Pushkar Camel Fair

Welcome to incredible India and to the start of your holiday! An Ekno representative will meet you and escort you to our hotel upon your arrival at the airport in Delhi. After checking into the hotel, spend the rest of your day at your leisure exploring the local area and soaking up the vibrant atmosphere. Our friendly guide and hotel staff will be on hand should you need restaurant recommendations or general provisions.

Today we will take an early morning train ride to the culturally significant town of Ajmer, Rajasthan. Sit back and enjoy your journey on the famed Indian Railways, in what is truly a quintessential Indian experience.

Founded in about 7AD, Ajmer has a rich and ancient history. We’ll explore the town with the help of a local expert guide, and will visit the mausoleum of Sufi Saint Moinuddin Christi – a 10th century saint famous for his work bringing Muslims and non-Muslims together. In many ways Ajmer is a fabulous example of India’s immense religious diversity, and you will find that unique Hindu and Sufi traditions are woven together throughout the city.

After our tour of Ajmer, we will drive to the lakeside town of Pushkar, arriving in the evening in time for dinner.

Today is our first day of the Pushkar Camel Fair. Once a year, this sleepy lakeside town erupts into a frenzy of activity, as hundreds of thousands of cattle traders, breeders, herdsmen, farmers, pilgrims and travellers descend upon it for the annual celebration.

Livestock traders are everywhere and have set up camp in the nearby sand dunes. Camels and goats mill about in packs. In the background, a camel beauty pageant is underway. A moustache competition is happening to your left, a game of tug of war to you right. Join in with the festivities or browse the craft stalls. The festival is yours to experience, and is a one in a lifetime opportunity to tick off the bucket list!

Take a break from the clamour of the fair and discover a change of pace at the Hindu pilgrimage site of Pushkar Lake. According to legend, while searching for a place to perform a fire sacrifice, the Hindu God Brahma made Pushkar Lake appear out of thin air. On the day of the full moon thousands of pilgrims flock to the ghats of the lake to bathe in its sacred waters.

We will enjoy two full days in Pushkar where we will alternate between the fair and the town. There are many lovely roof top restaurants in Pushkar and optional extras such as camel rides, music lessons and yoga classes.

Today is our first day of the Pushkar Camel Fair. Once a year, this sleepy lakeside town erupts into a frenzy of activity, as hundreds of thousands of cattle traders, breeders, herdsmen, farmers, pilgrims and travellers descend upon it for the annual celebration.

Livestock traders are everywhere and have set up camp in the nearby sand dunes. Camels and goats mill about in packs. In the background, a camel beauty pageant is underway. A moustache competition is happening to your left, a game of tug of war to you right. Join in with the festivities or browse the craft stalls. The festival is yours to experience, and is a one in a lifetime opportunity to tick off the bucket list!

Take a break from the clamour of the fair and discover a change of pace at the Hindu pilgrimage site of Pushkar Lake. According to legend, while searching for a place to perform a fire sacrifice, the Hindu God Brahma made Pushkar Lake appear out of thin air. On the day of the full moon thousands of pilgrims flock to the ghats of the lake to bathe in its sacred waters.

We will enjoy two full days in Pushkar where we will alternate between the fair and the town. There are many lovely roof top restaurants in Pushkar and optional extras such as camel rides, music lessons and yoga classes.

After breakfast you will have the last morning in Pushkar at your leisure. You can enjoy a final visit to the fair or use it as an opportunity to shop for unique Rajasthani souvenirs.

In the afternoon we will travel by car to Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan. We will reach the famous ‘pink city’ in the evening, in time to check into our hotel and enjoy dinner.

We will start the day with a visit to the magnificent Amber Fort. You can choose to walk or take a jeep up to the fort’s entrance. The ascent to the fort, no matter your mode of transportation, is full of unbeatable views. Once inside the fort’s walls we will explore the inner rooms of the palace along with the impressive gardens, temples, and opulent private apartments that were once home to Mughal rulers.

In the afternoon we will enjoy a city tour of Jaipur’s many iconic landmarks. We will visit the remains of the Hawa Mahal palace, followed by a trip to the ancient Jantar Mantar observatory. We will then explore the vast City Palace, with its many courtyards, gardens and intricately adorned buildings. There will also be the chance to browse several museums and art galleries in the evening.

After breakfast we will begin our drive to Agra, home of the world famous Taj Mahal. On the way we will stop and explore the Abhaneri Stepwell. We’ll have a delicious Indian lunch after visiting Abhaneri Stepwell and then proceed to Agra.

Upon arrival in Agra, the rest of the day is free to spend at your leisure, soaking up the atmosphere of this ancient city. Many roof top restaurants boast magnificent views of the Taj Mahal and you may wish to dine out in one of these as the sun sets on Agra and its most famous monument to love.

This morning we will wake up early to watch the sun rise over the magnificent Taj Mahal. This iconic white marble mausoleum was constructed to commemorate the late wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, taking over 22 years to build. In 1983 the structure was recognised as an UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is one of the most universally recognised architectural masterpieces in the world. Watching the colour of the marble change as the sun comes over the Taj up is yet another bucket list experience.

We will return to our hotel for breakfast and then begin our drive to Delhi, arriving by early evening. This evening is at your leisure to relax in the hotel or on one of Delhi’s many roof top restaurants, which provide a great view of the bustling streets below.

Our tour concludes after breakfast. Bid ‘phir milenge’ (until we meet again) or continue onward to another exotic destination in India. We will transfer you to the airport for your onward international or domestic flight. We look forward to seeing you on another Ekno experience soon.