Ajmer

Ajmer, also known as Ajaymeru, was the city ruled by Prithviraj Chauhan. It was founded by Raja Ajay Pal Chauhan in the 7th century who also founded the Chauhan dynasty. Though Ajmer was a major centre of the Chauhan power till 1193 A.D, today Ajmer is a major pilgrimage centre for the followers of Islam and most famous as a symbol of the religious harmony of India.

The Dargah Sharif-tomb of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, is revered by Muslims, Hindus and people of other religions and is a major pilgrimage destination. The Urs, an annual fair held in the memory of the Khwaja is a major draw. Ajmer was in the hands of Mughals when Akbar conquered it. After the Mughals came the Marathas and subsequently the British. All these rulers left their stamp on the architecture and culture of Ajmer. Ajmer is also the base for traveling to Pushkar, home to the world’s only Brahma temple and just eleven kilometers away.

The other attractions of Ajmer include Adhai-din-ka-jhonpra, a Jain temple constructed in 1153 and converted into a mosque by Qutubuddin Aibak; magazine, the museum; and Mayo College, a prominent school whose building is made in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. An artificial lake called Ana Sagar is also nearby.