Visit one of India’s oldest cities where spirituality hums throughout the tranquil city. Pushkar may or may not be on your list of cities to visit. Our full guide will help you decide whether you pin it to your travel map. Despite being a small town, keep reading to find out the best things to do in Pushkar.
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What is Pushkar
Situated 10 km from Ajmer in the state of Rajasthan, Pushkar is a pilgrimage site for Hindus and Sikhs. Pushkar is referred to as “the rose garden of Rajasthan” and it claims to be home to the only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma in the world. In reality, there are 5 more temples dedicated to Lord Brahma around India, but the one in Pushkar is the most prominent.
The city is built around Pushkar Lake, which has many ghats (flights of stairs) where pilgrims pray and bathe. Since Pushkar is a holy city, the consumption of meat and eggs is prohibited around the town. This means you will only find vegetarian restaurants in Pushkar.
Even though there are many temples in Pushkar, most of them are relatively recent. Many of them, in fact, got destroyed after Muslim conquests and were rebuilt in the 18th century or later.
Pushkar is also a favourite amongst foreigners. Some people describe the town as a “hippie paradise“, and you can see plenty of hippie cafes around the streets of Pushkar. Many are captured by the city’s vibes and end up staying much longer than planned.
How to get to Pushkar
Pushkar is located near the city of Ajmer, halfway between Jaipur and Udaipur. It can be reached directly by bus or private car. If you travel by train, you need to first get to Ajmer and then travel to Pushkar. Below you can find the details of both options.
➼ Direct bus to Pushkar
If you are in a big city like Jaipur or Udaipur, you will find many travel agencies around the streets offering all sorts of transportation services. We booked a bus through those agencies only once during our stay in India, and we had no issues.
The direct bus to Pushkar can’t really be found on the internet. Redbus doesn’t show any options, but local travel agencies may have these deals. Check them out in person when in Udaipur or Jaipur, as it’s the easiest way to reach Pushkar.
➼ Via Ajmer
No matter where you come from, if you’re travelling to Pushkar by train you need to go to Ajmer first. Ajmer can easily be reached also by bus. The city is well connected with other big cities like Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur, with many buses and trains each day.
‣ FROM JAIPUR: Expect to pay around 450-800 INR ($5-10 USD) for a bus ride from Jaipur. The bus journey takes about 2h 30 minutes, and we found up to 80 buses for a generic day. If you prefer taking a train, for the same day we found up to 27 trains doing the same route. Train tickets can cost anything between 90 INR ($1 USD) for the lowest class all the way up to 1300 INR ($16 USD) for the first class.
‣ FROM JODHPUR: If you’re travelling from Jodhpur you will also have plenty of options. Buses leave daily and we found over 100 buses travelling this route. The trip takes around 4 hours and the ticket costs 400-900 INR ($5-11 USD) per person, depending on the type of bus. Trains are also available. A train ride from Jodhpur to Ajmer takes about 4 hours and 45 minutes, with tickets ranging from 180 to 1175 INR ($2-14 USD).
‣ FROM UDAIPUR: There are many buses running from Udaipur to Ajmer. A bus will take you from one city to the other in about 5 hours and 45 minutes, costing between 500-1200 INR ($6-14.50 USD). Trains cover the same distance in about 5 hours, and a ticket costs anywhere from 200 to 1300 INR ($2-16 USD), depending on the class.
➼ From Ajmer to Pushkar
To reach Pushkar from Ajmer you have two options: going by bus or taking a rickshaw. The bus can be taken at the Ajmer bus stand and it will drop you at the Pushkar bus stand. It takes about 30-35 minutes and tickets cost 20 INR ($0.25 USD) per person.
Alternatively, you can take a rickshaw from Ajmer to Pushkar. Rickshaws are convenient, there are plenty available at the train station and you can take one in a matter of minutes. However, although faster, it tends to be a much more expensive option than the bus, costing about 600-800 INR ($7-10 USD) for the ride.
Best things to do in Pushkar
Pushkar is a small town and if you’ve been doing some research, you may have read people saying there aren’t many things to do here. While this is partially true, Pushkar has still some really cool places you should check out and discover. Here are the best things to do in Pushkar, according to us.
1) Walk around the Pushkar Lake
The pilgrimage site for many, the Pushkar Lake is considered as a holy place for Hindus. Even if you’re not a spiritual person, the lake is still really fascinating. The lake is surrounded by fifty bathing ghats around the entire lake, where pilgrims worship the Gods and bathe in the sacred waters.
Rituals are practiced all day long on the ghats, but it’s early in the morning when most people flock to the lake’s shores.
Please note: wearing shoes is not allowed anywhere around the lake. As soon as you walk on the ghats you need to remove your shoes. The steps are often dirty, especially due to the poo of all the pigeons which are fed daily by the lake, so dress accordingly. Smoking is also prohibited, even though we saw many people breaking this rule.
2) Visit Brahma’s Temple
Brahma’s Temple is the main reason most pilgrims visit the city of Pushkar. It’s the most important temple dedicated to Hindu creator-god Brahma in the world, and it attracts thousands of devotees and travellers every year.
The temple dates back to the 14th century, and it’s the most important of the over 500 temples that you can find in Pushkar. Here you are not allowed to bring inside the temple any backpacks, cameras, leather items, phones as well as many other items. There are countless vendors outside renting lockers, selling flowers and many other gadgets all around the Brahma Temple.
3) Watch the sunset at Savitri Devi Temple
Savitri Devi Temple can be reached either by walking or by cable car. The way up isn’t the shortest, but it isn’t particularly challenging either so there is no real need to get the cable car.
The temple is dedicated to Goddess Savitri and it is located at the top of Ratnagiri hill. The architecture of the temple is really nothing special, but it’s worth climbing the 970 steps to admire the stunning views of the Savitri temple, especially at sunset.
READ ALSO: Savitri Temple in Pushkar – best sunset point in Pushkar
4) Visit the town’s bazaar
The streets of Pushkar are full of shops selling clothes, textiles, jewelry and handicrafts. Walking around the streets while checking out new items is fun, even though some vendors may result in being quite insistent.
The bazaar is located along the so-called “Main Market Road”, which it develops around the lake.
5) Practice yoga
Yoga is practiced everywhere across India, but taking a yoga class on the shores of Pushkar Lake is particularly beautiful and relaxing. There are also several yoga studios around the town offering group classes and private lessons.
6) Climb to Gayatri Mata Temple
Located on the opposite side of Savitri Mata Temple, the Gayatri Mata Temple is another hilltop temple offering stunning views over the city of Pushkar. It can only be reached on foot, but it’s worth the hike!
The temple is a 20-minute hike from the ghats of Pushkar, and it’s especially beautiful at sunrise.
7) Attend a workshop
The spiritual city of Pushkar attracts many artists and performers from around the globe. It’s not rare to see them performing on the shores of the lake, especially at sunset, and if you’re lucky you can attend one of their classes during your stay.
In Pushkar, you can also attend a jewelry-making workshop, where you can create your own – and unique – pieces of jewelry.
8) Pushkar camel fair
Each year in November, Pushkar hosts the Pushkar Camel Fair, also known as the Pushkar Mela. This is a huge 5-day event where more than 50.000 camels are showcased and traded. The fair also became an important tourist attraction, and it’s a must-visit if you are in Rajasthan in November. The 2023 edition starts on November 20.
9) Stay overnight in a camp
Just a few km outside Pushkar you will find several luxury camps, ideal to recharge your batteries and spend some time in total relaxation. Pushkar is surrounded by a beautiful landscape, where the Aravalli hills alternate with fertile lands and desertic areas.
Even if you don’t plan on staying overnight in one of these camps, make sure to include a walk/rickshaw ride outside the city when in Pushkar.
Where to stay in Pushkar
The accommodations scene in Pushkar is quite interesting, especially compared to other cities in Rajasthan. There are many accommodations that are both cheap and good, which is great for backpackers.
ON A BUDGET: Some of the most budget-friendly options in Pushkar are Milkman Guest House ($4 USD/night for a double room), Kanhaia Haveli ($8 USD/night per double room) and Rajguru Guesthouse ($7 USD/night per double room).
MID-RANGE: Dia Homestay ($30 USD/night per 2 people) is the place we stayed at while in Pushkar, and we would totally recommend it. Other mid-range options include Zostel Pushkar ($17 USD/night per double room), Moustache Pushkar ($18 USD/night per 2 people) and Elephant Pushkar ($21 USD/night for a double room). Check out also Inn Seventh Heaven ($38 USD/night per two), it’s such a beautiful place to stay at.
LUXURY: Some of the most beautiful accommodations in Pushkar include the suite of Hotel Green Heaven Resort ($94 USD/night per 2 people), PushkarOrganic ($104 USD/night per 2 people) and the Jagat Palace ($82 USD/night for a double room).
Is Pushkar worth visiting?
Despite being very small, Pushkar is worth being included in every Rajasthan itinerary. It’s an interesting stop for both adventurers and more spiritual travellers, and it offers a break from the constant chaos of the bigger cities.
How long should you stay?
We recommend spending 1 or 2 nights in Pushkar. This will be enough for 90% of people.
We spent 1 day and a half in Pushkar, sleeping only one night in the city. It was a nice time, but it was also enough to see most of the city and its surroundings.
What is the best time to visit Pushkar
The tourist season in Pushkar begins in October and lasts until February. This is when the temperatures are more moderate and there are lower chances of rain. However, the best month to visit Pushkar is in November, during the Pushkar Camel Fair.
The maximum temperature during these months is about 30°C (86°F), while the lowest can reach 6°C (42.8°F), with December and January being the coldest months of the year.
July and August are the wettest months of the year in Pushkar, with about 12 days of rain in a month.
Avoid the Pushkar flower scam
Let’s talk scams! This was our welcome gift in Pushkar and – even though we did not get scammed in the end – we wish we knew more about it before visiting.
While walking on the streets, a random guy approached us offering us a flower. The same person then left, without asking us for anything in return. This may seem like a little nice gift, but it wasn’t.
A different person started to follow us, but he then also left and was replaced by a third person which started to walk in front of us. When we stopped, he stopped. When we suddenly entered a building, he spoke to us saying that we were going the wrong way and that we should go to the ghats – which were on the other side.
Although sketchy, we ignored him and this was the end of our bad experience with the scammer of Pushkar. Sadly, just a couple of hours later we bumped into other travellers who got scammed all the way through. This is how it works:
The local guy offers you a flower and tells you you should release it in the lake. He guides you in the process, and when at the lake he will perform a ritual. Only after the ritual, the guy will ask you for money. According to our friend, they asked him 300 INR for every member of his family for whom they prayed for. This resulted in over $20 USD, and things might get quite scary if you don’t pay what they ask for.
A good tip – as always – is to avoid any gift you may receive on the streets, and not follow strangers who want to show you around.
