Pushkar Camel Fair Grounds

The Pushkar Camel Fair, held annually in November during the five days around Kartik Purnima, is one of the largest and most famous fairs in the world. Over 400,000 visitors attend each year along with more than 11,000 camels, horses, and cattle. The fair grounds on the edge of town transform into a vast spectacle of trading, cultural performances, folk music, camel races, competitions including the longest moustache and best-dressed camel contests, Rajasthani wrestling, and hot air balloon rides. The fair grounds are also the site of mass ritual bathing in the lake on the full moon night. Outside the festival period the grounds are a good base for camel safaris into the surrounding desert.