Ajmer

Capital of the Chauhan rulers during the medieval times, Ajmer was founded by Ajaipal Chauhan in seventh century AD. Since then it has come quite a long way, and its importance as a place of pilgrimage is really high. A travel to Ajmer is ideal for a number of reasons, and the city also makes for an excellent travel base to explore the sacred Hindu town of Pushkar.

Sites to See in Ajmer

Ajmer-e-Sharif

Ajmer-e-Sharif or the Dargah Sharif (the famous Sufi saint Khwaja Moin-ud-Din Chisti's Dargah) is a definite must-visit when you happen to be in this city of Rajasthan. His tomb is one of the holiest Muslim pilgrimages in India. Watching the qawwals singing the most spiritually resonant songs will be a sheer delight.

Khwaja Moin-ud-Din Chisti was the founder of the Chisti silsilah, the most popular and famous of the orders into which Sufis were organized in India. He made is base in Ajmer and died here in 1236. Since then the Dargah Sharif has been attracting devotees from Muslims, Hindus and people of other faiths. The Dargah Sharif had been visited by Akbar, the greatest of the Mughals, for eighteen long years from 1562.

Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra

Another fascinating attraction of Ajmer is the Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra mosque which was converted into a mosque by the first slave ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, Qutubuddin Aibak. Though in ruins, the monument is a wonderful specimen of architecture.

Mayo College

Other place worth visiting in Ajmer is the Mayo College which was founded in 1875 by Lord Mayo, Viceroy of India. The architecture of the school buildings is in the same style as royal Rajasthani architecture. The school's main building, in white marble, is a classic example of Indo-Saracenic architecture.

Named after Lord Mayo, the British Viceroy of India, who founded the college in 1875, Mayo College is another prime attraction of Ajmer. Known as the Eton of the East, the college building is a fine specimen of Indo-Saracenic architecture, Foy Sagar, Kishangarh, Roopangarh, Kharwa, Beawar, Bijaynagar, Junia, Baghera, Todgarh, Balunda and Merta city are some of the favourite excursions from Ajmer.

Where to stay in Ajmer

Ajmer has lots of accommodation options to choose from to suit different budgets. Many hotels in the city are a perfect base from which to explore the travel highlights of the city. Hotel Mansingh Palace, Hotel Merwara Estate, Hotel Regency, Hotel Aaram, Hotel Ajaymeru, Hotel Ajmer Sharif at Dargah Bazar, Hotel Sahil outside Delhi Gate and MotiMahal Hotel are some of the hotels that are perfect for holiday travelers.

How to reach Ajmer

Surrounded by the rugged Aravalli Hills, Ajmer is a busy city and is 138km from Jaipur which is the nearest airport connected with important cities and towns in India. A major railhead, Ajmer is well connected to the major cities in India by rail. Thanks to a wide network of roads, the city is easily accessible from any part of India. Some of the cities that are well connected with Ajmer by good motorable roads are Delhi (395kms), the capital of India, Agra (363kms), home to Taj Mahal, Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan and Ahmedabad (570km)