Camels are cattle? The Pushkar Camel Fair is the world’s most genuine massive rural event. To an explorer from an advanced nation, your exposure to this amazing cultural phenomenon will leave you spellbound, especially if you are guided by great guides. Photographers cannot even begin to imagine their opportunities, with the desert backdrop, the colorful clothing, headgear, and lifestyles of the Rajasthani villagers, and, most of all, by the amazing activities that are always going on.
Yet what is most fascinating is having the opportunity to walk around the massive fairgrounds and watch the ongoing activity. You will see sellers preparing their ware for sale, from grooming them to training them. You will watch buyers as they inspect the camels and horses, from pulling lips over teeth, to lifting legs to check hooves, rubbing their hands over backs to detect potential issue with rideability, all of this will take you to a time that long ceased existing for 97% of the world’s cultures.
But, the most interesting thing you will observe will be the animated trading. You will watch facial expressions and gestures that are not constrained by polite modern sensibilities, although no disrespect is meant in their context. You will see age old negotiating tactics, such as when the buyer walks away with a disdainful shake of his head, and, sometimes, is reluctantly beckoned back by the seller. This is just a teaser - so much more goes on, it cannot be described on paper.
The Pushkar Camel Fair is a fascinating spectacle that occurs once a year in the small town of Pushkar, Rajasthan. It is your finest opportunity to experience rural India in its organic form. You will be surrounded by friendly and curious villagers, some of whom have never seen a foreign tourist in their lives, and are as astounded by you as you are by them. Many of them will have walked for weeks to bring their camels and horses to the fair.
How to Reach Pushkar
Pushkar in the state of Rajasthan has its confinements drawn nearby the town of Ajmer. In order to make it to Pushkar, one can make use of the following means:
By Air: Nearest airfield to the town of Pushkar is located in the city of Jaipur; Sanganer airport. The airport is at a distance of 146 km from Pushkar, and is well connected with the popular cities of India and Rajasthan.
By Rail: As Ajmer is nearest to Pushkar, you need to board the train to Ajmer railway junction. Shatabdi Express and Pink City Express can be the best alternatives to reach Pushkar from New Delhi and Jaipur.
By Road: Pushkar has a good connectivity with the national highways and major roadways of India. Owing to which one can easily travel to Pushkar from the capital city of Delhi, Ajmer, Bikaner and Jodhpur.
Pushkar an important pilgrimage centre is a puny village close to Ajmer near the desert and Nag Pahar Mountains. There is the Pushkar Lake and several bathing ghats for Hindu rituals. Pushkar Cattle Fair is held here annually in the month of October-November. The place has 400 big and small temples.
Pushkar has many temples around a hillock. The sun set and sun rise hold attraction for many. The popular temples are the 14 century Brahma temple, Savitri temple and Gayatri temple. Apteshwar temple has historical importance. Varaha Temple is in depilated state but people come and pay respects here. Mahadeva temple is held very pious. Pap Mochi temple is for forgiveness of sins committed knowingly and unknowingly. There is a yoga garden as well. Pushkar cooking art centre attracts tourists to the eating culture of the land. People enjoy camel safari. Oren is visited because it is an observatory. Tourists are seen taking long strolls here.
Malpua a sweet dish is liberally served here. It is prepared from flour cow’s milk butter and sugar. It is like a sweet chapatti with holes. Dal baati churma and Lassi is very popular.
Vikas Handicraft has given a touch of Rajasthan to the paper made gift items for home and office use. It is a good place to shop. Incense sticks have pleasant smell. Pushkar markets are well maintained based on tourist demands and sell ethnic attire and things of western taste.
Pushkar is well connected by road to other parts of India. Ajmer 11 km away is the closest railway station and Jaipur 130 km away is the nearest airport.
Friends travel services is very well established tour and travel agency in Delhi India. Its network is very well laid out. It takes care of reservation, booking of hotels and conveyance all through the itinerary. It has received commendable certification from government of India and other allied associations.