Pushkar town and its lake in a valley ringed by the Aravalli hills

Religious site · Pushkar, Ajmer district, Rajasthan

Pushkar: Lake, Ghats and the Brahma Temple

Sacred lake town ringed by 52 ghats, home to a rare temple of Brahma and the famous camel fair

Ambient sound · similar settingGently lapping water

Photo: Sudev Kiyada (@sudev_kiyada) / Unsplash

Discover Pushkar: Lake, Ghats and the Brahma Temple

Pushkar wraps around a small, sacred lake in a valley of the Aravalli hills, about 10 km from Ajmer. Fifty-two ghats step down to the water, and at dawn and dusk the sound of bells and chanting drifts across as pilgrims bathe and priests perform prayers.

The town is one of Hinduism's holiest, famous for its temple dedicated to Lord Brahma, and every autumn it fills for the great Pushkar Fair, when camel traders, pilgrims and visitors gather on the dunes at the edge of town. The rest of the year it is a relaxed place of temple lanes, rooftop cafes and hilltop viewpoints.

Don’t miss

01The 52 ghats around Pushkar Lake, especially Varaha, Brahma and Gandhi ghats
02The Brahma Temple with its red spire
03Savitri temple on Ratnagiri hill, with views over the lake
04Pushkar Fair and Kartik Purnima bathing in October or November
05Evening aarti on the ghats

History & culture

The story of Pushkar: Lake, Ghats and the Brahma Temple

According to legend, Brahma killed a demon with a lotus flower whose petals fell to earth to form three lakes, giving Pushkar its name from the Sanskrit for flower and hand. The lake is surrounded by 52 ghats, ten of which are protected as monuments of national importance; Varaha Ghat and Brahma Ghat are linked to legends of Vishnu and Brahma, and Gau Ghat was renamed Gandhi Ghat after some of Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were immersed there.

The present Brahma Temple dates largely from the fourteenth century, with later repairs. Its priests come from an ascetic order, and the sanctum is traditionally entered only by sanyasis; offerings are passed through the priest. On the hill behind, the Savitri temple honours Brahma's consort.

Local life & traditions

Pushkar is a vegetarian town where meat, eggs and alcohol are not sold, in keeping with its holy status. Priests on the ghats perform puja for pilgrims and tie a red thread on the wrist; the town is also known for sweets such as malpua and for its markets of textiles, silver and rose products.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Walk the ghats early in the morning, then visit the Brahma Temple and its busy lanes. Climb to the Savitri temple on Ratnagiri hill, about an hour on foot by steps, for a sweeping view over the town and lake, ideally at sunrise or sunset.

If you are visiting in October or November, the Pushkar Fair brings camel trading, decorated animals, folk music, competitions and cultural shows to the fairground at the edge of town, culminating on Kartik Purnima.

When to go

October to March is the most comfortable time. The Pushkar Fair falls around Kartik Purnima in October or November, when the town is at its most colourful but also crowded and more expensive; book well ahead. Summers are hot, and the monsoon brings fresh greenery to the hills.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Pushkar Fair: Held around Kartik Purnima, the full moon of the Hindu month of Kartik (October or November); exact dates vary each year Source: incredibleindia.gov.in ↗
Nearest airport: Jaipur International Airport (JAI) is the major airport serving the region Source: incredibleindia.gov.in ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Remove your shoes before stepping onto the ghats and ask before photographing people bathing or praying.
Priests may offer a puja on the ghats in return for a donation; agree any amount beforehand, or politely decline.
Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees, especially near temples and ghats.
Respect the town's vegetarian and alcohol-free customs.
Book accommodation months ahead if visiting during the Pushkar Fair.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Pushkar: Lake, Ghats and the Brahma Temple: food, markets & places to stay

Ajmer, with its railway station and the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, lies about 10 km south-east over Nag Pahar. Pushkar's main bazaar runs behind the ghats, with vegetarian cafes, sweet shops and guesthouses throughout the town. Pushkar also has a small railway station, though most visitors arrive via Ajmer.