Travel Guide :Ajmer

Facts about Ajmer
Location: Southwest of Jaipur.
Distance: Bharatpur (305 km), Jodhpur (210 km), Udaipur (303 km), Kota (200 km)
Temp: 45C - 25 C
Rainfall: Normal
Area: 9.8 sq km.
Getting There: Bus, Rail
Shopping: Woven Fabric Items and Block-Printed Items
Language: Hindi & Rajasthani

Places to see in Ajmer

Taragarh

Taragarhor the 'Star Fort' is situated three kilometers and a steep 1 and a half hour climb beyond the Adhai-Din-Ka-Jhonpra Mosque. As it is situated on a height, it commands a spectacular view over the city. It was built by Ajaipal Chauhan, the town's founder. The fort was the site of much military activities during Mughal times and was later used as a sanatorium by the British.

Dargah Sharif

Situated at the foot of a hill and in the old part of town, this is one of the most important places in india for muslim pilgrims. The Dargah is the tomb of a Suffi saint, Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chishti, who came to Ajmer from Persia in 1192 and died here in 1236. Construction of this shrine was completed by Humayun and the gate was added by the Nizam of Hyderabad. Akhbar used to make the pilgrimage to the Dargah from Agra once a year. 

As you enter the courtyard, the mosque, constructed by Akhbar, is on the right. The enormous cauldrons are for offerings that are customarily shared by families involved in the shrine's upkeep. In the inner court there is another mosque built by Shah Jahan. Constructed of white marble, it has 11 arches and a Persian inscription running the full length of the building. The saint's tomb is in the center of the second court. It has a marble dome and actual tomb inside is surrounded by a silver platform. The horse shoes nail to the shrine doors are offerings from successful horse dealers. This shrine is a hive of activity and you can really get a sense of how deeply significant it is to the Muslim people. The tomb attracts tens of thousands of pilgrims every year on the anniversary of the Saint's death 

Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra

Beyond the Dargah, on the outskirts of town, are the ruins of Adhai-Din-Ka-Jhonpra mosque. According to legend its construction, in 1153, took just 2 and a 1/2 days. (Adhai-Din-Ka-Jhonpra means '2 and a 1/2 day building'). Others believe it was named after a festival that lasted for 2 and a 1/2 days . It was originally built as a Sanskrit college , but in 1198 Mohammed of Ghori took Ajmer and converted the building into a mosque by adding a seven-arched wall covered with Islamic calligraphy in front of the pillared hall.

Pushkar Lake

This lake is situated at the edge of the desert and surrounded by the hills from three sides. This lake get apart from Ajmer by the snake mountain range called locally as ' Nag Parvat'.

According to the legend Pushkar was originated when lord Bhramha was looking for a peaceful place for 'Yagya'. It is said that a Lotus flower slipped from his hand and fell down on this hill, where the Pushkar Lake derived. Therefore the Bhramha temple situated here, is a famous pilgrimage for Hindus.

On this mountain, the Panchkund and the cave of the saint Agastya are located.