Camels wander past entrancing temples in the holy town of Pushkar, located on the banks of serene Pushkar Lake. Authentic and evocative, Pushkar is one of India’s most underrated gems. With its ghats and temples, old-world ambience and holy men, this ancient town symbolises the Indian allure. Pushkar is hidden in the mountains, roughly three hours away from Jaipur.

Pushkar is a place for soaking up the atmosphere, watching camels plod along dusty streets and allowing incense to perforate the nostrils. Hindus make the pilgrimage to Pushkar Lake, and there’s an atmosphere of spirituality along the water, particularly at the ghats used by locals for ritual bathing. Of the dozens of temples, the most important are the unique Brahma Temple and Savitri Temple, which must be reached by ascending 650 steps to views over the town. Nomadic tribes continue to occupy the surrounding landscape, and these can be visited on camel rides.

Pushkar’s isolation has helped it maintain its originality. The Jaipur Airport is three hours away by bus while travelling to Delhi takes 10 hours. Pushkar’s train station isn’t on the express network, so it’s usually much quicker to take a train to Ajmer, then travel the 30 minutes to Pushkar by taxi.

Pushkar translates as “Lotus Flower” and is considered to be the town of Brahma, the creator of the world in the Hindu religion. Many pilgrims come during the Hindu month of Kartik, which coincides with Pushkar Camel Fair.