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Nagaur Fair: Rajasthan's great livestock market
Dawn smoke over the dunes, bright turbans and hills of red chilli
The Nagaur Fair is a livestock fair in central Rajasthan, called the second biggest fair in India: about 70,000 bullocks, camels and horses change hands here every year. Rajasthan Tourism holds four festival days within it, with camel and bullock races: 12–15 February 2027. Nagaur lies between Jodhpur and Bikaner, about 144 km and 114 km away by road.
Rajasthan Tourism publishes the dates years ahead (its current list runs to 2030) and can revise them; check its calendar a few months before.
The legend
The Nagaur Fair is called the second biggest fair in India. Every January or February owners from all over Rajasthan gather here to buy and sell livestock.
Nagaur district is the home of the Nagori, a draught breed of cattle used mainly for farm work.
Customs
Mirchi Bazaar
Next to the livestock lines is the Mirchi Bazaar, India's largest red chilli market.
Crafts and tales
Stalls sell wooden goods and ironwork, and jugglers, puppeteers and storytellers perform at the fair.
What happens at the fair
Nagaur is a working livestock market first and a spectacle second. Rajasthan Tourism counts about 70,000 bullocks, camels and horses traded here each year, and owners come from all over the state. The animals are decorated with care, and so are their owners, in bright turbans and long moustaches. Sheep and spices change hands too.
Nagaur district is the home of the Nagori, a draught breed kept mainly for farm work, so bullocks are the core of the trade. Around the animal lines the fair spreads into stalls of wooden goods, ironwork and camel-leather accessories, next to the Mirchi Bazaar, India's largest red chilli market.
During the tourism festival the organisers add sports: tug-of-war, camel races and bullock races. Jugglers, puppeteers and storytellers work the crowd. The busiest time on the ground is the second day at first light, when the animal lines are full.
How the dates are set
The livestock fair opens on the first lunar day of the bright half of Magha, so it moves between late January and mid-February. Within it Rajasthan Tourism holds a four-day tourism festival with the races and programmes. Next: 12–15 February 2027.
The department publishes these dates years ahead, but it can revise them, so check its calendar a few months before you go.
How to get to Nagaur
Nagaur lies between Jodhpur and Bikaner, so the fair fits a route between the two.
- By air
The nearest airport is Jodhpur, about 137 km away; continue by road.
- By train
Nagaur has rail links with Jodhpur, Bikaner and Jaipur, and with more distant cities such as Mumbai and Indore.
- By bus or car
Buses run from Jodhpur, Jaipur and Bikaner. By road Bikaner is about 114 km, Jodhpur about 144 km and Ajmer about 155 km.
- In town
Ahhichatragarh, the Nagaur fort, has been in the care of the Mehrangarh Museum Trust since 1985 and is worth an extra half-day. Khimsar and Osian pair well with the trip, as do the Jaisalmer Desert Festival and the Baneshwar Fair in the same season.
Etiquette and safety
This is people's livelihood: deals are being made around you.
- Ask before photographing — Owners and their animals are not a show; ask first, especially at close range.
- Give the animals room — Keep clear of the race tracks and of animals being led through the lines.
- Crowds — FCDO notes that stampedes have occurred at some events with large crowds; on race days keep an exit in sight.
FAQ
When is the Nagaur Fair?
Next: 12–15 February 2027, the four days of Rajasthan Tourism's festival. The livestock fair itself opens on the first lunar day of the bright half of Magha, between late January and mid-February.
Which state is Nagaur in?
Rajasthan. The town lies in the centre of the state, between Jodhpur and Bikaner.
What animals are sold at the Nagaur Fair?
Mainly bullocks, camels and horses, about 70,000 a year by Rajasthan Tourism's count, along with sheep. Nagori bullocks, a local draught breed, are the core of the trade.
How do I get to the Nagaur Fair?
The nearest airport is Jodhpur, about 137 km away. Nagaur has trains and buses from Jodhpur, Bikaner and Jaipur.
Sources (5)
Facts checked: 21 October 2026. Prices and hours are approximate; check locally.