkar Fair 2026 is reported for 17 to 24 November, ending with the Kartik Purnima dip on 24 November. Book your room now, plan the road in advance, agree fees before you pay, and choose a calmer day if you do not want the peak crowd. For cabs, hotels and a Rajasthan plan, message us on WhatsApp.