Area : 55.76Sq.kms.
Altitude : 486 meters
Best Season : July-March
Languages : Rajasthani, Hindi, Urdu, English, Sindhi
Situated in a basin at the foot of Taragarh Hill, Ajmer is
surrounded by the Aravallis and located in the heart of Rajasthan,
130 kms. West of Jaipur, a burgeoning town on the shore of the Ana
Sagar, flanked by barren hills. Historically Ajmer had considerable
strategic importance. The city has seen the rise and fall of many
kingdoms. Established in early 7th century by Ajaipal Chauhan and
named Ajaimeru-the invincible hill, Ajmer is today a very important
piligrimage centre for the Muslims. Ajaipal also built the fort
Taragarh. The Chauhans dominated Ajmer for many years and it was
only towards the end of the 12th century that Prithvi Raj Chauhan,
the last of the great Chauhan rulers was killed in battle with
Mohammad Ghori. Ajmer then passed under the Delhi Sultanate.
Ajmer was to see many more upheavals until Emperor Akbar the Great
came to the throne in 1556 and gave Ajmer the status of a
fullfledged province and also made it his base for operations in
Rajputana. But that did not mean a harmonious existence for Ajmer;
it was still to see more action. The Rajputs, the Mughals, the
Marathas and British were all involved with it at some point in
history and left their mark. From 1818 onwards, it passed into the
British Empire and remained under the care of the British behind a
lasting legacy. It got transformed into an excellent centre for
education because the Britishers felt it had the right location.
Today, Ajmer is more important as the final resting place of the
great Sufi Saint-Khwaja
Moinuddin Chisti. Akbar visited the Dargah Sharif, where the saint
lies buried. During the urs, lakhs of Muslim pilgrims from all over
the sub-continent visit the shrine.Ajmer, during Urs, is a totally
different place bustling with people of all ages.The Dargah has two
massive cauldrons which are filled with rice, dry fruits, and
condiments and then looted by professionals who slide down into the
massive cauldrons for gathering it. The ‘looted’ rice is then sold
off as tabarukh (sanctified food). The other notable monument of
Ajmer is the Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpara (the two-and-a-half-day mosque)
with its ornate calligraphic inscriptions. The popular belief is
that the monument itself
Was built in two-and –a –half days. It is said that seven
piligrimages to Ajmer equal one to Mecca.Every year, especially at
the annual Islamic festivals of Id and Muharram, thousands of
pilgrims converge on this ancient town on the banks of the Ana Sagar
Lake.
Places of Attraction
The Dargha: At the foot of a desolate hill in the old part of
town, this is one of India’s most important places for Muslims
pilgrims.It is the splendid tomb of the Sufi saint, Khawaja
Moinuddin Christ or Khwaja Sharif who came to Ajmer from Persia in
1192.
The Nizam of Hyderabad built the giagantic gate. There is the Akbari
Masjid, a mosque built by Shahjahan, two massive cauldrons which are
of particular interest.The shrine attracts thousands of pilgrims
during the Urs with a major fair as its attraction. Akbar used to
make the pilgrimage to the Dargah from Agra once a year.
The Shahjahan’s Mosque, the beautiful Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra with its
ornate calligraphic inscriptions is interesting.
Adhai-din-ka-Jhopra and Taragarh: Beyond the Dargah on the
very outskirts of town, are the ruins of the Adhai-din-ka-Jhopra
(Two-and –a-Half Days) mosque. According to legend, its construction
in 1153 took 21\2 days, as its name indicates. Although the mosque
is now in need of restoration, it is a particularly fine piece of
architecture-the pillars are all different and the arched ‘Screen’,
with its damaged minarets, is noteworthy.
Taragarh or Star Fort was built by Ajaipal Chauhan in 1100, stands
on the hilltop overlooking the town. It is rectangular with thick
walls. It wassite of much military activity during Mughal times and
was later used as a sanatorium by the British.
Ana Sagar: An artificial lake which was further enhanced by
Emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan who added the badadari and
Pavilions.It was created in the 12th century by damming the river
Luni. On its bank is a pleasant park, the Dault Baghcontaining a
series of marble pavilions erected in 1637 by Shah Jahan.
Akbar’s Palace: Back in the city, not far from the main post
office, this imposing building was constructed by Akbar in 1570 and
today houses the government museum, which has a limited
collection.items include the collection of sculptures, some dating
back to the 8th century AD, old weapons and miniature paintings.
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