The Pushkar Camel Fair
Pushkar is a temple town, important to Hindus and Sikhs near Ajmer City in the Indian desert state of Rajasthan. Pushkar sits about 280 miles southwest of Delhi and 90 miles southwest of Jaipur. It is the home of the Pushkar (Camel) Fair.
The nine day event is one of India's largest annual camel, horse and cattle fairs. Local farmers and traders come from all over Rajasthan to sell anything from camels, bulls, prized horses, and much more. Moreover, rural families come to shop at the handicraft stalls full of bracelets, clothes, textiles, and fabrics. Locals attending the Fair camp on the open ground or in temporary tents or shanties in or near the fairgrounds.
Apart from the trading of livestock and shopping, the Fair is replete with cultural events that include dances, music and competitions including camel races.
The Fair occurs during an important pilgrimage season for Hindus. Thousands of Hindus pilgrims can be found at the banks of Pushkar Lake which is adjacent to the fairgrounds.
The Fairgrounds
Hot Air Balloon Ride
We wanted the chance to have an aerial view of the fargrounds so we took a morning hot air balloon ride.
