16 Fun Things To Do in Pushkar, Rajasthan

Pushkar is a small city in India known as a spiritual, holy hub for Indians and a hippie playground for travellers. As someone whose visited 3 times now, I’m here to tell you what to do in Pushkar and help you plan a fantastic trip.

If you’re still wondering if Pushkar is worth visiting, I can assure you it’s a great place for culture as well as taking a break from it. Pushkar isn’t half as hectic as some cities you’ll encounter during your Rajasthan itinerary, plus the many healthy cafes offer respite from heavy North Indian curries.

Finally, Pushkar is a fantastic place for solo travel in India with plenty of hostels and impressive crime stats, or lack thereof!

PUSHKAR ESSENTIALS

India Lonely Planet

Accommodation: Booking.com / Hostelworld

Activities: Klook

Getting around: flight (Skyscanner) / bus / train (12Go)

Travel insurance: True Traveller (European travellers) / Hey Mundo (other nationalities) / Safety Wing (digital nomads)

Related read: Is Pushkar worth visiting?

How to get to Pushkar

Things to do in Pushkar

There aren’t endless attractions in Pushkar; in fact, part of the city’s charm is its peaceful nature and the rare opportunity to relax during your busy India travels.

However, you won’t get bored. These are the Pushkar sightseeing essentials…

The beating heart of Pushkar is this serene manmade lake. Sacred to Hindus, locals travel from far afield to wash and worship in the holy waters. Legend says it’s where Hindu God of Creation, Lord Brahma, scattered sacred lotus petals.

With this in mind, it’s an area to act respectfully by removing your shoes to walk beside its banks and avoid taking photos of people as they remove garments of clothing to wash in the waters.

There are a few common scams that happen around the lake to be aware of. Keep reading for my general tips & tricks at the end of this post!

The best time to visit Pushkar Lake is sunset. The sky turning pink and orange, reflected in the water, is truly the best sight to see in Pushkar. Many travellers choose to have dinner at one of the lakeside restaurants, but if you’re travelling on a budget, you may wish to just have a drink. There are better and cheaper Pushkar restaurants elsewhere!

Another reason to visit Pushkar Lake after sunset is…

An aarti is a Hindu celebration performed to honour a deity. Deriving from a Sanskrit word referring to a light that banishes darkness, the ceremonies are held shortly after sunset.

Having seen one beside the Ganges in holy Rishikesh, I was intrigued to watch another beside Pushkar Lake. Small flames are placed on the steps and held by those participating in the ceremony.

If you’re looking for cultural things to do in Pushkar, the evening aarti is a great way to immerse into India’s rich culture. The ceremony lasts around 20 minutes and begins at 7pm daily (5.30pm in winter) beside Jaipur ghat.

One of the most popular places to visit in Pushkar is Savitri Mata Temple, perched on Ratnagiri hilltop and visible from anywhere in the city. It’s a popular pilgrimage site for Hindus who visit Pushkar for religious purposes. The temple is dedicated to the goddess, Savitri, one of Lord Brahma’s two wives.

To reach the top, you have two options: ride the ‘ropeway’ (cable car) or climb a steep set of almost 1000 stairs. The ropeway (running ’til 7.30pm) costs 150 rupees return per person, but local visitors prefer to walk as it’s an important part of the pilgrimage.

Sunset is the best time to visit, especially since it’s cooler than the middle of the day. Just watch your step hiking back down in the dark. There are lots of langoor monkeys at the top but, luckily, they don’t bother you like they do in some places!

Getting there: from the city, it only takes around 10 minutes to walk to the base of the trail where the ropeway begins. You can also get a tuk-tuk to whiz you there cheaply.

The other hilltop temple is another notable Pushkar attraction. Dedicated to Lord Brahma’s other wife, Gayatri, this temple is less popular than Savitri but escaping the crowds may be exactly what you want.

It’s also a far easier hike than the one at Savitri, only taking 15 minutes. Rather than concrete steps, it’s more of a scramble up a stony hillside. You don’t need proper hiking boots but those prone to ankle sprains may want to go careful on the loose gravel.

The ideal time to visit Gayatri Temple is an hour before sunset so you can sit and soak up the chilled vibes beforehand.

Getting there: walking from the holy lake will take around 10 minutes, or you can jump in a local tuk-tuk. The hiking trail begins at Marwar Bus Stand.

Visit the world’s only Brahma temple

The temples dedicated to the wives of Brahma steal the show when it comes to views, but the Brahma Temple is the most culturally important place in Pushkar. It’s the only temple in India dedicated to the creator god, Lord Brahma. Although Hinduism recognises more than 30 million gods, he’s one of the key three alongside Vishu and Shiva.

Made from marble, stone and silver coins, the Brahma Temple dates back to the 14th century, however there’s been a temple of some sort on this spot for 2,000 years.

A local legend says that when Brahma betrayed his wife, Savitri, and married Gayatri, the former cursed him so he’d only have one temple in India dedicated to him. Sounds like a soap opera I want to watch!

Unfortunately, photos are prohibited at the Brahma Temple so I have none. You’ll have to go see it with your own eyes!

Tips for visiting: since you can’t bring cameras and other belongings inside, you can leave them in a locker at the front for a small donation. This is perfectly safe and they give you the key, so don’t worry about your valuables.

If you’re not all templed out, another thing to do in Pushkar is visit Rangji Temple located close to the holy lake. It’s dedicated to Lord Rangji, the resting form of Lord Vishnu (the god of preservation) who you’ll find countless temples in India named after.

In typical Rajasthani style, it’s a sublime temple known for its paintings and sculptures. Entry is free and the best time to visit is around 8am when morning prayers take place.

One thing worth noting is that foreigners cannot enter the main gopuram (entry tower) but it’s still worth a visit to admire the beautiful exterior.

Temple hopping

Although Brahma Temple, Gayatri, Savitri and Rangji are the most popular tourist attractions in Pushkar, this little holy city is known for its dense array of temples: more than 500! If you have time, wander around the charming streets and see what you stumble upon.

Temples are free to visit. Some may not permit entry to foreigners, but you can simply ask if you’re unsure. If your legs and shoulders are not covered, bring a scarf or sarong to cover up accordingly.

Find the perfect sunset spot

For foodies, one of the best things to do in Pushkar is take a cooking class and learn how to make North Indian dishes for yourself. I can personally vouch for Pushkar Cooking Art Homestay inside a local’s home within walking distance from the lake.

We had a great time at this cooking class, making paneer masala, lentil dahl, vegetable curry, chana masala (chickpea curry) and chapatis. These are fun to make, watching them puff up on an open flame, then quickly flipping them to cook the other side.

After preparing our dishes and learning about the colourful, flavoursome ingredients used in Indian cuisine, we sat down to sample our creations during a delicious feast. Such a fun evening!

Celebrate Holi in March

Attending Holi festival in India is a real bucket list experience, one I’m honoured I’ve now done twice! My experiences in Rishikesh (2019) and Pushkar (2023) were comparable although the small streets of Pushkar do create a more intense and potentially claustrophobic vibe.

Holi represents the changing season and forgetting hate and negativity associated with the past. It’s a day to forget your differences (as we all look the same covered in paint!) including the complicated Indian caste divides.

Read my guide to celebrating Holi safely as a woman visiting India

Pushkar is a popular place to celebrate Holi for Indians and foreigners. The Mela Ground holds cultural events during evenings around the festival, and there’s a special aarti at the lake the night before. The main colour play takes place in the streets from early morning to early afternoon.

Holi dates are often confirmed last minute but you can expect it to be between the 6th and 9th of March.

Known as the birthplace of yoga, it would be rude to visit India and not take a class or two! There are plenty of places to unleash your spiritual side once you’ve ticked off the main things to do in Pushkar.

The main places to do yoga in Pushkar are Pushkar Yoga and Meditation Temple (2-hour classes for 500 rupees and other packages available) and Pushkar Yoga Garden (90-minute drop-in sessions). Both have fantastic reviews so I don’t think you can go wrong with either.

Get an Ayurvedic massage

I’ve had many massages in India over my time, of varying quality. I’ve yet to have one in Pushkar but there are many available. If you’re not deeply into Ayurveda and just want a bit of pampering, you can pick any advertised around Pushkar.

However, my friend, Ellie, wrote this guide to yoga and Ayurveda in Pushkar and can recommend the quality massages at Deepak Ayurveda Massage Centre for around 2,000 rupees (£20). They’ll report on your body, mind and chakras based on the massage, and offer tailored advice accordingly.

Hot air balloon over Pushkar

For an exhilarating activity in Pushkar, consider a hot air balloon ride high above the holy lake, sand dunes and temples. For optimum conditions and sunset views, balloon rides generally depart twice daily at 5am and 4.30pm.

Balloon ride prices start from 12,000 rupees (£120) for an hour’s flight. It’s one of the more expensive things to do in Pushkar but, for a bucket list experience, potentially well worth it!

A word about Pushkar camel fair & camel riding activities

Pushkar is famous for the golden desert surrounding it. Countless touts will encourage you to book desert safari excursions, however these are usually aboard a camel. Personally, I wouldn’t vouch for this activity: the camels are notoriously poorly treated.

Of course, it’s for you to do your research and decide what you feel comfortable with.

The other thing that brings local travellers to Pushkar is the annual Pushkar Camel Fair. Held in November, it attracts 400,000 visitors and lasts 2 weeks. While I’m sure it’s an atmospheric occasion, it’s another type of animal tourism that doesn’t sit well with me.

Hotel – we loved staying at Hotel Moti Mahal with a swimming pool and relaxing grounds. Just the peace you need in busy India! It’s just a short walk from the holy lake. The breakfast buffet is great, served on the roof terrace with fantastic views of Pushkar. Book from £20 a night.

Hostel – on another trip, I stayed at Moustache Hostel in a beautiful courtyard with colourful murals and dorms from £3 a night. They’re great for organising activities such as food walking tours. I’ve also heard positive things about Madpackers Hostel with a rooftop cafe and yoga classes, and Zostel with a pool.

For more Pushkar accommodation, browse hotels on Booking.com and hostels on Hostelworld.

Tips for visiting Pushkar

• Act appropriately around the holy lake by removing your shoes and ensuring you don’t capture locals bathing in your photos. Signs at the lake say ‘no photography’ but you’ll notice many people taking photos. Use your judgement and be respectful.
• Pushkar is a vegetarian city with no meat or eggs served. However, you will still find dairy.
• There’s also no alcohol – officially. Some places in Pushkar will serve you on the sly.
• To easy to get around Pushkar on foot. For other popular places to visit near Pushkar like the sunset temples, hail a tuk-tuk.

Common scams to be aware of

• ‘Priests’ may approach you by offering a flower and encouraging you to join the traditions by releasing it into the lake. Things take a turn as they demand money and, if you don’t give it, get aggressive or even threaten to curse your loved ones which can be upsetting.
• Beggars will often ask you to buy them food products rather than give money, then lead you to shops charging higher prices than necessary and making a business from the sale. I’m not convinced the beggars get to keep the food products.