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::
N O R T H I N D I A >
A J M E R :: |
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Brief
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Situated
in the green oasis, wrapped in the barren hills, Ajmer has
been a witness to an interesting past. Today, Ajmer is a popular
pilgrimage center, for the Hindus, as well as Muslims. Especially
famous is the Dargah Sharif - tomb of the Sufi saint Khwaja
Moinuddin Chishti, which is equally revered by the Hindus
and Muslims. It is essentially a perfect base to visit nearby
Pushkar. Ajmer also has a legacy of excellent educational
institutions, started by the British. |
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History
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The city
was founded by Raja Ajai Pal Chauhan, in the 7th Century A.D.
and continued to be a major center of the Chauhan power, till
Prithviraj Chauhan, lost it to Mohammed Ghauri. Born in Afghanistan,
Moinuddin Chisti visited Ajmer and breathed his last here.
The houses of Mewar, Malwa and Jodhpur, each ruled for a time,
until Akbar annexed it and made the tomb a place of pilgrimage.
Since then, Ajmer became home to many dynasties, which came
and left, leaving behind indelible marks of their culture
and traditions on the history of the city, converting it to
an amalgam of various cultures and a blend of Hinduism and
Islam. After the Mughals, Ajmer returned to the House of Jodhpur
and later the Marathas, till the British annexed it and brought
it under their direct rule. |
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Culture
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Ajmer
was home to many dynasties, which came and left leaving behind
indelible marks of their culture and traditions on the history
of the city, converting it, to an amalgam of various cultures
and a blend of Hinduism and Islam. It is a popular pilgrimage
center for the Hindus as well as Muslims. It is also the base
for visiting Pushkar, the adobe of Lord Brahma. A sacred spot
for Hindus, during the month of Kartik (Oct/Nov), devotees
throng in large numbers here, to take a dip in the sacred
Pushkar lake. |
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Climate
& Geographical Location - |
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Ajmer is
very hot and dry in summer and extremely cold in winter. Situated
130 km west of Jaipur, in a basin at an altitude of 486 meters,
Ajmer is situated in a valley surrounded by the Aravalli hills. |
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How
to Reach - |
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Ajmer
is connected by rail, road and air. By air, the nearest airport
is Jaipur which lies at 132 kms and is connected to Mumbai,
Delhi, Rajkot, Aurangabad, Jodhpur and Udaipur. By rail, Ajmer
is the main railhead and has regular train services that link
it to Mumbai, Delhi, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Jodhpur, Udaipur and
other important cities. By road, Ajmer is on National Highway
No 8 connecting Delhi to Mumbai via Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur
and Ahmedabad. A good network of bus services operate from
Ajmer to key destinations around. |
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: T O U R I S T P L A C
E S : |
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Dargah
Khwaja Sahib - |
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Revered
by all the sects, the landmark of Ajmer, the Dargah Khwaja
Sahib, is one of the holiest Muslim shrines in the country.
Millions of pilgrims within the country and abroad, come here
to pay homage at the shrine. The Dargah is the final resting
place of the great Sufi saint - Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti -
the Bestower of Boons. Built in the early 13th century, it
attracts millions from all the sects and religions, during
the six day celebration of the Urs or death anniversary of
Khwaja. Large drums and brass cauldrons brought by Akbar,
after the siege of Chittaurgarh as war trophies form the objects
of antiquarian interest. The tomb is richly adorned with gold
and silver. |
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Adhai
Din Ka Jhonpra - |
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Adhai
Din Ka Jhonpra or the two and a half day shed, is a relic
of an old mosque consisting of a quadrangle cloistered on
all the four sides, having on the inside, a front screen wall
of seven pointed arches. It is believed that Shahabuddin Mohammad
Ghori, ordered that the mosque be made ready for his prayer
within two and a half days. It is one of the finest and the
largest specimen of the early Muslim mosque that now exists. |
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Ana
Sagar - |
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An alluring
artificial lake, it was built in the 12th century and named
after Anaji Chauhan. The huge embankment erected with the
peoples help, is a fine example of the corporate life in Ajmer
at that time. |
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Taragarh
Fort - |
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The
Tara-Sobhita-Garh fort, which is star adorned, overhangs the
city like a star. Earlier known as Ajaya-Meru-Durg, it covers
an area of 2 to 3 km on the top of the hill. It has some important
gates, which made the access to the fort very difficult. |
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Mayo
College - |
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Established
in 1875 for the ruling elite, it was named after Lord Mayo,
the then Governor General of India. Today, one of the premier
educational institution of India, it has a museum, displaying
historical objects of interest and biological preservation. |
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Others
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ABDULLAH
KHANS TOMB - This white tomb, of the later
Mughal period, stands majestically, in the centre of the city
near the railway station. Abdullah Khan, was the father of
Husein Ali Khan. |
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AJAIPAL
OR AJIPALJI - A scenic spot 6 kms south of
Foy Sagar, King Ajaypal, believed to be the founder of Ajmer,
became a sanyasi and retired to this place after a long reign. |
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ANDED
KI MATA - The temple of Anded ki Mata in the
beautiful surroundings, is the site of a fair, held every
year on Rakshabandhan in August. Close to Anded ki Mata, stands
a group of Chhatris and Chabutras (Thadas), belonging to the
Digambar Jains of Ajmer. |
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FOY
SAGAR - Within
the city precincts, the picturesque Foy Sagar, is a lake named
after the engineer responsible for its construction. The other
monuments of interest, in and around the city are Dadabari,
Khobra Bherron, Magazine, Nasiyan (Red Temple) etc. |
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KISHANGARH
- A veritable treasure house of art, this
charming little town, is world renowned for its miniature
paintings, and has nurtured one of the finest schools of miniature
paintings in the 18th century. |
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