Special Interest Tours

Pushkar Fair
Pushkar - the place where this cultural extravaganza takes place
Pushkar is a serene and mellow town in rural Rajasthan and is believed to be the first place created by Brahma. It has a surfeit of bathing ghats whose beauty can only be seen. Its claim to fame rests on the Brahma temple, which is the only one devoted to Lord Brahma, the God of Creation.

In Pushkar, however, it is the Pushkar Fair that draws the maximum crowds. Held annually in November, it is one of India's largest and most flamboyant festivals. A visit to India is incomplete if the magical spell of this unique fair leaves you untouched.

The festivities of Pushkar Fair embrace the town on... ...the full moon of Kartik Purnima according to Hindu chronology. It is the time when this sleepy town comes alive with the assemblage of camels, horses and cattle. Each year, up to two million people flock to Pushkar fair for a shopping spree, a get together and cattle trade. They enjoy the festivities dressed up in dazzling traditional costumes.

Major attractions that make the festival a spectator's delight

1. Trading
It is an event not to be missed for the local people as well as many live stock traders. At the time of the fair the town overflows with tribals, pilgrims and tourists from all over the world. It provides them with an opportunity to search for some respite from the tumult of daily life.

2. Shopping
There are numerous opportunities for a tourist in the fair. You can shop in the open-air market of the fair that offers some of the most exquisite items reflecting the rich handicraft tradition of Rajasthan. The colorful bangles, embroidery and brassware items will surely draw your attention while the acrobats, jugglers, snake charmers and fire-eaters will leave you mesmerized with their skilled performances.

3. Folk Dance & Music
You can also cruise on camel safari or enjoy the Rajasthan dance program that is performed by the local dancers clad in colorful traditional costumes. The music of the itinerant 'Bhil' and 'Langa' minstrels and the performance of the children in the programs are things you will remember for a long time to come.

4. Competitive Events
The four-day long festival is full of fun and frolic. Some of the major events that give this festival a completely distinct look include camel race, tug-of-war, weightlifting competition, horse and camel dealing and various religious ceremonies.

Facilities that will make your stay memorable
The fair gives an edge to the consumer product marketing in rural India. The improved facilities in the fair have made it an international attraction. There is an arrangement of spacious tent houses, equipped with all the necessary facilities that can accommodate a large number of tourists. Camel carts are available from the tent camp for your journey to and from the fair.