Jaipur to Pushkar for International Travellers: Car, Train or Bus?

Short answer: Jaipur to Pushkar is about 145–150 km by road and takes 2.5–3.5 hours, via the NH-48 to Kishangarh and Ajmer and over the Nag Pahar hill. For most international visitors a private car with a driver is the easiest option. You can also take the 10:45 Shatabdi train to Ajmer (about 2 hours) and a 30-minute taxi, or a direct bus (about 3.5 hours). Stay at least one night: Pushkar is best at sunset and early morning.

How far is Pushkar from Jaipur, and which way does the road go?

Route planners put Jaipur to Pushkar at roughly 145–150 km by road (MakeMyTrip route planner and Rome2Rio, checked 30 October 2026). The usual route leaves Jaipur on the NH-48 towards Ajmer. It is a wide, divided highway for most of the way, past Dudu and Kishangarh, the marble town where the road is lined with stone yards.

At Ajmer you cross the city or take the bypass, and then climb the short ghat road over Nag Pahar (“snake mountain”) into Pushkar. That last stretch is only 11–14 km but is slow and winding, and it jams on fair days. Allow 2.5 hours in light traffic and 3.5 hours if you leave Jaipur after 9 am, stop for chai, or go through Ajmer town. Online planners quoting “2 hours” assume an empty highway.

Which is the best way from Jaipur to Pushkar for a foreign visitor?

For most first-time visitors the car wins. Pushkar sits in the middle of the classic Rajasthan loop, so the same car usually continues south to Udaipur or west to Jodhpur after a night or two. That saves you a second transfer with bags. Our private car and driver page explains how a multi-day car and driver works, including where the driver sleeps and what is included.

Is there a train from Jaipur to Pushkar?

Not in a useful way. Pushkar has a small terminal station, but almost all travellers take the train to Ajmer Junction instead. The most convenient is the 12015 Ajmer Shatabdi, which runs daily: it arrives in Jaipur at 10:35, leaves at 10:45 and reaches Ajmer at 12:50 (ConfirmTkt timetable, checked 30 October 2026). It has air-conditioned Chair Car and Executive Chair Car seats, with a snack served on board.

Several other express trains run between Jaipur and Ajmer through the day, taking roughly 2–3 hours. If the class codes on the booking site are unfamiliar, our guide to Indian train classes explains CC, EC, 2A and 3A. Book through the IRCTC website or app, or ask your operator. Timings change with each railway timetable, so check them again before you travel.

From Ajmer station, Pushkar is about 11–14 km. A taxi or auto-rickshaw takes about 30 minutes, and local buses also run. Agree the fare before you get in, or ask your hotel to send a car.

What about flying?

You do not fly from Jaipur to Pushkar; the two are too close. If you are coming from another city, Jaipur International Airport (JAI) is the main gateway, about 146 km from Pushkar. The smaller Kishangarh airport (KQH), between Jaipur and Ajmer, has a few domestic flights. Schedules there change often, so check current flights before planning around it. For an international arrival, the usual pattern is Delhi to Jaipur first. Our Delhi to Jaipur guide compares the train, car and flight options.

Can you do Pushkar as a day trip from Jaipur?

You can, but most visitors regret it. A same-day return means 5–7 hours on the road for about 3–4 hours in Pushkar. You would also arrive in the heat of the middle of the day and leave before sunset, which is when the lake is at its best. If your time is short, a better plan is:

• Day 1: leave Jaipur at 8 am. Stop at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah if you wish (cover your head, and expect crowds on Thursdays and Fridays). Reach Pushkar for lunch, rest, then walk the ghats and watch the sunset from Gau Ghat or the Savitri temple hill.
• Day 2: early morning on the ghats, visit the Brahma temple, then drive on to Udaipur (about 280 km) or Jodhpur (about 200 km), or back to Jaipur.

This is how we build Pushkar into a Rajasthan tour: as a one-night stop that splits a long drive. If you are only doing Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, our Golden Triangle tour can add Pushkar as a two-day extension at the end.

What should you know before arriving in Pushkar?

Pushkar is a Hindu pilgrimage town built around a sacred lake with 52 ghats (bathing steps). A few local rules and customs surprise visitors:

• Vegetarian town: meat and eggs are not served in the town, and alcohol is not openly sold. Cafés are excellent all the same.
• Shoes off on the ghats: leave them at your hotel or at a shoe stall. Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered.
• Photography: do not photograph people bathing, and ask before photographing priests or rituals. Some ghats put up no-photo signs.
• The “flower” approach: someone may hand you a flower or offer a free blessing at the lake, then ask for a large “donation” for a puja (prayer ritual). Politely say no if you do not want one; if you do, agree the amount first.
• Brahma temple: one of very few temples in India dedicated to Brahma. Bags and cameras usually have to be left outside, so carry little.

Small tips are normal for drivers and guides; our tipping in India guide gives typical amounts.

When is the best time to go, and what about Pushkar Mela?

The Pushkar Mela (camel and livestock fair) runs from 10 to 26 November 2026. The main cultural programme is 17–24 November, and the Kartik Purnima full-moon bathing day is 24 November. Our Pushkar Mela 2026 guide has the schedule. During the fair the Jaipur road and the Nag Pahar ghat are much slower, so add an hour to drive times. Hotels and tent camps fill weeks ahead, and the camel trading is busiest in the first days, before the cultural events start.

What this means for your trip

Treat Jaipur to Pushkar as half a day of travel, not a day trip. Go by car if you are carrying on through Rajasthan, or take the 10:45 Shatabdi to Ajmer if you prefer the train. Stay at least one night, and if you are in India in mid-November, decide early whether you want the fair crowds or a quieter visit either side of them.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get from Jaipur to Pushkar?

By private car it takes 2.5–3.5 hours for about 145–150 km. By train, the 12015 Shatabdi takes about 2 hours from Jaipur to Ajmer (10:45 to 12:50), plus about 30 minutes by taxi over the Nag Pahar hill to Pushkar. Direct buses take about 3.5 hours. Allow an extra hour during Pushkar Mela in November, when the ghat road into town is congested.

Is Pushkar worth visiting from Jaipur?

Yes, if you can stay overnight. Pushkar is very different from Jaipur: a small, walkable pilgrimage town around a sacred lake, with ghats, temples and a relaxed café scene. The lake is at its best at sunset and dawn, which a day trip misses. It fits naturally between Jaipur and Udaipur or Jodhpur, so it rarely adds a full day to a Rajasthan route.

Is there a direct train from Jaipur to Pushkar?

Not a practical one. Pushkar has a small station with very few trains, so travellers take a train to Ajmer Junction instead. The 12015 Ajmer Shatabdi runs daily from Jaipur at 10:45 and reaches Ajmer at 12:50 (ConfirmTkt, checked 30 October 2026). From Ajmer, Pushkar is 11–14 km by taxi, auto-rickshaw or local bus.

Should I stop at Ajmer on the way?

Many visitors stop at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, the shrine of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, which is on the way. Allow about 1–1.5 hours. Cover your head (scarves are sold outside), leave shoes at the stalls, keep valuables close in the crowd, and expect it to be busiest on Thursday evenings and Fridays. A car with a driver makes the stop easy.

Can I drive myself from Jaipur to Pushkar?

Self-drive car hire exists in Jaipur, and foreigners need an International Driving Permit with their home licence. Most international visitors still choose a car with a driver: Indian highway traffic, cattle on the road, and parking in Pushkar’s narrow lanes are tiring if you are new to India. The cost difference is smaller than many people expect.

When is Pushkar Mela in 2026?

The Pushkar camel fair runs 10–26 November 2026. The main programme is 17–24 November, and the Kartik Purnima full-moon bathing day is 24 November. Entry to the fair ground is free. Rooms and tent camps sell out early, prices rise sharply, and the drive from Jaipur slows down, so book transport and accommodation well ahead.