| Raja Ajay Pal Chouhan founded Ajmer in the 7th Century AD. The Constructed a hill fort and named it Ajain Meru or the unconquerable hill .The city continued to be a Chauhan Stronghold till 1193 when Prithviraj Chauhan was defeated by Mohammed Ghauri, After this legendary ruler lost Ajmer ,it became a part of the Delhi Sultanate But such an Important city –which lay on the desert trade routes and had shrines of great importance to both major religions –could not go unconquered for long .Rana Kumbha of Mewar and Raja Maldeo of Marwar Wrested it back for the Rajputs. The battles continued. Mughals, Marathas and Rajputs played murcial thrones with Ajmer. |
| Ajmer is venerated as a holy place for both Hindus and Muslims. It has the mausoleum of the Sufi saint, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, whose blessings are eagerly sought by pilgrims to his Dargah Known as the ‘Dargah Sharif’, the last resting place of the saint who died in 1235 lies at the foot of a barren hill. The saint’s marble domed mausoleum is India’s most important shrine for Muslims and receives an endless flow of visitors of all religions as the sick, the troubled and the childless come here seeking a boon, a blessing or just for peace of mind. Legend Says that the Mughal emperor, Akbar came here to the saint in the 16th century in quest of a boon for an heir and the saint obliged. |
| The Urns or annual pilgrimage of the devout is celebrated in the Month of May each year at the Dargah with millions of pilgrims arriving in Ajmer to pay homage. Lengthy queues of several kilometers snake their way past the tomb at the shrine while outside the Dargah precincts, two massive cauldrons cook sweet rice garnished with dry fruits and condiments to be served as ‘tabarukh’ or sanctified food. Within the c lies a mosque, built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Like all of Shah Jahan’s buildings, the mosque too, is an architectural marvel - a magnificent building in white marble with a long and narrow courtyard for the faithful to pray in, richly embellished with ornate calligraphic inscriptions, delicate carvings and detailed trelliswork. Getting there and around |
| Although Ajmer does not have an airport of its own, there is an airport at Jaipur (130 km away), which is very nicely connected by Road and Rail. Ajmer is very well linked by trains there are frequent (in many cases daily) trains to and from the city to other destinations in India, including Delhi, Mumbai Ahemdabad and Jaipur. Delhi is connected to Ajmer by the fast Shatabdi Express, the quickest and most comfortable way of reaching to Ajmer. |
| A good national and state highway network links Ajmer to other parts of Rajasthan and many important cities in India. Hired transport is easily available, be it cars, jeeps, minibuses or MUVs. State and interstate roadways buses, RTDC conducted tours and coaches connect Ajmer to most important cities in the region, including Ahemdabad, Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Mt. Abu, Jaisalmer, Mumbai and Delhi. Within the city, rented cars, local buses, auto-rickshaws and cycle rickshaws are the means of transport available. |
