Ajmer

Ajmer is known more as a religious centre than a tourist site. It is a crowded town lying 130 km southwest of Jaipur, amidst views of the Aravallis and the Ana Sagar Lake. The presence of Dargah-e-Sharif or the tomb of revered Sufi saint Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chishti, belonging to the 12th century, makes Ajmer Rajasthan an important Muslim pilgrimage centre of India. The Chishtiya order still prevails as the main Sufi order. Ramadan and Urs are the major festivals celebrated here, when devotees crowd the city to offer prayers in the Durgah and to be a part of the festivity.

History of Ajmer Rajasthan
The city of Ajmer played an important role in Indian history. Lying on a very significant trade route between Delhi and the port city of Gujarat, and protected by the Aravalli Hills, Ajmer has always been a fought over territory right from the times of the Turks. It was Raja Ajai Pal of the Chauhan dynasty, who founded the city in the 7th century as Ajaimeru or the 'Invincible Fort'. Chauhans had the city's control till Prithviraj Chauhan lost it to Mohammad Ghori. Later became a part of the Delhi Sultanate.

After 1326, Ajmer Rajasthan saw battles between neighboring states to gain its control including Mewar (Udaipur), Marwar (Jaipur), Gujarat and Delhi. The pages of Indian history also saw Ajmer become an import residential city for the Mughal emperors. In 17th century, Ajmer served as a residential resort to emperor Shah Jahan and later Jahangir. After the fall of Mughal emprire, it fell into the hands of the Scindias who later surrendered it to the Britishers in 1818. One can find several testaments of the colonial empire here, including the Mao College, Ajmer Club and the Jubilee Clock Tower.

About Ajmer Rajasthan
Ajmer is situated in the western state of India, Rajasthan, surrounded by Bhilwara, Pali, Nagaur and Tonk districts. It is flanked by the the tributaries of Luni river as well as Banaras river. To its north one will find beautiful views of the Ana Sagar Lake. The main bus station of Ajmer is situated to its east, near RTDC Hotel Khadim. Most of the hotels are located to the west of the railway station of Ajmer. For some shopping, you can move to Naya Bazaar, near the main post office of the city which is famous for silver items.

Information
The main post office of the city is located 500 m from the train station. Tourist Office of the city is located near the RTDC Hotel Khadim. You can easily spot many ATMs here, including the IDBI ATM on Jaipur Road. You can get your traveler cheque and currency exchanges in State Bank of India, opposite Collectorate or Bank of Baroda on Prithviraj Road. Internet access is also available here (charges Rs 20 per hour).

Things to See in Ajmer Rajasthan
Ana Sagar
Ana Sagar Lake is a picturesque lake built in the 12th century by obstructing the waters of river Luni. Tourists often come down to this artificial lake to relax and enjoy a quiet picnic. There are beautiful gardens laid out on the banks of this lake called Subhash Bagh and Dault Bagh. These gardens are flanked by marble pavilions built by Shah Jahan in 1637. People enjoy a stroll here, especially in evening, when brilliant views of sunset are on offer. One can also enjoy boating by hiring motorboats from the Fun N Joy Boat Club.

Dargah of Khwaja Muin-ud-Din Chishti
Durgah Sharif is the burial ground of revered Sufi saint Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chishti who came to India from Persia in 1192 and died in Ajmer in 1236. He was recognized as the 'saint of the poor'. It is the most important pilgrimage site for the Muslims, who have a strong belief that wishes made at the Durgah come true.

The tombed shrine took shape in the Mughal era and it is said that every year emperor Akbar used to visit the Durgah from Agra. The entrance gate, known as the Nizam Gate, was built in 1915 by the Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan. The second gate to the Mosque was built by Shah Jahan and is called Nakkarkhana because of the drums or Nakkharas attached above it. Buland Darwaza, or the third gate, was built in the 16th century and it directly opens up to the Durgah courtyard.

The main tomb of Khwaja is beautifully decorated with silver platforms and marble domes. Akbari Masjid, a green and white shaded mosque lies on the right of the Nizam Gate. It was built by emperor Akbar in 1517. Another mosque in white marble, a creation of Shah Jahan, has Persian inscriptions on its walls. The best time to visit the shrine is during the annual Urs festival, when the holy place is lavishly decorated with twinkling lights and flower garlands.

Adhai-Din-Ka-Jhonpra & Taragarh
The reason behind the weird name 'Adhai Din Ka Jhopra' is a bit controversial, since some say its because it took two and a half days to build the mosque, while others believe that the name signifies a festival that took place for two and a half days. The building was erected in 1153, and it first served as a Sanskrti College, but later when Ajmer came under the control of Mohommad Ghori, it was converted into a mosque.

The architecture of the mosque, its carved ceilings and columns, hint to a blend of both Hindu and Islamic styles. Though the arches and its rectangular panels which are common to Arabian structures, the core of the mosque largely resembles a Hindu or a Jain temple structure.

About 3 km form the mosque lies the Taragarh Fort, built by Ajai Pal Chauhan, offers splendorous views of the cityscapes from the hilltop. The fort witnesses a lot of battles and clashes during the times of the Mughals.

Nasiyan (Red) Temple
This beautiful Jain temple is also referred to as the 'Golden Temple', owing to its golden paintings depicting Jain concepts including continents, oceans and the golden Ayodhya. This ornamental temple was built in 1865 and is completely different from other temples of Rajasthan.

Akbar's Palace
Built by Mughal emperor Akbar in 1570, this lavish citadel was more of a leisure retreat for the King. The impressive structure of the Palace was converted into a museum in 1908 that preserves artifacts from the 6th and 7th century. Paintings, sculptures and weapons of the Rajputs and the Mughals are also among the exhibits here.

Hotels in Ajmer
Tourists mostly prefer a stay in Pushkar and come for a day trip to Ajmer, since not many good options for accommodation are available here. Some of the better and affordable hotels in Ajmer are Bhola Hotel, King Edward Memorial Rest House and Nagpur Tourist Hote. The top end and mid-range hotel here include Haveli Heritage Inn, Mansingh Palace and the RTDC Hotel Khadim.

Eating
Ajmer is famous for its sweet delights, ice creams and cakes. Some of the good options where you can try out delicious recipes are Mango Masala, Tandoor, Honeydew Restaurant and Madina Hotel.

Getting There and Away
Bus: Frequent buses from Pushkar to Ajmer are available, which will take you around half an hour. Buses from Ajmer also leave for Agra (10 hr), Alwar (13 hr), Delhi (9 hr) and Jaipur (2 ½ hr).

Train: From the Reservation Office at the main train station of Ajmer, you can reserve your tickets for . Ajmer lies on the Delhi-Jaipur-Ahmedabad-Mumbai line, so most of the trains pass through the city. Shatabdi Express and Rajdhani Express also which connects Ajmer to Delhi.

Getting Around
Autorickshaws, cycle rickshaws and tongas are the main modes for local travel. These are affordable as they will not charge you more than Rs 20 to go anywhere within the town. You can also hire a jeep or a cab, which will be a little costly.