Pushkar
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg (CC BY 4.0)Holy lake town with the famous Brahma Temple, 52 ghats, a backpacker bazaar and the annual camel fair.
Two quiet days of ghats, temples and rooftop cafes; time a visit for the Pushkar Fair if you can handle crowds. Combine with Ajmer.
November: Pushkar Fair (Kartik Purnima)
When to go
Things to do
- Walk the ghats around Pushkar Lake: Remove shoes; do not photograph bathers.
- Visit the Brahma Temple
- Browse the main bazaar
- Camel safari around town
- Hot-air balloon flight
- Pushkar camel fair
- Spiritual walking tour of the temples
- Eat malpua
- Pushkar Camel Fair: Annual Kartik-month fair at Pushkar with camel and livestock trading, contests, folk shows and the Kartik Purnima holy dip.
- Buy rose water, rose oil and gulkand: Rose products and incense are usually fixed-price.
- Shop for hand-painted earrings and silver jewellery
- Watch the evening aarti on the ghats
Top sights
Camel Market
Savitri Temple
Maharaja Surajmal Desert Ground
Aptaeshwar Temple
A temple dedicated to Shiva with an underground component.
Atmeshwar Temple
A beautiful Shiva temple.
Pap Mochini Temple
A beautiful temple on a hill dedicated to Gayatri, one of the 2 consorts of Brahma.
Rangji Temple
A Vishnu temple built in South Indian style that is very different from other temples in North India. Poojas are performed here by Iyengars of Tamil Nadu.
Savitri Temple
Dedicated to Savitri, the wife of Lord Brahma, this temple is the second-most important temple in Pushkar. It requires a climb of 650 steps to reach it, but the view at the top of Pushkar and the lake is worth the climb. Do it at sunrise!
Sri Panchkund Shiva Temple
The Shiva temple is said to have been built by Pancha Pandavas.
Varaha Temple
The oldest temple in Pushkar. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Not well maintained, but impressive due to its age and spiritual importance.
Man Mahal / Hotel Pushkar Palace
This beautiful palace was built as the guest house for Raja Man Singh I and has since been converted into the Hotel Pushkar Palace.
Savitri Temple
Nature and outdoors
Pushkar Lake & Ghats
Sacred lake at the heart of Pushkar ringed by bathing ghats, a major Hindu pilgrimage site.
Gyan Vihar Park
B.K. Kaul Garden
Pushkar Lake
Pushkar Lake is a beautiful, sanctified spot in the centre of Pushkar. It is said to have been created by Lord Brahma and is therefore a place of pilgrimage for the Hindus. The lake is surrounded by 52 different ghats, or series of steps, which Hindus use to descend to the lake f
Where to eat
Sunset Cafe
Lakeside terrace on Parikrama Marg where travellers gather to watch sunset over Pushkar Lake.
Honey & Spice
Small wholefood cafe in Laxmi Market serving healthy breakfasts, vegan options and good coffee.
Out of the Blue
Long-running vegetarian rooftop restaurant near the Brahma Temple with a wide global menu.
Heart Rock Cafe
Shri Maheshwari
Shri Vinayak Restaurant
Shree Ram Restaurant
Buddha Cafe
La pizzaria
South-Indian Caffe
The Sixth Sense
Mahalaxmi Chaat Bhandar
Shopping
Nearby
Other destinations close to Pushkar.