Pushkar travel guide: lake, bazaars and things to do
Pushkar is a small town wrapped around a holy lake at the edge of the Thar desert. You can walk it in an hour, yet most people who plan two days stay five. It is also the easiest place in India to start a trip: close to Jaipur, calm enough to adjust, and surrounded by relaxed roads for a first ride.
Things to do in Pushkar
The town centres on the lake and its 52 ghats. Around it sits a ring of bazaars, rooftop cafés and the Brahma temple — one of very few in the world.
- Sunrise at the ghats: the best hour of the day, before the heat.
- Brahma bazaar: textiles, silver and instruments; bargaining is expected.
- Savitri or Gayatri hill: a 45-minute climb for a view over lake and desert.
- Sunset in the dunes: 20 minutes out of town, perfect for day one.
Etiquette at the lake
The lake is an active pilgrimage site, not an attraction. Remove shoes on the ghats, don't photograph worshippers up close, and keep alcohol and meat away from the area. The whole town is vegetarian and officially dry.
If someone offers a 'puja' and ties a red thread on your wrist, it usually ends in a large donation request. A polite no is fine.
Best time to visit
October to March is the comfortable window: 22—28°C days and cool nights. April to June is very hot (over 40°C); July to September is humid with short rain but clean green air.
Riding out of Pushkar
Roads around Pushkar are flat, wide and ideal for your first day riding in India. Take the short loop to Ajmer, head west into desert villages, or make a full day of it towards Jodhpur.
- Ajmer — 30 min, the dargah and a big bazaar.
- Dune loop — 2 hours, easy dirt tracks.
- Jodhpur — a full day, roughly 200 km.
Frequently asked
- How many days do you need in Pushkar?
- Three days cover the town and a desert sunset. Add two more for riding or a yoga course and five is the comfortable rhythm.
- Is Pushkar a good first stop in India?
- Very much so. It is small, safe, easy to navigate and close to Jaipur — a good place to acclimatise before long routes.
- Can you buy alcohol or meat in Pushkar?
- The town itself is vegetarian and dry for religious reasons. Options exist outside the lake ring, but respecting the town is part of the experience.
- How do you get to Pushkar?
- Two and a half hours by road from Jaipur, or an overnight train from Delhi to Ajmer plus 30 minutes. We can arrange a pickup from Ajmer.