Pushkar vs Jaisalmer

During my trip to Rajasthan I will probably have to choose between going to Pushkar (during the Camel Fest) OR visiting Jaisalmer (unless I spend less time in each which I don't want to do). Which one is the best to go to?

PS - all the information on this site is amazing. It has answered most of the questions I've had, and I can't wait to go!

Jaisalmer would be my definite choice.

Pushkar Fair is an experience limited to five or six days in a year, so if you are there during this period, do not miss it.

Jaisalmer is one of the finest places to visit and you must return if you cannot make it this time.

Thanks guys. I'll think about it! Anymore comments would be most welcome. Perhaps the accommodation situation will give me an indication about Pushkar!

Pushkar Mela is a experience not to be missed...

Everyone will tell you that you have to reserve your acomodation months ahead of the Pushkar Mela. This is only true if your looking for top of the line hotels, and even so. Last year I arrived in Pushkar in the middle of the Mela and found a double room for 200 rupies (very basic... backpacker style) after the Mela the price was 50 rupies .

There are lot's of guest houses and hotels in Pushkar.

Go before or stay after the Mela for a real feeling of Pushkar. It's really quiet.

Jaisalmer is really beautifull, but last year I found it to be really crowded, compared to the first time I was there. The camel safaris are the main atraction. Stay in the fort. Acomodations are more expensive but they are worth it.

If you're a chilled traveller you'll end up staying in Pushkar longer than you planned! It happened to me twice.

Oh - choices choices. Obrigado MBrissos (i'm sure that's not how you spell it!!) Thanks. I think I will re-do my itinerary to include both then..... I'll certainly be camelled out by the time I've finished....

During the Pushkar Camel Fair (Pushkar Mela) the placed is invaded by thousands of people (200,000 or so), and I guess the biggest gathering of camels in the world (50,000)!

Compared to the Maha Kumbh Mela (60 million people, the biggest human gathering in history) it's nothing. The thing is that Puskar has a resident population of around 4000 people, and it's at most 2 km square. So expect to dive into a total caotic experience.

But you'll be emerged in something that at times can be really hard to describe. It's just someting you'll have to see to know!

The rest of the year it's a really shanti place. Some people will tell you it's too touristic... but hey... it's suposed to be so... even for Indians, altought their style of tourism is of a more spiritual nature. That's the whole point of the place!

I love the place! I've made great friends there, indians and foreigners. Like I said in the previous post, it's hard to leave that place.

If you wan't some tips just continue this Thread. Of course it all depends on your style of travel, and the time available.

IMHO Pushkar is a boring dump ...

Pushkar is the Kho San Road of India.
Loads of the soul is gone...
And Still its a nice place...
You can buy clothes and books and Mainstream CDs and eat good cheal Buffée food before you go down buy the lake to see the Hipsters play out the FirePoyChains to the beat of the drum.

Jaisalmeer on the other hand, is a rich, castle in the sand/camel safari sort of thing with some OK food, amazing streets and some nice sights etc... Although there is not much to do there...

Its kind of a fort in the dessert and the shops are lame... (you CAN get amazing food though, allthough a bit hard to find).

At the end of the day Id say Mainstreem as it is.... Pushkar has more soul and spirit still than Jaisalmeer ever can come up with.. Walking around in the night listening to wedding music etc is soulfull and collorfull and different and strange...

I choose PUSHKAR.
its esyer getting there, allso I miss the hummos in the buffé.
But you have to go to Udaipur, thst where its at.

I'm definitely going to Udaipur, and plan to spend about 4 days there. Looks like Pushkar is on the cards as well. Don't suppose I'll see that many people and camels in such a small place again! Baldy - were you there out of the camel fest ("boring dump")?

I'm going to Bikaner, so perhaps that will make up for not going to Jaisalmer. I have to say that the amount of tourists that seem to go to the latter does put me off a bit, but I guess it's the same everywhere in Rajasthan.

What makes you say that Baldy?
What was it that you found so boring ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Got to be Jaisalmer for me too. Pushkar is a beautiful place for sure, but I strongly dissagree with the fact that some "elements" who stay there decide to parade around in whatever attire they please. Probably just me being a prude Brit, but it did spoil it a bit.

Forget Jaiselmair ...A long trip for a nice view and not much else
Go to Pushkar and use the time you save by not travelling to Jaiselmair (12 hours each way) to fully enjoy Pushkar and the surrounding area

I liekd it so much I sat out the himalayan monsoon there for a month ...and still found it hard to leave ...Ahhh Pushkar

Bryan

Though Pushkar has probably had it's day as a "hot" destination for the first time traveller it still offers much.
I like the surrounding countryside, the walking is great, and a few hours spent people watching on the ghats is still a wonderful India experience!!
Get away from the main drag and into the back streets and you'll be rewarded with a glimpse of village life!!
Sitting on a roof terrace at night listening to the mantras and bells eddying in the winds is still an intense experience.
The downside to Pushkar these days is the commercialism, as my friend put it "pushkar people want it rain money" this is really pretty aggresive but it's easy to avoid most touts won't walk the lenght of themselves so a walk anywhere outside the main drag is really peaceful and the birdwatching in Pushkar is brilliant!
I feel that Jaiselmer is probably similar in this commecialism so both destinations are equal on that front!!
I've never been to Jaiselmer so it's hard to compare but as Bryan said it's a long trek to get there and what does it offer that Pushkar doesn't??

Happy Traveling

B!
Your the man!
Your absolutly right. Jaisalmer is a horrid bussride to get a nice vieaw and continue the horrid bussride away from there. But still its pretty good too.

What about that veg hamburger toast place in Pushkar on the street!!! Did you try thoes? AMAZING! (its a biiiiig pan and people go around it for breakfast....)

AND there are chess games in pushkar that and cows, Jaisalmer got jack shit, sand and camel safari. Get on the camel!Get on the camel!Get on the camel!Get on the camel!Get on the camel!Get on the camel! Big fu+++ deal!

Sure Both are mainstream. But where Pushkar still has Life and momentum, And REAL people living the streats, eating breathing/ chanting the night away (OHM NAMA SHIVA in small houses with 50 shoes outside the door! (good stuff!!!) Jaisalmeer is nothing but a soulless postcard really.