South west of Jaipur, Ajmer is an oasis wrapped in the green hills. The city was founded by Raja Ajay Pal Chauhan in the 7th Century A.D. and continued to be a major centre of the Chauhan power till 1193 A.D. When Prithviraj Chauhan lost it to Mohammed Ghauri. Since then, Ajmer became home to many dynasties. Today, Ajmer is a popular pilgrimage centre for the Hindus as well as Muslims. Especially famous is the Dargah Sharif-tomb of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, which is equally revered by the Hindus and Muslims.

It is a centre of culture and education, the British chose Ajmer for its prestigious Mayo College a school exclusively for Indian nobility. Ajmer is also the base for visiting Pushkar (11 km.), the abode of Lord Brahma, lying to its west with a temple and a picturesque lake. The Pushkar Lake is a sacred spot for Hindus. During the month of Kartik (Oct./Nov.), devotes throng in large numbers here to take a dip in the sacred lake.

Ajaipal Chauhan founded Ajmer in the seventh century. He constructed a hill fort "Ajaimeur" or the invincible hill. The Chauhans ruled Ajmer till the 12th century when Prithviraj Chauhan lost Mohammed Ghauri. Thereafter it became a part of the sultanate of Delhi. Ajmer was also favourite residence for the great Mughals. One of the first contacts between the Mughal King Jahangir and Sir Thomas Roe took place here in 1616. The Scindias took over the city in 1818 and then handed it over to the British and it became one of the only part of Rajasthan controlled directly by the East Indian Co.

The bus stand in Ajmer is located near the RTDC Hotel Khadim. And the railway is further north and most of the hotels are west of the stations. Northeast is the main post office and most of the cities market is located behind and up to Agra Gate. Further north is a large artificial lake called the Anna Sagar.


Dargah Sharif: The most famous tourist attraction of Ajmer is the Dargah Sharif (Holy Dargah). The Dargah entombs the Sufi Saint, Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti. The Khwaja came from Persia and committed his whole life towards the betterment of the destitute and oppressed. It is one of the most revered Muslim shrines in the country. The tomb of the Khwaja is made up of marble and is surrounded by a silver railing and a marble screen.

Nasiyan (Red) Temple: The Nasiyan temple, also known as the Red temple, is a temple of the Digambar Jains. The double story hall of the temple exhibits a number of gold plated wooden figures. These figures are a portrayal of Jain mythology legends. Adorning the hall are glass mosaic, precious stones, gold and silver work, etc.

Ana Sagar Lake: Named after Anaji Chauhan (grandfather of Prithvi Raj Chauhan), Ana Sagar Lake is an artificial lake. This scenic lake is located to the north of Ajmer. Surrounding the lake is Bardari (marble pavilion) built by Emperor Shahjahan. Also, there are Daulat Bagh Gardens next to the lake, set up Emperor Jehangir.

Taragarh Fort: Taragarh Fort is one of the famous forts of Rajasthan. Built in 1345, the fort has six gates. The fort also houses huge reservoirs of solid rock, and one of the largest battlefields, Bhim Burj. The Dargah of Miran Saheb, the governor of the fort who sacrificed his life in a war, is also situated inside the fort.

Adhai-Din Ka Jhonpra: An epitome of Indo - Islamic architecture, Adhai-Din Ka Jhonpra is an old mosque. It is believed that the mosque was built in two and a-half days (Adhai-Din). This led to the name of the mosque as Adhai-Din Ka Jhonpra. The front screen wall of the mosque consists of seven pointed arches. The mosque has a striking tower inside it that is used by the Muezzin to chant prayers.

Climate

Ajmer weather is a typical desert type. In the summer time, the climate of Ajmer is very hot and in winters, it is quite cool. Both in summers as well as in winters, there is a wide difference in the day and night temperature. Regarding the average temperature in summers (from April to June), the maximum is around 45° C. The winters in Ajmer stretch from November to February. The winters of Ajmer are quite chilly. In the monsoon season, the first rain covers the city in green. All the small mountains of the city start becoming green with the first drop of rain. The climatic conditions of Ajmer, Rajasthan are the best during the period of October to March, making it the ideal time to visit the city.

How to Reach Ajmer

Ajmer is an important tourist town of Rajasthan. Ajmer is located in the central part of Rajasthan, India. The Ajmer town is well known for the Dargah of Sufi saint, Khwaja Muinuddin Chisti and the Pushkar town, famous for the Brahma temple and the Pushkar Camel fair.

By Air
The nearest airport is Jaipur, which is 135kms away from Ajmer city.

By Train
Ajmer is located on the Delhi-Jaipur-Marwar-Ahmedabad-Mumbai line of the Indian Railways and most trains have stoppage at Ajmer.

By Road
Ajmer is connected by bus with cities like Jaipur, Delhi, Agra, Aligarh, Bikaner, Abu road, Chittaurgarh Haridwar, Jodhpur, Nagaur and Jaisalmer.