The holy city of Ajmer is an integral part of travel itineraries in Rajasthan. Due to its strategic location, most of the tourists visiting Rajasthan surely would either visit or pass by Ajmer. Rajasthan tour packages customized by the tour operators ensure a visit to Ajmer.
Ajmer is not replete with interesting sights: the Dargah Sharif is the highlight of any itinerary, and die-hard sightseeing enthusiasts can include Adhai Din ka Jhompra, Nasiyan and the Ajmer Museum. Further out of town lie the Taragarh Fort and the pretty Anasagar Lake, but other than these Ajmer has little to offer. On the whole, a day should be more than sufficient to see all there is.
The Dargah Sharif of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti: India’s most important shrine for Muslims, the mausoleum of the Sufi saint Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (1138-1256 AD) is much venerated by both Muslims as well as Hindus. Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, known as Gareeb Nawaz (`patron of the poor’) came to Ajmer at the age of 52 years, and over the next few decades, became a much-revered saint, so much so that rulers and invaders- including Mohammad Ghori himself- came to him for enlightenment. The saint’s mausoleum has, over the centuries, been renovated and enlarged. The Mughal emperor Shahjahan’s daughter had a special women’s prayer room made at the dargah, and Shahjahan himself made a mosque in a corner of the complex; his grandfather Akbar too had built a mosque here earlier. The white-domed mausoleum is today approached through a high gateway with silver doors, leading into a second courtyard beyond which lies the tomb of the saint, surrounded by silver railings and a marble screen.
The shrine of Khwaja Sahib is believed to have immense powers to relieve illness and worry — so much so that the Mughal emperor Akbar came here to beg for an heir — who was subsequently born. Even today, thousands of Muslims and Hindus alike come to the dargah to pray for relief from troubles, both physical and otherwise.
Adhai Din ka Jhompra: Ajmer’s other important sight is the interesting Adhai Din ka Jhompra (literally, the ‘Hut of Two and a Half Days’). Situated close to the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, Adhai Din ka Jhompra is believed to have been built in exactly two and a half days- hence the name. This may sound pretty hard to believe, until one realizes that the two-and-a-half-days’ work actually pertains to additions made to a structure already in existence. Mohammad Ghori, who invaded India in 1193 AD, is said to have converted a Sanskrit college and its surrounding temple complex into a mosque by adding a seven-arched wall in front of a pillared hall which was previously part of the temple. A fine example of Indo-Islamic architecture, Adhai Din ka Jhompra is worth seeing in that its façade is so obviously Islamic, while its pillared interiors are distinctly like those of the many temples one would see in other parts of Rajasthan.
Taragarh Fort: Built by the ruler Ajaipal Chauhan in the 7th century, the Taragarh Fort (`Star Fort’) lies above the Adhai Din ka Jhompra, at a distance of about 3 km from Ajmer itself. The climb from Adhai Din ka Jhompra up to the fort is a steep one of about an hour and a half, but for those who are willing to do it, it’s very rewarding, for the view of the town below is truly panoramic. The fort is supposedly the first in India to have been built atop a hill- which is also why it was called Ajai Meru (Invincible Hill’). Taragarh was the scene of much military activity during the time of the Mughals, and the British later used it as a sanatorium for their soldiers. Today much of the fort lies in ruins, but it offers an interesting glimpse of Ajmer’s history nevertheless.
Anasagar Lake: The artificial lake known as Anasagar Lake was created by the Chauhan ruler Anaji, in the years 1135 to 1150 AD. The lake is set between two hillocks known as Bajrang Garh and Khobra Bherun (both named after temples atop them), and was added to, over the following years by others. The Mughal emperor Jehangir laid out a garden, known as the Daulat Bagh, beside the lake, and his son, Shahjahan, had a marble pavilion-a baradari — also built on the lake’s shore.
Nasiyan: The exquisite red sandstone temple of Nasiyan dates back to 1865, when it was constructed by Rai Bahadur Seth Mool Chand Soni of Ajmer. The double-storeyed building of Nasiyan is a Jain temple, divided into two sections: the first is the actual house of worship, which is home to an idol of Adinath (the first of the 24 Jain tirthankars), while the second section is a museum, housed in a vats and extremely ornate hall. The hall is extensively decorated with scenes from Jain mythology, all of them worked in a combination of gilt and wood, along with Belgian glass, stained glass, and paint.
The Ajmer Museum: The Ajmer Museum is a modest one, but it merits a visit- if for nothing than to see the building in which it is housed. The Museum’s collection of Mughal and Rajput armoury and sculptures is displayed in a striking palace built by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1570. The armoury is rather disappointing, but the sculptures and carvings section makes up amply.
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