An astonishing 50,000 camels converge on the tiny desert town of Pushkar, in India's state of Rajasthan, for the Pushkar Camel Fair. It's a fascinating and peculiar sight, and a great opportunity to witness an old traditional style Indian festival.
The original intention behind the Pushkar Camel Fair was to attract local camel and cattle traders to do business during the holy Kartik Purnima festival, held in Pushkar around the full moon in the Hindu lunar month of Kartika. The fair has now also become a major tourist attraction.
When is the Pushkar Camel Festival Celebrated:
Usually in November, depending on the cycle of the moon. Most of the camel action takes place over the 5 days leading up to the official start of the festival, after which time the focus shifts to heightened religious celebrations. In 2009, the official dates for the Pushkar Camel Fair are October 30 to November 2. Camel trading and other activities will start from October 25. Be sure to come early to see the fair in full swing!Where is the Pushkar Camel Festival Celebrated:
In the small town of Pushkar, near Ajmer, located on the edge of the Thar Desert in the state of Rajasthan.How is the Pushkar Camel Festival Celebrated:
For five days, the camels are dressed up, paraded, shaved, entered into beauty contests, raced, and traded. A huge carnival is held, with an array of musicians, magicians, dancers, acrobats, snake charmers and carousel rides to entertain the crowd.What Rituals are Performed During the Pushkar Camel Festival:
Pilgrims come to this festival to bathe in the holy waters of Pushkar's lake and be absolved of their sins. The two days around the full moon are considered to be the most auspicious time of the year for bathing in the lake. Those who bathe on the day of the full moon are said to receive special blessings.What Can Be Expected at the Pushkar Camel Festival:
The sand dunes appear infested with camels as far as the eyes can see and the population of Pushkar swells to over 200,000 people, with an inflow of pilgrims, camel traders, and tourists. It's a fascinating and peculiar sight, and a great opportunity to witness an old traditional style Indian festival. The highlight is definitely the camel races, although the comical beauty contests featuring elaborately adorned and shaved camels are also amusing.Seeing the Pushkar Camel Festival from a Hot Air Balloon:
It's possible to witness the spectacle of the camel fair from above, in a hot air balloon. SkyWaltz offer exhilarating balloon flights over Pushkar for $400 per person.Pushkar Camel Festival Accommodations:
The influx of visitors during the camel fair causes the demand for accommodations to skyrocket, and prices increase accordingly. There are two main options for organizing a place to stay -- either arrive a couple of days before the fair starts and find somewhere (which is the cheaper option), or book in advance. You can expect to pay at least four times more than normal hotel rates. Accommodations include simple guest houses, desert tents, heritage hotels, and farm stays. Some reputable places are the budget Hotel Everest, Seventh Heaven boutique heritage hotel, Royal Safari Camp luxury tents, and Pushkar Resorts.Getting to Pushkar:
The closest railway station to Pushkar is in Ajmer. From there it's a windy 30 minute drive through the aptly named Snake Mountain (Nag Parbat) to Pushkar. The local buses are dilapidated and crowded but the fare is a mere 20 cents, and the journey very authentic. Auto rickshaws are also available but getting the drivers to use the meter is a challenge! The fare should be around 100 rupees ($2.50), but can easily be more during the camel festival. Alternatively, the nearest airport is in Jaipur, around two and a half hours away. Taxi fares to Pushkar can double during the festival, so expect to pay between $30-$60.
