Pushkar Mela 2026: Dates, How the Camel Fair Works and Where to Stay

Each autumn, the small lake town of Pushkar in Rajasthan fills with camels, traders and pilgrims, and the whole place takes on a festive mood. Pushkar Mela 2026 runs from 17 to 24 November, a week in which a busy livestock market slowly turns into a festival of music, contests and prayer.

Some visitors come for the camels on the dunes, others for the folk evenings or the holy dip at Pushkar Lake, and many simply to be part of it all. Here is how the week unfolds, and how to plan your visit around it. If you prefer to have the trip arranged, WanderOn’s events and tour packages are a good place to begin.

Pushkar Mela, also called the Pushkar Camel Fair, is Rajasthan’s annual livestock and cultural fair, held in the holy town of Pushkar in the Hindu month of Kartik. As of 4 November 2026, the fair is scheduled for eight days, from 17 to 24 November, and it closes on Kartik Purnima.

The week combines livestock trading, cultural events and a pilgrimage, and it follows soon after Diwali in Rajasthan, which makes November a busy festival month in the state.

The Pushkar Camel Fair lasts about eight days, from 17 to 24 November, and not all days are the same. Livestock trading is busiest in the opening days, and many traders arrive a few days before the official start, so the dunes can already be busy when the fair opens. The cultural programme and the pilgrimage follow and build towards Kartik Purnima snan on 24 November.

The Trading Days: Camels, Horses and the Dune Economy

The first half of the fair belongs to the animals. Owners arrive with their herds, often a few days before the official opening, pitch camp near the fairground and meet buyers through the day. Camels stand in long rows on the sand and the pace stays slow. This is the Pushkar most people picture, and it is quiet enough for photographers and slow walkers to move freely.

Trading slows down as the cultural programme takes over, so visitors who arrive for the final days may find very few camels left on the dunes. Early mornings are the best time to see them.

The Fair Days: Competitions, Carnival and the Mela Ground

The second half shifts towards entertainment. Rajasthan Tourism’s programme includes the longest moustache contest, matka phod, camel decoration and the bridal competition, alongside camel parades and folk performances.

Crowds build and the mood changes from a working market to a festival. Choose these days if you prefer music and a lively crowd to a calm morning among the herds.

Kartik Purnima: The Holy Dip That Ends the Mela

The fair closes on Kartik Purnima, the full moon night of the Hindu month of Kartik. Pilgrims gather at the ghats of Pushkar Lake for a holy dip, and many also pray at the Brahma Temple, one of the few temples in the world dedicated to Lord Brahma.

The ghats get busy, so arrive early in the day. The same full moon is celebrated as Dev Deepawali in Varanasi, where lamps light up the banks of the Ganga.

1. Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride

Balloon flights are the most popular way to see the fair from above. Rides usually lift off at dawn, when the light is soft and the camel grounds are still quiet below, and some operators also fly in the late afternoon. As of 4 November 2026, expect to pay roughly ₹8,000 to ₹15,000 per person, depending on the operator and the flight. Flights depend on the weather, so book early and confirm the date with the operator before paying.

2. Ride a Camel Cart Around the Fairground

A camel cart ride is an easy way to cover the dunes and the camel grounds without walking through sand. Rates are usually agreed directly with the owner, so settle the price before the ride begins. Early morning is the best time, since the heat is mild and the grounds are less crowded.

3. Watch the Stadium Events and the Evening Programme

The mela ground is the base for the cultural programme. Expect camel pageants, traditional games and the tug of war between visitors and locals during the day. Tourism authorities usually finalise the day-wise schedule close to the fair, so plan around daytime contests followed by shows after dark.

Pushkar desert camp puts you beside the camel grounds and the dunes. Camps are usually set up around the fairground on the outskirts of Pushkar. So, an evening of folk music by a bonfire is a short walk from your tent.

As of 4 November 2026, camp rates can be roughly around ₹5,000 to ₹25,000+ per night during the fair, with basic Swiss tents at the lower end and luxury tents at the top.

The downside is distance from the town. The ghats, cafes and the Brahma Temple need a transfer, and desert nights in November turn cold.

A town hotel keeps you close to Pushkar Lake, the ghats and the Brahma Temple, which makes the Kartik Purnima morning far easier.

Restaurants and shops are within walking distance, and rooms come with proper bathrooms and heating or cooling that basic tents lack. Expect to pay around ₹3,000 to ₹12,000+ per night.

The downside is the fairground, which needs a short ride from town, and the lanes get crowded during the fair. Rooms are limited and expensive in fair week.

When to Book?

With the fair less than two weeks away, most well-known luxury camps near the fairground have probably sold out, because good camps usually book months ahead. Some smaller camps and town hotels may still have rooms, but rates are higher in fair week, so call directly and ask for fair-week prices before you pay. Keep a town hotel as a backup, or book camp nights for the early days and move into town before Kartik Purnima.

The best light comes at dawn and again in the last hour before sunset. In the morning, low sunlight spreads across the dunes and catches the dust the herds kick up, so camels stand out clearly against a soft sky.

Late afternoon gives the same warm tone as the day winds down. Both are at their best during the trading days, when the dunes are full of animals.

Ground Rules Before Taking Photos During Pushkar Mela

1. Always ask before photographing a person. Camel traders and sadhus are at the fair to work or pray, and many will agree if asked politely. A no should be accepted at once.
2. Some may expect a small tip for a portrait, so keep a little change ready.
3. At the ghats during the holy dip, keep a respectful distance and avoid photographing people while they bathe.

Ajmer Junction is the main railhead for Pushkar, about 18 km away, and a taxi or bus covers the distance in roughly 45 minutes. Pushkar has a small station of its own, but only local trains stop there. Jaipur is the nearest major airport, around 162 km away and about 3 hours 35 mins by road.

Kishangarh Airport is closer, roughly an hour from Pushkar by taxi, with a limited schedule of flights from cities such as Delhi and Ahmedabad. Roads around Pushkar can get busy on the fair days, so allow extra time.

Pushkar is easy to add to an 8 day Rajasthan circuit, since it is on the way from Jaipur to Jodhpur and Jaisalmer in the west and Udaipur in the south. Most travellers pair the fair with Jaipur’s Amer Fort and City Palace, Jodhpur’s Mehrangarh Fort, Jaisalmer’s golden fort and Udaipur’s Lake Pichola, and our guide to the best places to visit in Rajasthan covers more stops along the way.

WanderOn’s 8 Days Jaipur Udaipur Jodhpur Jaisalmer Trip stops at Pushkar for the Brahma Temple and lunch on the drive from Jaipur to Udaipur. The fair dates are fixed, so the Pushkar stay is best planned first. Our Rajasthan tour packages cover more routes if you want to see more of the state.