Ajmer is a bustling city located 130 km southwest of Jaipur and just 14 km from the pilgrim city of Pushkar. Ajmer city's name comes from 'Ajay Meru' which means 'invincible hill'. Home to many tourist attractions, Ajmer perfectly represents the cultural and ethical diversity of India, where religions, communities, cultures, etc. coexist and thrive in perfect harmony.
Ajmer is a popular tourist destination and a place of pilgrimage for both Hindus and Muslims. Muslims from all over the world visit the final resting place of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chisti. In fact, Darga is revered by both Hindus and Muslims alike. The city is surrounded by the vast Ana Sagar Lake and the rugged hills of Aravalli. Ajmer Sharif Dargah, the shrine of Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chishti, is still Ajmer's most famous tourist attraction, but the city is also known for Jainism, with its magnificent golden Jain temples. Ajmer is also famous as a center of learning.
Mayo College was one of the first schools in India to act as a stepping stone to British-style education and is now one of the most popular destinations in Ajmer.
Ajmer was founded by Ajayadeva, an 11th-century Rajput ruler. In 1193 it was annexed to the Slave Dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate. After paying tribute, it was returned to the Rajput rulers, but was taken by the Mughal emperor Akbar (r. 1556–1605) in 1556. After being annexed by the Marathas in 1770, the area was a constant battlefield between the Rajputs and Marathas until his 1818 cession to the British. The larger of these included the Ajmer and Merwara subdivisions. The smaller one to the southeast contained the Kekri plot. Ajmer he became part of Rajasthan in 1956. The city was founded by Raja Ajaypal Chauhan in the 7th century and was the epicenter of the Chauhan dynasty until the 12th century. The Chauhan dynasty was responsible for the construction of India's first hill fort, Taragarh. This is another must-see place in Ajmer. After the defeat of his Prithviraj Chauhan at the hands of Mohammed Ghori, Ajmer became home to many dynasties. The Mughal Sultan was particularly fond of Ajmer due to the presence of the city's most popular tourist attraction, the holy Ajmer Sharif His Darga. Ajmer has a rich history, with the first meeting in 1616 between Mughal King Jahangir and Sir Thomas Law, court ambassador to King James I of England. Centuries later, the city was officially handed over to England. This makes Ajmer the only area in Rajputana directly controlled by the British East India Company.
There are many attractions near Ajmer, and Pushkar, about 14 km away, remains the most popular tourist destination. Pushkar is a sacred place for Hindus. The only known temple dedicated to Lord Brahma is in Pushkar, and Hindus flock to the city during the month of Kartik to soak in the sacred Sarovar. Another of his attractions near Ajmer is Forsagar Lake, a man-made lake. The lake was built in 1892 by the British engineer Mr. Foy. The main goal behind the construction of the lake was to alleviate famine by providing employment for the local people.The lake offers breathtaking views of the Aravalli Mountains.
Ajmer is a melting pot of cultures. From dargas to Jain temples, Ajmer's sights are proof of that. This fusion of cultures is also influencing the city's dining scene. Enjoy traditional Rajasthani cuisine as well as dishes influenced by the Mughal Empire and British culture. You can also find street vendors selling everyone's favorite foods.
The best time to visit Ajmer is between October and February. The weather is very pleasant during this period. Daytime temperatures at this time of year encourage visiting the various attractions of Ajmer. The summer months from March to May are not ideal for tourism in Ajmer as temperatures can easily exceed 40°C and are best avoided.
You can contact the tourist information office to book the appropriate Ajmer tour package and fully enjoy the various attractions of Ajmer. Most Ajmer tour packages include transportation and accommodation.
Ajmer is the jewel of the city surrounded by Aravalis in the heart of Rajasthan. The former monarchy has a lot to offer due to its enormous historical presence.There are numerous pilgrimage sites there that are sacred sites of the great Sufi Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. Ajmer may seem remote at first glance, but surprisingly it is accessible from almost every part of the country.
If you are traveling by air, you can reach Ajmer via Sanganer Airport in Jaipur, which is the closest airport to Ajmer. It is about 135 km from there.
The town is well connected by rail, so you can catch a train to the nearest station, Ajmer Railway Junction. There are super high speed trains, express trains and mail trains to Ajmer. The station is also well connected to cities such as Kolkata, Delhi, Jaipur, Pune, Lucknow and Allahabad.
Ajmer is located about 132 km from Jaipur and about 388 km from Delhi. There are many buses from Ajmer to Delhi and Jaipur. Both AC buses and Volvo buses operate. Government transport buses connect to many important destinations such as Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bundi, Bharatpur, Bikaner and Jaisalmer.
