If you are planning a trip to Rajasthan’s holy town of Pushkar, your journey will almost certainly bring you through the bustling transit hub of Ajmer. The next question therefore is of how to get from Ajmer to Pushkar.
Pushkar is just fifteen kilometres away but on the opposite side of the rugged Aravalli Hills. So, Ajmer is the literal gateway to Pushkar.
While there are local buses and rickshaws available, taking a taxi from Ajmer to Pushkar is hands down the easiest, fastest, and most comfortable way to make the journey – especially if you are travelling with heavy bags or arriving after a long train ride. Or if you have had the kind of experience in Ajmer that we did and want to make a quick exit! (Read on about that).
Here is everything you need to know about navigating the taxi ride from Ajmer to Pushkar.
First Step: Getting to Ajmer
Because Pushkar is tucked away in a quiet desert valley, it does not have a major railway station or commercial airport. Instead, travellers catch a train directly to Ajmer Junction (AII), one of the best-connected rail hubs in northwestern India.
- By Train from Delhi: If you are coming from the nation’s capital, you can board the high-speed Vande Bharat Express (#20978) or the comfortable Ajmer Shatabdi (#12015). Both depart New Delhi in the morning and get you into Ajmer in roughly 6 to 7 hours.
- By Train from Udaipur: Travelling up from the City of Lakes is just as simple. Daily express trains connect Udaipur City to Ajmer Junction, taking around 5 hours.
Options From Ajmer to Pushkar
Because there isn’t a train station in Pushkar, arriving here can seem a little complex if you – like us – make your journey around India by rail. Thankfully, the final leg of the trip is actually straightforward.
Pushkar is just 15 kilometres away from the bustling transport hub of Ajmer. The drive takes less than 30 minutes by car. So, taking a private taxi from Ajmer to Pushkar is by far the most practical and hassle-free choice for travellers.
However, if you are looking to add the holy city as an extension of your Golden Triangle itinerary, another highly popular route is to hire a private driver from Jaipur to Pushkar. This drive takes around three hours, making it an easy direct connection from the Pink City.
The Taxi Journey: Ajmer to Pushkar
Once your train brakes at Ajmer Junction and you step outside the station doors, you will instantly be greeted by a sea of eager taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers. (Literally a swarming sea of eager drivers!).
However, this is not the only option to book.
Logistics & How to Book
You do not need to book a ride weeks in advance for this route. You have three options to get you over the mountain pass by taxi from Ajmer to Pushkar:
1. Book a Private Driver Through Your Accommodation (Our Recommendation)
This is what we did, and it is a stress-free option (avoiding the touts!).
When you book your stay in Pushkar, simply message your guesthouse or hotel ahead of time and ask them to arrange a private driver to meet you. When your train pulls into Ajmer Junction, your driver will be waiting for you right at the platform or just outside the station exit, holding a sign with your name.
This way there is no navigating crowds, no haggling, and you can jump straight into a car knowing the driver knows exactly how to find your accommodation.
2. The Taxi Line-Up
The other standard option is to find the line of taxis outside the train station or just in one of the main(ish) roads in the centre of Ajmer. If you are willing to brave the swarm of drivers vying for your job this is a standard (seemingly) option to get a taxi from Ajmer to Pushkar.
3. Ride-Sharing Apps
Both Uber and Ola operate reliably (in theory) within Ajmer. If you have signal and can find a driver that way this is another option that again, prevents haggling random taxis from the chaotic streetside to get from Ajmer to Pushkar.
Cost and Journey Time
- The Cost: A standard, air-conditioned taxi from Ajmer to Pushkar generally costs between ₹500 and ₹1500, depending on the vehicle size and the time of day.
- The Time: The ride takes anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes, heavily depending on Ajmer’s notoriously bottlenecked city traffic.
What to Expect on the Drive
Leaving the chaotic, horn-honking streets of Ajmer behind, takes a while. But once you are out of the city the taxi will quickly begin ascending the winding, steep switchbacks of the Pushkar Ghat mountain pass.
The drive over the hill is scenic. You’ll have views looking back over Ajmer’s massive Ana Sagar Lake, and you are almost guaranteed to spot troupes of wild grey langur monkeys lounging along the concrete roadside barriers.
Best Things to Do in Ajmer and Pushkar
To maximise your transit day, you could consider spending a morning exploring the historic sites of Ajmer before getting your taxi from Ajmer to Pushkar.
Quick Stops in Ajmer
- Ajmer Sharif Dargah: The magnificent, marble-domed shrine of the revered Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, standing as one of India’s most important spiritual pilgrimage sites.
- Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra: A fascinating, ancient mosque built in 1199 out of the beautifully carved stone ruins of Hindu and Jain temples.
- Ana Sagar Lake: A massive, historic artificial lake flanked by manicured gardens and stunning white marble pavilions built by Emperor Shah Jahan.
Top Things to Do in Pushkar
Once your taxi drops you off at your accommodation, you can easily explore Pushkar’s compact, pedestrian-friendly core entirely on foot:
- Ghats by the Sacred Lake: See the 52 historic stone bathing ghats lining the holy lake water.
- Visit the Brahma Temple: Step inside the rare, 14th-century Jagatpita Brahma Temple, one of the only shrines in the world dedicated to the Hindu creator god.
- Hike Ratnagiri Hill: Climb the steep stone stairs (or ride the convenient ropeway cable car) up to the Savitri Mata Temple for the impressive view.
- The Evening Aarti: Head down to Varaha Ghat at sunset to witness priests waving massive brass oil lamps amidst the synchronised chanting and drums.
- Bargain at the Bazaar: Wander the narrow, vibrant market streets to shop for affordable silver jewellery, textiles, and souvenirs
Best Time to Visit Pushkar?
Ah, the golden question of travel in India! Having now visited the country in every season of the year, I can confidently tell you that India does not follow the traditional four seasons of the West. Instead, it moves through distinct phases of intense heat, monsoons, and cool winters.
Without a doubt, winter is the absolute best time to visit Pushkar.
The winter months in India run from October to March, offering a drier, pleasant climate across Rajasthan.
On the flip side, despite Rajasthan being widely labelled as a dry desert state, it actually gets incredibly wet during the monsoon season, which strikes anytime from July to September.
This is not the time you want to be exploring Pushkar! Not only do the streets flood easily, but the humid, wet conditions mark the peak time for tropical viruses and mosquito-borne illnesses like Dengue Fever.
What Did We Learn in Ajmer and Pushkar?
The truth is, that visiting Ajmer and Pushkar during the rainy season was intense. So intense that Gavin ended up with Dengue Fever in our last weeks in India on this trip!
Book your trip from Ajmer to Pushkar during the sweet spot of the winter months!
Where to Stay in Pushkar
To fully appreciate Pushkar’s tranquil charm, we highly recommend avoiding the noisy, chaotic main market drag and instead choosing a property on the outskirts of the town.
We stayed at Inn Seventh Heaven (lol; the name) and really enjoyed our stay.
The hotel is a 100-year-old Haveli (mansion) and is beautifully set up inside with an internal courtyard and common places to relax on each level.
Their restaurant is cute with good service and does a sweet breakfast with egg-free pancakes that surprised us all in a good way.
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- 4-Day Kochi & Kerala Itinerary.
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Travel Planning for India & Beyond
These are the companies we use while traveling and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere in Asia through 12Go.
- Skyscanner – Our favourite flight search engine. They can search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide – A huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world. Everything from walking tours to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Make sure you have travel insurance before further planning Ajmer to Pushkar!
Hi! I’m Sarah. I am the self-confessed dreamer, travel-schemer and the main editor behind this blog. I love to write, and it is a dream come true to share so many experiences together and inspire others in our stories.
