All the fun of the camel fair (by Joe)

We were advised to visit the Pushkar camel fair by a bloke we met at our guesthouse in Agra. So, a bit tired after travelling extensively for a couple of weeks we decided to stay here and settle down for a few days. It's been great fun.

The camel fair is an annual event for one week involving camel trading, camel racing and various other camel-related activities (see left - the trading field). It's a genuine trading market for locals from across Rajasthan but has also developed into a bit of a tourist attraction.

There's also a major funfair which takes place alongside (see right - picture of the 4 big wheels). Its a bit like I imagine a funfair would have been in the UK 30 years ago and fully expected at some point to come across a tent featuring bare-knuckle boxing or no holds-barred wrestling (never did, though). There's also masses of food stalls, stalls selling camel equipment (left / below) and candy floss and toy sellers walking the tracks between the tents. It's all fantastic and colourful.

Pushkar itself is beautiful - surrounded by hills and centred around a lake to which Hindus make pilgrimages to bathe in the waters from the large ghats (gateways with staircases down into the waters).

Pushkar is a holy town, so officially all meat, eggs, fish, alcohol and narcotics are banned. However, as with many places where there are prohibitions there is a thriving (not so well-hidden) black market for all the above (and every backpacker hotel and cafe has 'special' coffees - containing marijuana - on their menus).

The place is popular with backpackers so is well set up. It's been a very pleasant place to stay for 4 days.

Joe