Ajmer

Brief
Situated in the green oasis, wrapped in the barren hills, Ajmer has been a witness to an interesting past. Today, Ajmer is a popular pilgrimage center, for the Hindus, as well as Muslims. Especially famous is the Dargah Sharif - tomb of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, which is equally revered by the Hindus and Muslims. It is essentially a perfect base to visit nearby Pushkar. Ajmer also has a legacy of excellent educational institutions, started by the British.

History
The city was founded by Raja Ajai Pal Chauhan, in the 7th Century A.D. and continued to be a major center of the Chauhan power, till Prithviraj Chauhan, lost it to Mohammed Ghauri. Born in Afghanistan, Moinuddin Chisti visited Ajmer and breathed his last here. The houses of Mewar, Malwa and Jodhpur, each ruled for a time, until Akbar annexed it and made the tomb a place of pilgrimage. Since then, Ajmer became home to many dynasties, which came and left, leaving behind indelible marks of their culture and traditions on the history of the city, converting it to an amalgam of various cultures and a blend of Hinduism and Islam. After the Mughals, Ajmer returned to the House of Jodhpur and later the Marathas, till the British annexed it and brought it under their direct rule.

Culture
Ajmer was home to many dynasties, which came and left leaving behind indelible marks of their culture and traditions on the history of the city, converting it, to an amalgam of various cultures and a blend of Hinduism and Islam. It is a popular pilgrimage center for the Hindus as well as Muslims. It is also the base for visiting Pushkar, the adobe of Lord Brahma. A sacred spot for Hindus, during the month of Kartik (Oct/Nov), devotees throng in large numbers here, to take a dip in the sacred Pushkar lake.

Climate & Geogaphical Location
Ajmer is very hot and dry in summer and extremely cold in winter. Situated 130 km west of Jaipur, in a basin at an altitude of 486 meters, Ajmer is situated in a valley surrounded by the Aravalli hills.

How to Reach
Ajmer is connected by rail, road and air. By air, the nearest airport is Jaipur which lies at 132 kms and is connected to Mumbai, Delhi, Rajkot, Aurangabad, Jodhpur and Udaipur. By rail, Ajmer is the main railhead and has regular train services that link it to Mumbai, Delhi, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Jodhpur, Udaipur and other important cities. By road, Ajmer is on National Highway No 8 connecting Delhi to Mumbai via Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur and Ahmedabad. A good network of bus services operate from Ajmer to key destinations around.

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Tourist Places

Dargah Khwaja Sahib
Revered by all the sects, the landmark of Ajmer, the Dargah Khwaja Sahib, is one of the holiest Muslim shrines in the country. Millions of pilgrims within the country and abroad, come here to pay homage at the shrine. The Dargah is the final resting place of the great Sufi saint - Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti - the Bestower of Boons. Built in the early 13th century, it attracts millions from all the sects and religions, during the six day celebration of the Urs or death anniversary of Khwaja. Large drums and brass cauldrons brought by Akbar, after the siege of Chittaurgarh as war trophies form the objects of antiquarian interest. The tomb is richly adorned with gold and silver.

Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra
Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra or the two and a half day shed, is a relic of an old mosque consisting of a quadrangle cloistered on all the four sides, having on the inside, a front screen wall of seven pointed arches. It is believed that Shahabuddin Mohammad Ghori, ordered that the mosque be made ready for his prayer within two and a half days. It is one of the finest and the largest specimen of the early Muslim mosque that now exists.

Ana Sagar
An alluring artificial lake, it was built in the 12th century and named after Anaji Chauhan. The huge embankment erected with the peoples help, is a fine example of the corporate life in Ajmer at that time.

Taragarh Fort
The Tara-Sobhita-Garh fort, which is star adorned, overhangs the city like a star. Earlier known as Ajaya-Meru-Durg, it covers an area of 2 to 3 km on the top of the hill. It has some important gates, which made the access to the fort very difficult.

Mayo College
Established in 1875 for the ruling elite, it was named after Lord Mayo, the then Governor General of India. Today, one of the premier educational institution of India, it has a museum, displaying historical objects of interest and biological preservation.

Other

ABDULLAH KHANS TOMB - This white tomb, of the later Mughal period, stands majestically, in the centre of the city near the railway station. Abdullah Khan, was the father of Husein Ali Khan.

AJAIPAL OR AJIPALJI - A scenic spot 6 kms south of Foy Sagar, King Ajaypal, believed to be the founder of Ajmer, became a sanyasi and retired to this place after a long reign.

ANDED KI MATA - The temple of Anded ki Mata in the beautiful surroundings, is the site of a fair, held every year on Rakshabandhan in August. Close to Anded ki Mata, stands a group of Chhatris and Chabutras (Thadas), belonging to the Digambar Jains of Ajmer.

FOY SAGAR - Within the city precincts, the picturesque Foy Sagar, is a lake named after the engineer responsible for its construction. The other monuments of interest, in and around the city are Dadabari, Khobra Bherron, Magazine, Nasiyan (Red Temple) etc.

KISHANGARH - A veritable treasure house of art, this charming little town, is world renowned for its miniature paintings, and has nurtured one of the finest schools of miniature paintings in the 18th century.



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