Nagaur Travel Guide
Remote Desert Town and Famous Cattle Fair
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Nagaur lies in the heart of Rajasthan, a remote and difficult to reach destination. Once a year it comes alive for its cattle fair, or mela, a trading event and festival to complement the pleasantly cool days of mid-winter. With a fort, mosque and noticeable Muslim flavour Nagaur makes for a worthwhile destination for those seeking to get off the beaten track.
Nagaur’s Ahhichatragarh Fort, the dramatically entitled ‘Fort of the Hooded Cobra’ dates from the early 12th century and successfully embodies the town’s history of power struggles and changing fortunes. Recently restored it is an impressive blend of Rajput and Mughal styles having been added to and adapted over the intervening years. Huge double walls surround the fort itself which contains a richly painted palace and water system which, in this desert clime, recycles that which is used. The town has a distinctly Muslim flavour and there are several mosques, some inside the fort itself.
But it’s not generally the fort that brings most visitors to Nagaur. Every year during late January and February Rajasthan’s second largest Cattle Fair takes place, the other being at Pushkar. At this time the town and countryside becomes a sea of animals, trading over 70,000 bullocks, camels and horses. As ever the colourful Rajasthani people use the fair to dress in their finery and like Pushkar there is an atmosphere of celebration.
Attractions in Nagaur
Dates for forthcoming fairs are: 13-16 Feb 2008, 2-5 Feb 2009, 22-25 Jan 2010, 10-13 Feb 2011. It is advisable to book well in advance as accommodation does get booked up.
Relaxing
Enjoy a lassi in one of the town-centre’s restaurants.
Getting Around
Nagaur is best reached with your own transport as it is fairly remote and not on the tourist trail.
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