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| HOLY CITIES |
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| Ajmer Sharif |
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Ajmer situated in the green oasis wrapped in the barren hills has been a witness to an interesting past .Ajmer became home to many dynasties,which came and left leaving behind indelible marks of their culture and traditions on the city's history,coverting it to an amalgam of various cultures and a blend of Hinduism and Islam.
About 135 kilometers southwest of Jaipur is Ajmer, the most sacred of all Muslim places of pilgrimage in India. The revered Sufi saint, Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chisti, who came to Ajmer from Persia in 1192, died in 1236 and was buried here. His tomb, the Dargah is visited by thousands of devout Muslims every year. The shrine was erected by Humayun. The Dargah also has mosques which were built by rulers such as Shah Jahan, Jahangir and Akbar. Akbar used to make a pilgrimage to Ajmer every year from Agra.
The entrance to the complex is from the Dargah Bazaar which leads to the first courtyard. This courtyard has a mosque built by Akbar and two cauldrons known as degs in which donations are made. These donations are later divided among the poor. The saints's tomb is in the centre of the second court. It is enshrined in a domed marble chamber and is surrounded by silver railings. The tomb attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims every year on the anniversary of the saint's death, which falls in the seventh month of the lunar calendar. It is also the venue for the famous Urs festival.
Today, Ajmer is a popular pilgrimage centre for the Hindus as well as Muslims.
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What to See
The Dargah : It is the splendid tomb of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, more popularly known as Khwaja Saheb or Khwaja Sharif. The shrine attracts thousands of pilgrims during the Urs-commemorating the death anniversary of the saint. A colourful fair that springs up during this time is the major attraction.
Shahjahan's Mosque : In the corner of the inner court of the Dargah, is a magnificent building in white marble with a long and narrow court having low arcade and delicate carvings with trellis-work.It is the most marvellous of all the sanctums within the sanctuary of Dargah.
Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra : A remarkable structure, this is a masterpiece of Indo-Islamic architecture located on the outskirts of the city, just beyond the Dargah. As the legend goes, its construction took two and a half days to complete.
Taragarh Fort : A steep one and a half hour climb beyond the Adhai-din-ka Jhonpra leads to the ruins of the Taragarh Fort, perched on a hill one can have an excellent view of the city from here.
The Museum : Once the royal residence of Emperor Akbar , the museum houses a rich Repository of the Mughal and Rajput armour and exquisite sculptures.
Shopping : Shopping in Ajmer is an enjoyable experience.One can shop for antiques , curios, fascinating gold and silver jewellery in contemporary designs,colourful tie-and-dye sarees and embroidered jodhpuri 'Jutis'.
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Places to Stay
Hotel Bhola, Haji Guest House, Hotel Regency, Mansingh Palace, RTDC Khadim, Nagpal Tourists, Hotel Shobraj
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Getting There
Air : Jaipur 132Km is the nearest airport.
Rail : Regular Trains services link Ajmer with important cities like ,Gujarat , Mumbai,Delhi, Ahmedabad.
Bus: A good network of bus services operate from Ajmer to and fro for Key Destinations Around.
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