South west of Jaipur, Ajmer is an oasis wrapped in the green hills. 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. 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 Chisti, which is equally revered by the Hindus and Muslims. It is a center of culture and education, the British chose Ajmer for its prestigious Mayo College a school exclusively for Indian nobility. Ajmer is also the base for visiting Pushkar (11 km.), the abode of Lord Brahma, lying to its west with a temple and a picturesque lake. The Pushkar Lake is a sacred spot for Hindus. During the month of Kartik (Oct./Nov.), devotes throng in large numbers here to take a dip in the sacred lake.

Ajaipal Chauhan founded Ajmer in the seventh century. He constructed a hill fort "Ajaimeur" or the invincible hill. The Chauhans ruled Ajmer till the 12th century when Prithviraj Chauhan lost Mohammed Ghauri. Thereafter it became a part of the sultanate of Delhi. Ajmer was also favourite residence for the great Mughals. One of the first contacts between the Mughal King Jahangir and Sir Thomas Roe took place here in 1616. The Scindias took over the city in 1818 and then handed it over to the British and it became the only part of Rajasthan controlled directly by the East Indian Co.

Map Of Ajmer(Click to Enlarge)

Places you can see in Ajmer

Sai Baba Temple
Mr. Suresh K. Lal who was a resident of this Garib Nawaz City constructs Sai Baba temple, but now he is settled in Koba, Japan. It was inaugurated on 2nd Jan 1999.This Beautiful temple is constructed in Ajay Nagar in a plot of 5 beeghas it is at a distance of 5 kms. from railway station.

Brahma Temple
This is the only existing temple dedicated to lord Brahma and was constructed in the 14th century, standing on a high plinth with marble steps leading up to it.
A beautiful carved silver turtle sits on the floor facing the sanctorum or Garbha Griha. The marble floor around the silver turtle is embedded with hundreds of silver coins, with donors name engraved on them.

Rangji Temple
Lord Rangji is a carnation in of lord Vishnu. This temple was built in 1823 by Seth Puran Mal Ganeriwal of Hyderabad.This temple is unique due to confluence of South Indian style (Dravid) Rajput and Mughal style of architecture.

New Temple
The gracious temple is very conspicuous, due to its south Indian style of architecture. It has a high rising Gopuram typical of southern India
Pushkar has more than 400 temples, the other important temples are Balaji la Mandir and Man Mandir.

Savitri Temple
This temple is in the name of Lord Brahma's first wife. It is located on the hill behind the Brahma temple and one has to climb a long series of steps to reach the shrine. It commands a panoramic view of the beautiful lake and the picturesque surrounding of the villages.

Saraswati Temple
Saraswati is the wife of Brahma. Literally her name means 'the flowing one' .In the Rig Veda she represents a river deity and is connected with fertility and purification. She is considered the personification of all knowledge - arts, sciences, crafts and skills. She is the goddess of the creative impulse, the source of music, beauty and eloquence. Artists, writers and other individuals involved in creative endeavors have for millennia come on pilgrimage to Pushkar to request the inspiration of Brahma and Saraswati. According to a theory,the shrine myths are often metaphorical expressions of the particular power of a pilgrimage place, the lake, hill and area of Pushkar have a spirit or presence that awakens and stimulates the human capacity of creativity.

Nasiyan (Red) Temple
The red temple is a Digambar Jain temple which has a double- storey hall adjacent to the main temple. The hall displays a series of large gold plated wooden figures depicting legends from Jain mythology. The entire hall is richly adorned by glass mosaic, precious stones, gold and silver work. The place is also popularly called Soni Ji Ki Nasiyan.
 
Taragarh Fort
The giant fort stands guarding the city. It has six gates. The fort also has Miran Saheb ki Dargha who was the governor of the fort and laid down his life in an encounter. It gives a panoramic view of the city situated in Nagpahari of Aravalli ranges; this fort has immense archaeological and historical importance.

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. Mohammad 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-a-half days (adhai-din) and hence the name. The district pillars and arched screen with its ruined minarets make it a splendid architectural masterpiece.

Ana Sagar Lake
Located towards the north of Ajmer city this beautiful lake was built by Anaji during 1135-1150 A.D, by damming the river Luni. Later the Mughal emperors made additional constructions to beautify the lake. The 'Baradari', Shah Jahan built a marble pavilion and the Daulat Bagh gardens were laid by Jehangir. It is an artificial lake named after Anaji Chauhan. The catchments were built with the help of local populace. Shah Jahan, to facilitate his long stays in Ajmer, built the ‘Baradari’ pavilions. The Baradari and the adjoining parks are the lungs of city and favorite outing spot.

Dargah of Kwaja Moinuddin Chishti
At the foot of a barren hill, is situated India's most important Piligrimage centre for people from all faith. It is the splendid tomb of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, more popularly known as Khwaja Sharif. The Khwaja left for heavenly abode in 1256 AD after a six day prayer in seclusion. These six days are celebrated every year as the annual Urs, which is attended by pilgrims irrespective of their faith. The shrine is considered to be a place of wish fulfilment for those who pray with devout and pure hearts. It is said that Emperor Akbar sought blessings for his son at the Dargah. The entry to the Dargah is through the Buland Darwaza that leads to the inner courtyard. The high gateway has beautifully carved silver doors. In the courtyard are kept two huge cauldrons with capacity of 2240 Kg and 4480 Kg. On special occasions, Kheer cooked in these cauldrons is distributed among the pilgrims. The grave of the Sufi Saint is surrounded by a silver railing and is partially covered with a marble screen. The daughter of Shah Jahan had built a prayer room in the Dargah for the women devotees. The primises of the Dargah also has the tomb of Bhishti, tomb of Saint's daughter-Bili Hafiz Jama, tomb of Shah Jahan's daughter Chimni Begum. It is the landmark of Ajmer and one of the holiest of Muslim shrines in the country. It has a secular appeal and revered by people of all sect. Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti, a Sufi saint from Persia made this place his abode from 1192 till he died in 1236 AD. Mughal King Humayun completed the construction of the shrine. The Dargah is approached through a massive gate with silver doors built in several stages. Emperor Akbar made an annual pilgrimage to Ajmer. Mughal Emperors Akbar and Shah Zahan have built mosques in the complex. The saint's tomb is in the centre of the second courtyard and a marble screen surrounds the actual tomb inside by a silver railing. The tomb is of marble and dome is gold plated. The atmosphere inside the shrine is charged and supernatural with burning of incense and offerings of flowers mainly rose and sweets.

Mayo College
One of Indian's best public schools located in the south east of the city. It was founded in 1875 A.D. only for the princes. Each prince along with his entire retinue and an English tutor had his own house in the spacious college grounds covering 81 hectares. Now it is a public school open to all.

Soniji Ki Nasiyan
Also famous as Lal Mandir, it consists of models of human development & Jain Purans engraved in main hall. Models of Ayodhya & the panch Kalyanak are present in he other part of the temple. This red coloured Jain temple was built in the late 19th century. The wooden gilt in the double storeyed hall depicts scenes from the Jain mythology. The beauty of this temple is widely acclaimed. Built in the year 1865 by Rai Bahadur seth Mool Chand Soni of Ajmer. The temple consists of two parts; the first portion is the worship area for Jain community where idol of Lord Adinath the first of the 24 tirthsnkars, of Jain religion is installed. The second portion is the museum section where the five stages (Panch Kalyanak) in the life of Lord Adinath have been depicted in the form of statues. The 40 x 80 feet hall is exquisitely done up in pure gold, Belgium stain glass, mineral color paintings and stain glasswork. Thus this two-story museum is a treat to the Soul.

Taragarh Fort
A steep one and half hour climb beyond the Adhai-Din-ka-Jhonpra 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 armor and exquisite sculptures. Akbar improved and extended the fortification of the city, and he come to pay homage at the sacred shrine of Garib Nawaz. Its main entrance faces Naya Bazar and is provided with balconies on both the sides.

Tilonia
Tilonia is a small town 25 kms from Kishangarh near Ajmer and 7 kms off Jaipur-Ajmer highway. Barefoot college inspires this town, which began in 1972 with the conviction that solutions to rural problems lie within the community. The College, officially known as Social Work and Research Center, addresses problems of drinking water, girl education, health & sanitation, rural unemployment, income generation, electricity and power, as well as social awareness and the conservation of ecological systems in rural communities.

Camel Safari (Also see the page we have on Pushkar)
There are quite a few people in Pushkar who offer horse or camel safari. Camel safaris are a splendid way of taking in the sights and experiencing the rugged beauty of the desert. The camels may look aloof, but they are known as the lifeline for the desert people, whose major mode of transportation depends on camels only, also known as the "Ship of the desert".

Pushkar (11 km) (Also see the page we have on Pushkar)
Pushkar, the quiet little town of eastern Rajasthan, is located 11 km from Ajmer, on the edge of a small and beautiful lake. Pushkar is a city of 400 temples and 52 bathing ghats. Pushkar prides itself on being the site of the only temple of the Hindu God of Creation, Brahma. Every November, Pushkar comes alive with the vibrancy and colour of the famous Pushkar Fair and the full moon festivities at the Ghats.
For a devout Hindu Pushkar is a very important pilgrim center, for one visit to this holy place in a lifetime is highly prescribed.
Brahma forms the great Hindu trilogy of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, each symbolizing the lifecycle of birth, preservation and destruction. Brahma the creator is depicted as of four bearded heads and four hands each holding a book of Vedas (knowledge). His vehicle is the swan and his consort is Savitri.  According to the legend  Pushkar means a pond created by flower, was formed when Brahma dropped a lotus flower on the earth to determine a place for his yagna, a holy sacrifice. The story goes that Brahma wanted to perform the yagna at the most auspicious time but his consort Savitri whose presence at the yagna was vital for its performance kept him waiting. Irritated by this Brahma married Gayatri, a milkmaid and installed her instead. Savitri on seeing someone else in her place was infuriated and cursed Brahma that people on earth would forget him and never worshiped. She relented on pleas from other Gods that he could only be worshiped in Pushkar, hence there are no Brahma Temples elsewhere.

Pushkar Lake
The pious Pushkar Lake, believed to have been created by the falling of lotus from the hand of Lord Brahma. It is considered to be as old as the creation. The lake is considered as one of the most sacred spots, and believed that one dip in the waters of lake on Kartika Poornima is equivalent to performing yagnas for several hundred years.
The charming lake amidst the hills has fifty-two bathing ghats, built around lake. The water around each ghat is supposed to have special powers. The Naga Kund is believed to give fertility, Roop Tirth gives beauty and charm, Kapil Vyapi Kund water helps in curing leprosy and a dip in the Mrikand Muni Kund grants the boon of wisdom.

Kishangarh (27 km)
Kishangarh, located on National Highway 8, was the capital of a princely state ruled by the Rathors. During the brief span of twenty years between 1737 and 1757, Kishangarh art was at its zenith. Crown prince Savant Singh (1699-1764) was a guiding force behind the strong devotional fervor at the court and rejuvenation of paintings suffused with the spiritual yearning of a soul in quest of the Lord. With Savant Singh, however, bhakti became an increasing obsession until he became completely indifferent to his princely status. He wrote devotional poetry under the name of Nagari Das, making Krishna his hero. The main attractions in Kishangarh are its Fort and Phool Mahal (Flower Palace), now converted into a hotel. The town is a rich storehouse of marbles.
In the 18th century it acclaimed fame as one of the finest schools of miniatures paintings. Though a smaller school with a much shorter duration it had a more refined style. It peaked under the patronage of Savant Singh an heir to the throne, who later became a hermit. It is said that Savant Singh modeled as Krishna while his mistress nicknamed as Bani Thani modeled for Radha. Paintings of Bani Thani are it most celebrated. The artist of this school favored evening lights and gray skies with fine colors. This outstanding school lasted only a few decades. Today the artists still create duplicates of the work. The town is now an industrial town for marble and textiles. Train and buses connect Kishangarh.

Foy Sagar Lake (5 km)
This artificial lake was build during a famine relief program. Named after the engineer responsible for its construction, the picturesque lake is 5 Kms from Ajmer.

Essentials

Festivals and events of Ajmer
'Urs Ajmer Sharif' (May - June)

The Urs, a celebration is held in the solemn memory of 'Kwaja Moinuddin Chishti', a sufi saint. Several Thousand pay obeisance at his shrine in Ajmer every year.

Pushkar Fair
Pushkar is world famous for its cattle fair normally held in the Hindu month Kartika, which is around Oct-November. At this time the town jam-packed with tribal people from all over Rajasthan and tourist. It is commonly known as Camel fair, bringing with them several camels and cattle to the pilgrimage. A Fair ground is fashioned and is packed with shops selling souvenirs and eateries. Games and circus shows also goes on. And villagers come sell camels, horses, elephants and cattle and other livestock. Elaborate arrangement for staying of visitors is made including luxury tents. Just don’t miss the Pushkar Fair if you are India around that time.

Reaching Ajmer

Air: Nearest Airport Jaipur (138 km) is connected by Indian Airlines flights with Delhi, Bombay, Udaipur, Jodhpur and Ahmedabad.

Rail: Ajmer is directly connected by rail to Agra, Ahmedabad, Barmer, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Mount Abu and to Mumbai via Ahemadabad.

Road: Road: Ajmer is well connected by road to Agra (360 km), Bharatpur (306 km), Delhi (391 km),
Jaipur (138 km), Bikaner (282 km), Bundi (165 km), Chittaurgarh (191 km), Jodhpur (208 km), Jaisalmer (503 km), Kota (205 km), Udaipur (292 km), Mount Abu (371 km).

Hotels in Ajmer
There are budget hotels available in Ajmer

Climate in Ajmer: Summer Max. 43.70C Min. 23.30C Winter Max. 37.70C Min. 05.50C

Best Time to Visit Ajmer: September to April

Tourist Information Center

Languages: Hindi, English, Marwari, Bhili.

STD Code of Ajmer: 0145