Introduction
History
permeates the landscape of Rajasthan all over. Tradition and culture have an
incessant influence here. The cities and towns of the state are filled with
tales of romance and valour. Each single city or town is a mirror to the
quintessence of the royal land. Nagaur, a tiny quaint town, is also one of
the most frequented sites in Rajasthan. History relates that Sher Shah Suri
captured the town in 1542 and then presented it to Balban in the form of
jagir. An erstwhile citadel of the Rajputs, the town has cattle farmers that
form the major part of the population.
Though the exotic town of Nagaur has other attractions to lure, the biggest
draw for tourists is the Nagaur Fair or the Cattle Fair, the second largest
in Rajasthan. As many as 70,000 animals including bullocks, camels, cows and
horses can be observed during the fair. Buyers and sellers from all over the
state and the country pour into the town to deal in a variety of livestock.
Celebrations
Organised during January/ February, the Nagaur Fair invites hordes of
locals and tourists to partake in the festivities. The fair continues for
four days. One can easily spot villagers dressed in colourful costumes and
flaunting their mustaches arrive here to display their cattle. Not to talk
of traders, even the livestock on sale are decorated to attract visitors.
Herd of cows, well-bred and sturdy can be noticed all over. Camels and
horses of the finest breeds are also available. Before the buyers settle, a
hard bargain follows.
Apart from the trading of livestock, the fair also holds a number of
cultural activities that have been a part of their lifestyle for long.
Puppeteers, jugglers, story-tellers, snake charmers and acrobats gather from
all across the state. Folk artists including dancers and musicians are also
there to grace the occasion. Performances put by the artists remind one of
the valour and gallantry that the monarchs of yore represented. The air
seems to reverberate with folk tunes.
Besides
dance and music, the fair also includes a number of cultural competitions.
Cattle owners arrive with their well bred and well mannered camels, horses
and bullocks. Crowds begin to swell even more as the camel races and horse
races commence on the desert land. The fair is also famous for its largest
red chilli market. Furthermore, the village artisans and craftsmen are also
there displaying some of the most exquisite items of art and craft. These
include wood carvings, iron crafts, stone carvings, jewellery, embroidered
items etc.
Other Attractions
Besides taking part in the Nagaur Fair, you can also visit the attractions
that lie nearby. The prominent ones are as follows.
» Nagaur Fort
» Tarkeen Dargah
» Hadi Rani Mahal
» Sheesh Mahal
» Badal Mahal
Reaching Options
The closest airport is at Jodhpur (138 km). From the airport, you can hire
taxis to reach Nagaur. Nagaur has a railhead of its own. The Jaipur-Bikaner
Intercity Express links Nagaur with Jaipur. There are no direct rail
connection from Delhi or Mumbai. Nagaur can be accessed through road route
from Jaipur. Ajmer lies at a distance of 162 km from Nagaur while Jaisalmer
is 312 km from here.
