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Known as the city of the 13th-century Sufi Saint Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chisti, Ajmer is situated in the green oasis wrapped in the barren hills in the state of Rajasthan, India. The city was founded by Raja Ajay Pal Chauhan in the 7th Century A.D. and continued to be a major center of the Chauhan power till 1193 A.D. when Prithviraj Chauhan lost it to Mohammed Ghauri. Since then, Ajmer became home to many dynasties, which came and left leaving behind indelible marks of their culture and traditions on the city's history.
Today, Ajmer is a popular pilgrimage center in India for the Hindus as well as Muslims. Especially famous is the Dargah Sharif - tomb of the Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti,which is equally revered by the Hindus and Muslims. Ajmer is also the travel base for visiting Pushkar (11 km.), the abode of Lord Brahma, lying to its west with a temple and a picturesque lake.
Attractions in Ajmer
The Dargah Sharif: At the foot of a barren hill, is situated India's most important pilgrimage center for people from all faiths. It is the splendid tomb of the Sufi Saint Khawaja Moinuddin Hasan Chisti more popularly known as Khawaja Saheb or Khawaja Sharif. The shrine is next only to Mecca or Median for the Muslims of South Asia. The Mughal Emperor Akbar used to make a pilgrimage to the Dargah from Agra once a year.
The mausoleum has a gigantic gate, which was built by the Nizam of Hyderabad. The two massive cauldrons in the courtyard are of particular interest and on the right side of the courtyard is the Akbari Masjid built in white marble. There is another mosque in the courtyard built by Emperor Shahjhan.
The saint's tomb with a splendid marble dome is in the centre of the second courtyard which is surrounded by a silver platform.
The shrine attracts thousands of pilgrims during the Urs - commemorating the death anniversary of the Saint, held from the 1st to 6th day of the Islamic month of Rajab. A colourful fair that springs up during this time is the major attraction with pilgrims and tourists who travel to Rajasthan.
Shahjhan's Mosque: In the corner of the inner court of the Dargah is a magnificent building in white marble with a long (30.5m) and narrow court having low arcade and delicate carvings with trellis-work. It is the most marvelous of all the sanctums within the sanctuary of the Dargah.
Adhai-din-ka-jhonpra: A remarkable structure, this is a masterpiece of Indo-Islamic architecture located on the outskirts, of the city, just beyond the Dargah. As the legend goes, its construction took two and a half days (adhai-din) to complete. It was originally a Sanskrit college, built within a temple. In 1193 A.D. Mohhamed Ghauri conquered Ajmer and converted the building into a mosque by adding a seven arched wall in front of the pillared hall in just two-and-half days (adhai-din) and hence the name. The distinct pillars-and arched "Screen" with its ruined minarets make it a splendid architectural masterpiece.
Taragarh Fort: A steep one and a half hour climb beyond the Adhai-din-ka-jhopra leads to the ruins of the Taragarh Fort, perched on a hill. One can have an excellent view of the city from here. The fort was the site of the military activity during the Mughal period, later used as a sanatorium by the British
The Museum: Once the royal residence of Emperor Akbar, the museum houses a rich repository of the Mughal and Rajput armour and exquisite sculptures.
Travel Destinations of Rajasthan
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Rajasthan
