Oasis of Pilgrimage "Ajmer"

The introduction of Rajasthan was enough to know how beautiful the place is, so i would like to continue the admiration of the place by describing its cities and attractions more deeper in this post.

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Ajmer




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. Then Prithviraj Chauhan lost it to Mohammed Ghori, after which Ajmer became home to many dynasties. Today, Ajmer is a popular pilgrimage centre for the Muslims as well as Hindus. Especially famous is the Dargah Sharif-tomb of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, which is equally revered both by the Hindus and the Muslims. Ajmer is a centre of culture and education. The British chose Ajmer for its prestigious Mayo College, a school exclusively for Indian nobility at one time. However, now it is one of the best public schools in the country. Ajmer is also the base for visiting Pushkar (14 km.) which has the distinction of having the only Brahma temple in the world. The Picturesque Pushkar Lake is a sacred spot for Hindus. During the month of Kartik (Oct/Nov), devotees throng in large numbers to take a dip in the sacred lake.

Ajmer was also a 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. Thus Ajmer was the only region to be directly controlled by the East Indian Company. 

Situated in the heart of the desert of Rajasthan, Ajmer is a blend of Sufi culture and Hindu religion. Ajmer has always been a coveted and strategic place for the Rajputs, the Mughals and the Marathas. Ajmer was the seat of administration for the Chauhans till Prithviraj was defeated in 1193 AD by Mohammad Ghauri. It then became a part of the Delhi Sultanate.
However, Rana Kumbha of Mewar and Raja Maldeo again established Rajput rule over Ajmer. The annual Urs at Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is held on a grand scale and attracts pilgrims from all over the world irrespective of their caste and religion.

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.

Ajmer Travel Guide

Ajmer tour itineraries take you to a divine land steeped in the pious spirit of Hazrat Moinuddin Hasan Chisti's preaching's. In fact Ajmer Sharief gets its name from the Dargah of the great saint.

See the entrancing Ajmer tourist attractions in a systematic manner as you avail of the Ajmer tour itineraries with Rajasthan Holiday. Marvel at the appealing pillars that support the fascinating Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra, tour the enchanting Akbar's Palace and see a profusion of gold work on the walls of the Nasiyan Jain Temple as a part of Ajmer tour itineraries.

The imposing Taragarh Fort creates a formidable yet appealing charm and allures you into its labyrinth of stone stairs, large royal quarters frescoed with delicate patterns in a riot of colors and all the paraphernalia connected with typical Rajputana royal architectural buildings.

Picnic at Daulat Bagh on the banks of the picture pretty Ana Sagar as a part of the Ajmer tour itineraries and imagine yourself in an era when emperor Shah Jahan personally supervised the construction of elaborately carved marble pavilions that ornament the perfectly manicured Daulat Bagh.

See the majestic Kishangarh Fort and tour the local villages like Beawar and Tilonia that are known for their fabulous handicrafts with Ajmer tour itineraries.

The Sights of Ajmer are

Dargah-e-Sharif Ajmer

Taragarh Fort

Adhai-Din-Ka-Jhonpra

Ana Sagar Lake

Govt. Museum - Ajmer

Nasiyan (Jain Temple)


Dargah-e-Sharif or Khwaja Sharif



Located at the foot of a barren hill, the Dargah-e- Sharif is the place where the Khawaja Moin-ud-din Chisti's mortal remains lie buried. The Dargah has a beautiful marble dome and a courtyard, surrounded by a silver platform. It's believed that the tomb is a place of wish fulfillment for those who pray with devout and pure hearts. People of all religious faiths visit the Dargah and make offerings of rose and jasmine flowers to seek the blessings of the Khawaja. The famous annual 'Urs' festival is a major tourist attraction of Ajmer when millions of devotees from around the world visit the Dargah to pay their homage and seek blessing of Khawaja.

It is one of the most sacred Muslim shrines in the country. Venerated by both Hindus and Muslims, it is the tomb of Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti, a Sufi saint who came from Persia and devoted his life to the service and upliftment of the poor and downtrodden. The Dargah has a massive gate with silver doors built in several stages. Revered by the Mughal rulers, it has touches of Humayun to Shah Jahan in its structural architecture. A silver railing and a marble screen surround the actual tomb of the saint, made of marble with a gold plated dome.





Mughal Emperors Akbar and Shah Zahan have built mosques in the complex. The saint's tomb is in the centre of the second courtyard and the actual tomb inside is surrounded by a silver railing and partly by a marble screen. The tomb is of marble and dome is gold plated. The atmosphere inside the shrine is charged and supernatural with burning of incense and offerings of flowers mainly rose and sweets.

As you enter the Dargah courtyard, you see two massive 'degs' meaning cauldrons. Mughal Emperors Akbar and Jahangir donated these cauldrons originally but they have been replaced in the nineteenth century. The larger cauldron can contain as much as 4480 kgs of rice while the smaller one contains 2240 kgs of rice.



The shrine comes alive with activity when millions of devotees throng the shrine during Urs fair. Urs is held on the seventh lunar month according to Islamic calendar and is variable according to the solar calendar. Sufis and believer converge from all over India and abroad, as it is believed that those visiting during Urs receives special blessings of the saint.

It is compulsory that you cover your head while inside the complex so remember to carry a skullcap or a scarf. The skull-cap is on sale in the colourful market just outside the Dargah. It is also customary to make floral offerings mainly of roses, incense sticks and sweets that are locally available.

Taragarh Fort










The 7th century Taragarh Fort (Star Fort) was built by Ajaipal Chauhan, the founder of the city of Ajmer. Perched on a high hill, the fort offers a breathtaking view of Ajmer city.The colossal fort stands watching the city. There are six entrance points in the fort. The fort houses Miran-Saheb-ki-Dargah, the governor of the fort who died fighting in an encounter. The fort offers a panoramic view of the city situated in Nagpahari hills of Aravalli ranges. This fort has immeasurable historical and archaeological importance. Taragarh Fort or the 'Star fort' is situated on a hill and to reach there, one has to take winding bridle path.

Adhai-Din-Ka-Jhonpra



The Adhai-Din-Ka-Jhonpra is a small and beautiful mosque, situated on the outskirts of Ajmer. Built by Alauddin Khilji, a Delhi Sultant king, it's one of the finest examples of Indo-Islamic architecture. The mosque is built on pillars and surprisingly no two pillars are alike. Its archways and the pillars are finely engraved with Kufi and Jughra inscriptions from the holy Quran.





'Adhai Din' means 'two and a half days' and suggests the time duration in which this building was built. A marvel, a masterpiece of Indo - Islamic architecture, this building is an artifact of an old mosque and is made up of a with a front screen wall with seven pointed arches. The distinctive pillars and arched screen with ruined minarets make it a superb architectural masterpiece.It is a relic of an old mosque consisting of a quadrangle with a front screen wall of seven pointed arches. The distinct pillars and arched screen with its ruined minarets makes it look a stunning architecture.Originally, this was the Sanskrit College but, this was demolished by Mohd. Ghori along with the other temples and built a mosque. Pillars from at least thirty temples, must have gone into the making of this elegant monument.

Ana Sagar lake



The beauty of Ajmer is known to the travelers very well. The city is visited by thousands every year chiefly for the holy shrine of Dargah Sharif, Ajmer which has been the major crowd puller. But the other attractive proposition of the city that too has played an important role in the beautification of Ajmer is the famous Ana Sagar Lake, Ajmer. The lake has been an outstanding landmark of the city from the 11th century and has served to the cause of the city as well.

The Ana Sagar Lake was built by King Anaji during 1135-1150 AD. King Anaji was the grandfather of Prithvi Raj Chauhan and he built the landscape for the better cause of the society. Presently the lake acts as a major reason for increase in the popularity of Tours to Ajmer. The Ana Sagar Lake in Ajmer in India is probably the largest and most popular Lakes and Gardens in Ajmer.

The lake was built in the 12th century by putting up a dam across the Luni River and the lake was named after the then ruler of Ajmer Anaji Chauhana. The lake is surrounded by some of the marvelous piece of attractions of the city like the Daulat Bagh that was built by Shah Jahan and is built completely by marble stones. Surprisingly the lake dries up completely during the summers.

The Ana Sagar Lake is surrounded by many other attractions like the temple of Khobra Behroon which lies on the southern bank of the lake. The lake is an artificial creation that has been a lifeline for the people of Ajmer in the past. The lake still serves as a lifeline of beauty to the city to the locals and the visitors as well.

The best time to visit the Ana Sagar Lake, Ajmer is between the months of October to March when the climate remains cool and the water level up to the mark. The various nearby attractions of the lake are Adahi-Din-Ka Jhopra, Taragarh Fort, Nasiyan and Prithviraj Smarak.

A beautiful artificial lake, Ana Sagar Lake was built by Anaji between 1135-1150 AD. Later the Mughal Emperors made additional constructions to beautify the Lake. While the Baradari, a beautiful marble pavilion, was built by Shah Jehan, Jehangir added the Daulat Bagh Gardens which is a park on the banks of Ana Sagar having a series of marble pavilions erected in 1637 by Shah Jahan.It is an artificial lake named after Anaji Chauhan. The catchments were built with the help of local populace.

Govt. Museum Ajmer





The Rajputana Museum as it is significantly named, has in its galleries important exhibits from almost all the princely states. There is a library attached to his museum, which contains rare books and important historical publications.The Ajmer Government Museum, situated in the famous Lohagarh Fort, is also known as Bharatpur Museum. It preserves an array of archaeological artifacts from Bharatpur. It forms an essential destination for the Ajmer tours. Established in 1908 this museum has several exquisite antiques collated from the region of Rajasthan.



There are several sections within the museum such as Archaeology, Armory, Arts, Crafts and Industry, Children Gallery and the miscellaneous section. A rare collection of miniature paintings on the leaves of Peepal trees, mica, old litho papers and some of the finest paintings of the Maharajas of Bharatpur can be glimpsed inside the Art Gallery. For armour enthusiasts the collection of 'Chaddra', miniature canons of 18th century, displayed in two sets of eleven each will be sight to see. These were used in the battles fought within the territory of Jaipur by Maharaja Sawai Jawahar Singh. Another interesting array of artifacts constitutes of exhibits of Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra, a mosque built from the ruins of Hindu and Jain temples on the same site within two and a half days. These are accompanied by the precious objects from the Gupta dynasty to the late medieval era.

The museum's main sections are devoted to Sculptuters, epigraphs, Protohistoric antiquities, Arms andWeapons. Besides, there are objects from Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpara and other exhibits lying in various godowns forming a large reserve collection. Sculptures constiture the most interesting section in this Museum. The collection is enormously rich and varies from periods ranging from the Gupta to the late Medieval period. Mention should be made here of the interesting Chaturmukh Shivliga, Marriage of Lord Shiva from Kaman, Lingodbhava Mahesvara from Harashnath and other fine Shiva-Parvati panels from Katara (Bharatpur) and Kusma (Sirohi).



There are a number of surya ,vishnu (including a trimurty) Hari Hara lakshmi-Narayan, revanta, kuber and Mother & child images in the collection. Of the female divinities the saptamatrikas, Mahisasur-Mardini, Kali, jain saraswati and early independent icon of various mother goddesses deserve special mention. An execellant collection of sculptures from the Chauhan centre of Baghera (10th 12th A.D.) in Ajmer District, are also preserved here. A fine collection of Tirthankara images and rare images of Gomukha Yaksha and Saraswati are also on display in the Jain gallery of this Museum. Compared with this there are only a few Buddhist objects in the Museum.



Nasiyan (Jain Temple)



The red temple is a Digambar Jain temple which has a double-storey hall adjacent to the main temple. The hall displays a series of large gold plated wooden figures depicting legends from Jain mythology. The entire hall is richly adorned by glass mosaic, precious stones, gold and silver work. The temple is also popularly called Soni Ji Ki Nasiyan.

The two-storied structure of Nasiyan Temple is divided into two parts, where one is the worship area comprising the idol of Lord Adinath and the second is the museum including a hall. The museum hall gets the major attention due to its mind blowing interiors made up in gold. This exquisite museum depicts the five stages (Panch Kalyanak) in the life of Lord Adinath, in the stature of statues. With the dimensions of 40 x 80 feet, the hall is adorned with Belgium stain glass, mineral color paintings and stain glasswork.




The astonishing and inimitable display of the shrine, made it to be recognized, as the Golden Temple (Swarna Mandir). The focal hall is made surprisingly beautiful with gold and silver decorations. Digambar Jain Temple displays marvelous wooden gild representations, glass engravings and paintings, recounting the conviction of the Jainism with reference to the making of the world. Festooned by precious stones, gold and silver work, the place is also termed as Soni Ji Ki Nasiyan.

The celestial appearance of the temple creates a kind of divine aura that appeals to the mind of pilgrims and devotees. In the inner prayer chamber, small silver balls hanging from the ceiling absolutely enthrall the onlooker. The posh interiors of the temple boast of the aesthetic and rich taste of the Digambar Jains. In the vein of other Jain architecture, Nasiyan Temple has high fortifications encircling the temple complex. Jain Temple receives devotees, who come to pay their homage to Lord Adinath, from all over India.

Excursions from Ajmer

Pushkar 

According to religious texts this lake is supposed to have appeared miraculously when a lotus flower fell from the hands of Lord Brahma and dropped into this valley.

Pushkar lake, believed by the Hindus to be as old as creation, has been a place of pilgrimage through the centuries. Pushkar has stood witness to the procession of history from the time of Rama, the hero of the earliest Hindu epic the Ramayana, to Fa-Hien's accounts of Pushkar in the 4th century A.D. and to the time of the Muslim invasions.

There are 52 bathing ghats, built around the lake. The water around each ghat is supposed to have special powers. The Naga Kund is believed to give fertility, Roop Tirth beauty, Kapil Vyapi Kund water helps in curing leprosy and a dip in the Mnkand Muni Kund grant the boon of wisdom.

Annually on Kartik Pumima (the full moon day), the famous Pushkar fair is held. Devotees come to take a holy dip in the lake water. Folk dancers and folk musicians of different regions and culture come together to breathe new life into the town. Famous for it's camel fair which is held every year in November.

Kishangarh





Kishangarh is 27 Kms north east of Ajmer and was founded by Kishan Singh a Rathore Prince. In the 18th century it acclaimed fame as one of the finest schools of miniatures paintings. Though a smaller school with a much shorter duration it had a more refined style. It peaked under the patronage of Savant Singh an heir to the throne, who later became a hermit. It is said that Savant Singh modeled as Krishna while his mistress nicknamed as Bani Thani modelled for Radha. Paintings of Bani Thani are it most celebrated. The artist of this school favoured evening lights and grey skies with fine colours.

Tilonia





Tilonia is a small town 25 kms from Kishangarh near Ajmer and 7 kms off Jaipur-Ajmer highway. Barefoot college inspires this town, which began in 1972 with the conviction that solutions to rural problems lie within the community. The College, officially known as Social Work and Research Centre, addresses problems of drinking water, girl education, health & sanitation, rural unemployment, income generation, electricity and power, as well as social awareness and the conservation of ecological systems in rural communities.

Urs Fair - A Famous Ritual of Ajmer

The lakeside city of Ajmer is located in central Rajasthan, and is held in great reverence by devotees of all communities who call it 'Ajmer Sharif' (Holy Ajmer). It is here that the mortal remains of the highly respected Sufi saint Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti lie buried. The Khwaja came from Persia and established the Chishtia order of fakirs in India. He is popularly known as Gharib Nawaz (protector of the poor) because he dedicated his entire life to the service of mankind.

His spartan life spanned almost a hundred years and he embraced death in solitude while he had withdrawn to his cell for six days, asking not to be disturbed. The Dargah Sharif in Ajmer is the place where the Saint's mortal remains lie buried and is the site of the largest Muslim fair in India. More than five lakh devotees belonging to different communities gather from all parts of the subcontinent to pay homage to the Khwaja on his Urs (death anniversary) during the first six days of Rajab (seventh month of the Islamic calendar.)



The pilgrims who come to seek the blessings of the Khwaja make rich offerings called nazrana at the holy spot where the saint has been entombed. The offerings of rose and jasmine flowers, sandalwood paste, perfumes and incense contribute to the fragrance that floats in the air inside the shrine. Also offered by devotees are the chadar, ghilaph and neema, which are votive offerings for the tomb.

These are brought by devotees on their heads and handed over to the khadims inside the sanctum sanctorum. Outside the sanctum sanctorum of the dargah, professional singers called qawwals in groups and sing the praises of the saint in a characteristic high pitched voice. People gather around them and listen attentively, sometimes clapping to the rhythm of their instruments.




The Urs is initiated with the hoisting of a white flag on the dargah by the Sajjada Nashin (successor representative) of Chishtis. It is done on the 25th of Jamadi-ul-Akhir (sixth lunar month), with the accompaniment of music. On the last day of the sixth month, the Jannati-Darwaza (gateway of heaven) is flung open early in the morning. People cross this gate seven times with the belief that they will be assured a place in heaven. On the 1st of Rajab, the tomb is washed with rose water and sandalwood paste and anointed with perfumes. This ritual is called ghusal. The tomb is then covered with an embroidered silk cloth by the Sajjada Nashin.

An interesting ritual is the looting of kheer (milk-pudding) which is cooked in two large cauldrons called degs and distributed to the devotees as tabarruk (blessed food).

On the 6th of Rajab, after the usual mehfil and the sound of cracker-bursts accompanied by music, the Sajjada Nashin performs the ghusal of the tomb. Fatiha and Salamti are read. A poetic recitation called mushaira is arranged in which poets of all communities arrive to recite compositions dedicated to the Khwaja. The Qul (end-all) on the 6th of Rajab marks the end of the Urs.

At night, religious assemblies called mehfils are held in the mehfil-khana, a large hall meant for this purpose. These are presided over by the Sajjada Nashin of the dargah.



Qawwalis are sung and the hall is packed to capacity. There are separate places reserved for women who attend the mehfil. The mehfil terminates late in the night with a mass prayer for the eternal peace of the Khwaja in particular and mankind in general.

The Dargah is located at the conjunction of three bazaars. There are a number of restaurants around the Dargah where visitors can choose from a variety of dishes most of which are non-vegetarian preparations. Guest houses on the road leading to the Dargah offer accommodation that ranges from economical to luxurious. Many other guest houses are strewn across the city.The shops in the market around the Dargah sell flowers, prayer mats, rosaries, textiles, and general merchandise as well.



Other not to be missed tourist attractions in Ajmer include Circuit House, Mayo College, Daulat Khana, Daulat Bagh, Akabr's Palace, Shah Jehan Mosque and the Museum. Situated in the heart of Ajmer, the 19th century Nasiyan Jain Temple is also worth paying a visit.


Sources

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