Ajmer

Nestling in the foothills of `Ajaya Meru', Ajmer was founded by Aijpal Chauhan in the year 1100 AD, dominated and ruled by Chauhan dynasty till 1193 AD. The city of Ajmer is famous as a pilgrim place. Ajmer is a world renowned pilgrimage center for both Hindus as well as Muslims. It is a celestial home to most holy Dragon Sharif a tomb of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, which is equally worshiped by all religions specially the Hindus and Muslims. Millions of pilgrims from all over the world throng Ajmer to attend the death anniversary of the great saint every year. The city also boasts of a number of monuments belonging to the Mughal era. The city is also known for its traditional handicrafts.

LOCATION
The city of Ajmer is located in the state of Rajasthan, in the northwestern part of India. It lies 130 km southwest of Jaipur. It is flanked by the Ana Sagar Lake on one side and barren hills of the Aravali range on the other side. Ajmer is drained by streams of the Luni River flowing southwestward and by tributaries of the Banas River flowing eastward. The climate of Ajmer is hot. The maximum temperature can go up to 45°C in summers (April-June). Winters are cool (November-February).

BEST TIME TO VISIT
The best time to visit Ajmer is in winters (November-February). It can also be visited in the seventh month of the lunar calendar every year when the annual Urs festival is held to commemorate the death of the Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti.

HISTORY
Ajmer was founded by Ajayadeva, an 11th-century local Rajput ruler. It was shortly annexed by Delhi Sultanate in 1193, but returned to the local rulers, upon payment of tribute. Ajmer was also sacked by Mohammed Ghori in one of the many raids carried out by him on India. Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, the patron Saint of Ajmer, came here from Persia at the end of the 12th century. Ajmer became the part of the mighty Mughal Empire during the medieval period and was an important military center. Military campaigns against local Rajput rulers were initiated from Ajmer. Akbar built a fort here. The first contact between the Mughals and the British also happened in Ajmer, when Jahangir met Sir Thomas Roe in 1616. Shahjahan built marble pavilions around the Ana Sagar Lake in the 17th century. The Scindia rulers of Gwalior took over Ajmer, which was later taken over by the British in 1818. The British founded the famous Mayo College, a prestigious school here, in 1875.

TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS
Dargah Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti: The shrine is in honor of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti - a Sufi saint who came to India from Persia in 1192 with Mohammad Ghori's invading army. He died here in 1236. For the Muslims of India, the shrine's importance is only second to the sacred shrine at Mecca. The construction of the Dargah was started by Altamash, the Sultan of Delhi, and completed by the Mughal Emperor Humayun. It was the venue of an annual pilgrimage for Akbar the Great.

Mayo College: Founded by the British Viceroy Lord Mayo - it is one of the finest schools in India. Mayo College is famous not just for the quality of education it imparts, but for its architecture as well. Designed by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob, the state engineer of Jaipur, Mayo College is built of white marble. Founded in 1875, as a school for Indian princes, its first pupil was the Maharaja of Alwar.

Adhai-din ka Jhonpra: Located on the outskirts of the town, this remarkable structure is an exquisite example of early Indo-Islamic architecture. Designed by Abu Bakr of Herat, the mosque is believed to have been built in two and a half days, and is thus named Adhai-din. According to another story the name is derived from a two and a half day fair held here every year.

Ana Sagar: Named after the ruler Anaji Chauhana, the artificial lake was built in the 12th century by constructing a dam across the river Luni. Ana Sagar also has a series of impressive white marble pavilions (Baradaris), built by Shah Jahan in 1637.

PLACES AROUND AJMER
Pushkar: Located 11 km from Ajmer, according to Hindu mythology the town is the creation of Lord Brahma - the Creator of the Universe. A temple dedicated to Brahma has been built here.

Pushkar also hosts one of the most colorful cattle fairs in the country. Lakhs of visitors throng the Pushkar Fair - a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you will not want to miss.

Kishangarh: This sleepy little hamlet located 27 km from Ajmer, was once the capital of a princely state ruled by the Rathores. It nurtured one of the finest schools of miniature paintings in the 18th century. The Bani Thani style of miniature painting in Kishangarh evolved under Nihal Chand - the court painter of Raja Sawant Singh.

Foy Sagar: Just 05 km from Ajmer, you would found Foy Sagar, engineered by an Englishman, Mr Foy. The lake was constructed as an artificial lake which was constructed as a famine relief project.

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
The main festival of Ajmer is the celebration of the Urs held every year in the seventh month (date varies) of the lunar calendar. A number of Qawali (traditional Muslim recital of devotional verse) functions are held within the Dargah or tomb.



HOW TO REACH
By Air: The nearest airport is in Jaipur, Sanganer airport. Jaipur is approx. 145 kms from Pushkar.

By Rail: Ajmer is also accessible by train, as it is located on the main Delhi-Jaipur-Ahmedabad-Mumbai line. There are different means of transport available to the traveler to move around in Ajmer.

By Road: Ajmer is accessible by road from both Jaipur and Delhi.