Surrounded by Aravali ranges, the city of Ajmer is most famous for the Ajmer Sharif Dargah of saint Muin-ud-din Chishti. This makes Ajmer one of the most significant places of Islamic pilgrimage in the world. Located at a distance of 130 km from Jaipur and 14 kms from Pushkar in Rajasthan, the city is firmly bound by its traditions and culture. Ajmer has a unique charm that lies in the ethos and craftsmanship practised over centuries.
Visit Ajmer to witness the exquisite Mughal architecture set in an aura of spirituality. The city is also a renowned religious spot for Jains because of Golden Jain Temple. During the festival of Urs, commemorating the death anniversary of Saint Moinuddin Chishti, believers from across the globe throng the city. A lot of travellers visiting Pushkar stop by Ajmer and make a day trip. Ajmer has also been selected as one of the heritage cities for the HRIDAY (Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana) scheme of the Government of India.
Apart from Ajmer Sharif Dargah and the Jain Temple, there are some other tourist attractions in Ajmer as well. Adhai Din ka Jhopra, Ana Sagar Lake, Foy Sagar Lake, Ajmer Government Museum and Taragarh Fort are some of them. Ajmer is also home to Mayo College, one of the most prestigious boarding schools in India.
Ajmer Sharif Dargah
Ajmer Sharif Dargah, also known as Ajmer Dargah, is the tomb of Moinuddin Chishti is one of the holiest places of worship in India not only for the Muslims but followers of every faith. Being the final resting place of the Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti, it has had an enormous contribution in spreading the ethical and spiritual values of Islam amongst masses.
Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti was a great Sufi Saint and dedicated his entire life to the upliftment of the poor and downtrodden. The shrine is visited by millions of people every year, as it is considered very sacred by people of all religions. Ajmer Sharif was built by the Mughal Emperor Humayun, hence justifying the rich Mughal Architecture. The Dargah has various constituents like tombs, courtyards and Daalaans. The major among these structures are- Nizam Gate, Buland Darwaza, Jama Masjid, Aulia Masjid, Dargah Shrine, Mehfilkhana and about a dozen of other prominent establishments.
One can spot two huge cauldrons in the inner courtyard of the shrine. These containers have a capacity of 2240 kg and 4480 kg and are used during special occasions to cook sweet delicacies like Kheer.
Ana Sagar Lake
The gorgeous Ana Sagar Lake is a magnificent artificial lake that is located in the city of Ajmer in Rajasthan, India. This lake is best visited during the sunsets when the views are extraordinarily marvellous to look at. The sight of the lake from the nearby temple is particularly enchanting. Do not forget to take a camera to capture the fantastic and heavenly views that you behold here. However, the lake may dry up during the summers.
The Ana Sagar Lake is surrounded by Daulat Bagh Gardens, which is a splendid garden full of vast open spaces and lush greenery, and the Khobra Behroon temple- two popular attractions of Ajmer that tourists prefer to visit along with a day trip to the beautiful lake. The lake is only 13 kilometres away from the main city of Ajmer. An island can be spotted in the centre of the lake. Tourists love to indulge in boating or water scooter rides here. The lake is about 4.4 metres deep and spreads over an area of 12 kilometres.
Akbar’s Palace
Akbar’s palace, constructed in 1570AD is the place where he and his troops stayed in at Ajmer whenever he visited the Ajmer Sharif Dargah. It is well known for the museum which portrays the age-old military weapons and exquisite sculptures, paintings and other artefacts of the Mughal era. The museum showcases various aspects of the Rajput and Mughal style of living and fighting. The large black marble statue of Goddess Kali situated in the palace is quite famous.
Ajmer Jain Temple
Ajmer Jain Temple or Soniji Ki Nasiyan is a Digambar Jain temple dedicated to Lord Rishabhdev (Agnidev), the first of the 24 Tirthankara of Jainism. The temple is made of red sandstone which is why it is also called the Red Temple. The main attraction of the temple is the main chamber, known as the Swarna Nagari “City of Gold”, which has several gold-plated wooden figures, depicting several figures in Jainism.