India >> North Zone >> Rajasthan >> Ajmer
About Ajmer Situated in the heart of Rajasthan desert, Ajmer was established by Ajaipal Chauhan in the 7th century and named it as Ajaimeru - the invincible hill that has a blend of Sufi culture and Hindu religion. Today, Ajmer is known as the final resting place of the great Sufi Saint - Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti. It is a center of culture and education. The annual Urs at Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is held on a grand scale and attracts pilgrims from all over the world.
| Area: | 55.76 sq.km
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| Best Time to Visit: | October and March
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| Climate: | Ajmer has an extreme climate with high climatic variations between the seasons.
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| Main Languages: | Rajasthani, Hindi, Urdu, English, Sindhi
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| Population: | Approx. 5 lakhs
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| Temperature: | Summer - Max: 38.1 Min: 27.7
Winter - Max: 23. 3 Min: 05.5
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Other Attractions In & Around
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Baghera
Situated in the Kekri subdivision of Ajmer district about 107 kms south east of Ajmer, this village is known for its treasure trove of archaeological and antiquarian relics. The most renowned of them all is the temple of Varaha Avtar.
The rathore ruler Udai singh and his son Jorawar Singh built Fort Baghera in the 17th century. A fairly large fort, it is made of large stone blocks and has two massive ramparts with round turrets on the four corners and is surrounded by a moat. This fort braved the invasion of the mighty Marathas.
Baghera has historic temples, cenotaphs, Prominent among them are the Varah and Jain temples of brave Udai Singh and Jorawar Singh who died in battle against the Maratha army.. Location : Baghera is located on the Ajmer-Sawai Madhopur bus route. Prominen : It is famous for its ancient archaeological relics. Founded by the Chauhana king Someswara, Baghera’s was originally called Vyageraka as mentioned in a rock inscription in Bijoliya dating back to 1226 AD.
Like most of Rajasthan that is strewn about with many ancient monuments and ruins, Baghera too is known for its ancient monuments. The Varaha Avatar temple depicts Vishnu in the form of a boar, his third avatar (incarnation). The temple is located within a fairly new building near the Varaha Sagar, a sacred tank. Towards the west of the Varaha Sagar is a ruined 10th century temple as well as a decorated gateway leading into the house of the chief of Baghera.
A little distance away are Jain images hewn in rock. They seem to loom straight out of the ground. In ancient times the Jains had built a temple here of which these rock statues are the only things surviving. TOP
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Khwaja Moinuddin Chistis Dargah
Rajasthan is famous for Dargah's and the Dargah is the tomb of a Sufi saint, Khwaja Muin-uddin Chisti, popularly known as “Khwaja Gharib Nawaaz” (the Benefactor of the Poor). He is one of the most outstanding figures in the history of Islamic mysticism and the annual Urs at Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is held on a grand scale attracting pilgrims from all over the world irrespective of their caste and religion.
At the foot of a barren hill, is situated India’s most important pilgrimage center for people from all faiths - the splendid tomb of the Sufi saint Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti more popularly known as Khawaja Saheb or Garib Nawazf.. Significance : This Dargah is dedicated to Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chisti the Sufi saint who came to Ajmer from Persia in 1192. The shrine attracts thousands of pilgrims during the Urs - commemorating the death anniversary of the Saint, held from the 1st to 6th day of the Islamic month of Rajab. A colourful fair springs up which is the major attraction.
Nearby is the mazar or tomb of Bibi Hafiz Jamal, daughter of he saint and the tomb of Chimni Begum, daughter of Shah Jahan (who spent her last days in Ajmer). Belief : Akbar had sought the blessing of the Dargah to get a son and it is said that he walked bare foot from Agra to win the benevolent Garib Nawaz. Millions team in to Ajmer and it is said that Garib Nawaz answers most of the prayers. This shrine is next only to Mecca or Median for the Muslims of south Asia. Gigantic Construction : The mausoleum has a gigantic gate, which was built by the Nizam of Hyderabad. The two massive cauldrons in the right side courtyard in the Akbari Masjid are of particular interest. There is another mosque in the courtyard built by Shah Jahan.
Iltutmish began the construction and Humayun completed it. The Nizam of Hyderabad added the gate to the Dargah. On entering the courtyard of the Dargah, to the right is the mosque built by Akbar. The saint tomb with a splendid marble dome is in the centre of the second courtyard is surrounded by a silver platform.
The main Dargah is situated in a smaller courtyard, further than Shah Jahan's mosque, and has 2 entrances. The mosque is made of white marble and has a domed gold roof. The ceiling of the tomb is embossed with gold velvet. Silver rails enclose the main tomb.
There is a large box in which offerings are made. TOP
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Kishangarh
Situated on the National Highway No. 8 linking Jaipur and Ajmer, this small town was the capital of a princely state ruled by the Rathores. Today it is a treasure house of art and craft and is best known for the popular Bani Thani paintings and is also very famous for its marble products.. The old and new city : The old city of Kishangarh still has the flavor of the magic world created by the artists. But the modern Kishangarh is bustling and crowded, important as a wholesale market for red chilies and a cotton-weaving center. TOP
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Pushkar (11kms from Ajmer):
Pushkar is sacred to the Hindus and the lake is believed to have been created by Lord Brahma himself and has the same sanctity for Hindus as Mansarover in Tibet. No pilgrimage is complete without a visit to Pushkar. For most believers it is essential to visit Pushkar at least once in their lifetime.
Today, there are as many as 400 temples in Pushkar and the lake is circled by 52 ghats built over several years by several kings and nobles. The most important temples are dedicated to Lord Brahma, Shiva, Badri Narayan, Varaha, Gayatri and Savitri. The important ghats are the Varaha, Brahma and Gau.
The lake is situated on the edge of the desert, surrounded by hills on three sides, and is separated from Ajmer by Nag Pahar the snake mountain. On this mountain are situated the Panchkund and the cave of the saint Agastya.
It is believed that Kalidas-the 4th century sanskrit poet and playwright, chose the setting for his masterpiece Abhigyanam Shakuntalam in this forest heritage.
The pilgrims take a holy dip in the Pushkar Lake.. Location : 11 kms. from Ajmer A site to delight : It is also the site for one of the largest cattle fairs in the world. For 12 days in the month of Kartik, (falls sometime in November), the sleepy little town is taken over by lakhs of animals and visitors. The cattle fair and the mela are believed to be the most colourful animal fair in the world.
The beauty of rural Rajasthan gets concentrated within the radius of a few miles and the fair is overwhelming in its magnitude and visual impact. The fair attracts many people many of whom are tourists.
It prides itself on being the site of the only temple of the Hindu God of Creation, Brahma. Its location near Delhi, yet at the heart of Rajasthan, makes Pushkar the perfect destination for travelers. A night safari to the desert in the colourfully decked up camel buggies is a most romantic experience. Conclusion : Pushkar Fair is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that one would like to repeat. Legend : According to legend, the origin of Pushkar dates aback to the time when lord Brahma was on his way in search of a tranquil land to perform a Yagna. A lotus fell from His hands into this valley. A lake sprang up on this spot and was dedicated to him. A Brahma temple located here is a popular place of pilgrimage.
Pushkar is a maze of temples, ashrams and dharamshalas (rest houses) offering a spectacular view of the desert at sunset from the hills around the village. TOP
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