Travel Guide: Pushkar
Mustache Hostel
I stayed outside the main lake area at Mustache Hostel, which offered a peaceful setting while still being close to everything.
Only a few hours from busy Jaipur, Pushkar is a relaxed, spiritual lake town. Before arriving, I had read online about potential scams, but I didn’t encounter any. On the streets, locals greeted me warmly, and shopkeepers welcomed me with a friendly “namaste.” The energy here feels calm—Pushkar is an underrated destination with enough to see and do without feeling overwhelming. The city has a deeply spiritual atmosphere, with an evening Aarti held by the lake every night. I was lucky enough to be in Pushkar during Diwali, and I’ve never seen so many people individually celebrating with fireworks before! There are still tourists around, but not so many that locals are overly pushy about selling their goods. I even met a few foreigners who had relocated from Western countries to make Pushkar their home. Outside the main lake area, there are quiet side streets lined with guesthouses and farmland. Unlike Rishikesh, which felt full of construction and noise, Pushkar has a calm and peaceful atmosphere.
Getting Here
The closest airport is in Jaipur (JAI) which is likely where you’ll be coming from. From Jaipur, you can take either a train or a bus to Pushkar. If you plan to take the train, it’s best to visit the station and purchase your ticket at least a day in advance. I always had trouble booking the train tickets online, as the site can be down frequently.
WHAT I WISH I KNEW BEFOREHAND
In India in general, the tuk tuks will uncharge you if you are a foreigner, so be aware!
I took the bus to Ajmer and then a tuk tuk to Pushkar, but if I were to do it again, I would have just taken a cab directly from my hostel in Jaipur to my hostel in Pushkar. The tuk tuk ended up being expensive and I only saved maybe 1,000 rupees in total and it took much longer than if I had just taken the 3,000 rupee taxi directly from Jaipur to Pushkar.
Book the train in advance either online or at the station. I had to take the bus because the train website was down when I tried to book. Ask your hostel to help you book.
Top Things to Do
Gayatri Mata Temple
Short hike up and is a perfect place for sunset; I preferred this temple over Shree Savitri
There were locals praying at the top of the temple and it didn’t feel commercial
Walk around Pushkar Lake
Like Rishikesh, the lake is holy, and take a stroll around or sit on any of the steps to watch the sunset
Around Brahma Ghat there is an Aarti
Temples Hop
There are some 400+ temples, so there’s really no need to look up any specific ones, just walk around!
Jagatpita Shri Brahma Mandir is the most famous temple, but I found it a little overwhelming and it felt like they were trying to get me to donate and give me a history lesson
Shopping
There are tons of shops for clothes, jewelry, books, etc. around Pushkar Lake and on the Main Street toward the Brahman Mandir temple
I preferred shopping here over Jaipur because Jaipur felt too crowded, with too many people trying to get me to go into their shop
Yoga
Sanatan Yog has the most reviews online and offers multiple classes per day
HELPFUL TIPS
Shree Savitri Mata Mandir is the highest rated temple but it feels commercial and I much preferred Gayatri Mata Temple
I walked up and took the cable car down, know that it is quite alot of steps up, especially in the heat
Pushkar is small and you can easily walk around and see everything in a day or two; you can easily also visit the city of Ajmer
Avoid the camel rides outside the main city area, they are touristy and it seemed like they are abusing the animals
Favorite Cafes/Restaurants
The Arty Vegan
The food was so fresh and phenomenal! The plates are interesting and the vibe is cozy. The owners also mentioned that they get all of their spices fresh from Kerala! There is a gym next door and they offer a high-protein vegan bowl which was nice.
Cafe Lake View
Highly rated restaurant and a very popular spot for tourists. The views are stunning and the food is tasty. They also have alot of tables and good wifi!
La Manjaare Cafe
Is very aesthetic, lots of tables and floor seating and an amazing view of the lake. The food was very fresh and well prepared. I talked to one of the workers and you can tell the owner has poured his heart into the cafe to make it a nice place for foreigners and it opened recently.
Doctor Alone Hostel & Cafe
I think this cafe has the best view and has a very laidback vibe. It’s located on the other side of the lake so it’s a bit quieter since there aren’t tons of shops around and it also has floor seating. The Israeli food was good!
Laura’s Cafe
For Indian food I thought this cafe was great and it also has a great view.
