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Ajmer Travel Guide
Ajmer
situated in the green oasis wrapped in the barren hills has been a witness to
an interesting past. The city was founded by Raja Ajai Pal Chauhan in the 7th
century A.D. and continued to be a major centre of Chauhan power.
When Prithviraj Chauhan lost it to Mohammed Ghauri leaving behind indelible
marks of their culture and traditions on the cities history, converting it to
an amalgam of various cultures and a blend of Hinduism and Islam.
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.
