Halfway between Jaipur and Jodhpur, the lakeside town of Pushkar attracts many Hindu pilgrims and tourists. The town has long been associated with Lord Brahma, and contains one of the few temples in the world dedicated to his worship. As well as the Brahma temple, the town contains many smaller temples and lakeside ghats from where Hindu pilgrims bathe in the sacred lake.
The town is also famous for the Pushkar Camel Fair, held in late October or November every year. This is one of the largest festivals in the world, when the population of Pushkar swells from 15,000 to over 200,000 and thousands of camels and horses are demonstrated, raced and sold.
Good quality accommodation in sadly lacking in Pushkar, so it is best to visit on a day trip. During the Camel Fair, the few hotels are booked out long in advance, with tented camps spring up to cater for visitors. The camel fair is an incredibly colourful and hectic experience, and if you don’t like the crowds it is best to visit at some other time of year.