Situated in the heart of the desert of Rajasthan, Ajmer is a blend of Sufi culture and Hindu religion. Ajmer always has been a coveted and strategic place for the Rajputs, the Mughals and the Marathas. Ajmer was the seat of administration for the Chauhans till Prithviraj was defeated in 1193 AD by Mohammad Ghauri. It then became a part of the Delhi Sultanate.

The city of Ajmer was one of the few places in Rajasthan controlled directly by the British rather than being part of a princely state. The British chose Ajmer as the site for Mayo College, a prestigious school opened in 1875 exclusively for the Indian Princes, but today open to all those who can afford the fees. Ajmer is a major centre for Muslim pilgrims during the fast of Ramadan, and has some impressive Muslim architecture. However for most travellers, Ajmer is essentially just a stepping stone to nearby Pushkar. It can make a convenient base if you can't get accommodation in Pushkar during the Camel Fair.

PLACES OF INTEREST:
Dargah Sharif: At the foot of a desolate hill in the old part of town, this is one of India's most important places for Muslim pilgrims. The Dargah was the Sufi saint, Khawaja Muin-uddin Chishti, who came to Ajmer from Persia in 1192. Construction of the Shrine was completed by Humayun, and the gate added by the Nizam of Hyderabad. Akbar used to make the pilgrimage to the Dargah from Agra once a year. You may have to cover your head in certain areas so bring a scarf or cap.

As you enter the courtyard, removing your shoes at the gateway, a mosque constructed by Akbar is on the right. In an inner courtyard, there is another mosque built by Shah Jahan. Constructed of white marble, it has two majestic arches and a Persian inscription running the full length of the building.The saint's tomb is in the centre of the second courtyard, with a marble dome and the actual tomb inside, surrounded by a silver platform. The horseshoes nailed to the shrine doors are offerings from successful horse dealers! The tome attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims every year on the anniversary of the saint's death, the Urs, in the seventh month of the lunar calendar. It's an interesting festival, with Sufis and pilgrims from all over India converging in this place.

Tourist Places in Ajmer

1. Dargah Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chist
2. Adhai-din-ka-jhonpra
3. Nasiyan Temple (Jain Temple)
4. Ana Sagar Lake
5. Foy Sagar
6. Taragarh Fort
7. Government Museum
8. Pushkar Fair (11 km. from Ajmer)
9. Jagat Pita Shri Brahma Mandir
10. Savitri Temple
11. Ramvaikunth Temple
12. Mahadeva Temple

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.

Taragarh Fort: Taragarh, also known as Garh Beetli, is a circumvallation of the crest of the hill which overhangs the town of Ajmer, and commands a view of it from every point. The principal strength of the fort lies in the ruggedness and acclivity of the hill.The space within the walls of this hill fort is about 32 hectares with several tanks. From 1818 to 1832, a company of Native Infantry occupied it, but the fort was dismantled in 1832. From 1860 to 1920, other accommodation on the hill was used as the sanitarium for the European troops stationed at Nasirabad. It is now in a dilapidated and forlorn state, though the hill still commands a majestic view.

The Circuit House: The former British Residency, overlooking the artificial lake Ana Sagar, has now been converted into the Circuit House. The Ana Sagar Lake, the cenotaph and the shrine of Hindu reformer Swami Dayanand, founder of the Arya Samaj movement in India, can be viewed from here.

Nasiyan (Jain Temple): Buiilt in 1864-1865 A.D., this Digambar Jain Temple is commonly called Lal Mandir (Red Temple) due to its colour. Behind the temple is Swarna Nagari Hall, containing gilt-edged wooden representations from Jain mythology, which were prepared at Jaipur.

MUSEUMS & ART GALLERIES:
Government Museum: Situated in the heart of the old city and close to the railway station, the museum is housed in the beautiful fort and palace built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1570.It was here that the British envoy Sir Thomas Roe met Emperor Jahangir in 1616. What is today commonly known as the Magazine is the palace quarters where the emperors lived. After British occupation in 1818, and during the first war of Independence in 1857, it was used as the Rajputana Arsenal by the British, which gave the name Magazine.