Ajmer

General Information / History
Ajrmer known for its blend of Hindu and Islam cultures 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.

Sightseeing

Taragarh Fort
A steep one and a half hour climb beyond the Adhai-din-ka-jhonpra leads to he ruins of the Taragarh Fort, perched on a hill. One can have an excellent view of the city from here. The fort was the site of military activity during the Mughal period, later used as a sanatorium by the British.

Mayo College
Established in 1875 by Lord Mayo, the then Viceroy of India, it was exclusively for the education of the aristocracy and patterned on the British public school pattern. The over 100-year-old main building is built of white unpolished marble, constructed in the Indo-Saracenic style with a delicately proportioned clock tower which is 127 ft in height.

The Dargah
Located in the heart of the old city is the tomb of the sufi saint-Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. Although the Dargah is a significant shrine for the followers of the Sufi cult of Muslims it s reputation has spread beyond all faiths. The colourful bazaar on the way to the shrine and around the main gate is interesting.

The Museum
Once the royal residence of Emperor Akbar, the museum houses a rich repository of the Mughal and Rajput armour and exquisite sculptures.

Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra
beyond the dargah is a building of unusual architecture , Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra or the two and half day hut. Originally a Sanskrit college it was converted in to a mosque in 2 1/2 day by Mohammed of Ghori in 1198 AD.

Shahjahan's Mosque
In the corner of the inner court of the Dargah, is a magnificent building in white marble with a long(30.5 cm) 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 the Dargah.

The Circuit House
The former British Residency, overlooking the artificial lake, Ana Sagar, has now been converted to he Circuit House. The lake and the cenotaph and the shrine of the Hidy reformer Swami Dayanand, founder of the Arya Samaj movement in India, can viewed from here.

Excursions
Pushkar Lake (11 Km) : The lake, situated on the edge of the desert and surrounded by hills on the three sides, is separated from Ajmer by 'Nag Pahar'- the snake mountain. On this mountain the Panchkund and the cave of saint Agastya are located.
According to legend, the origin of Pushkar dates back to the time when Lord Brahma was on his way in search of a tranquil land to perform a 'Yagna'. A lotus fell form the hand of the Lord into this valley. A lake sprang up on this spot and was dedicated to him. A Brahma temple located here is a popular place of pilgrimage.

Pushkar Fair
Easily the most easily identifiable of Rajasthan's many fairs, Pushkar has come to symbolize the febrile heartbeat of the people of the state. Held in November in Pushkar, the temple town close to Ajmer, where an 8th century temple of Brahma draws the faithful, it is located on the banks of a lake. Pilgrims bathe at the ghats and pray at the temple, while the actual fair is held in the vast stretching desert around it. Here, traders set camp to strike deals at India's, and probably the world's largest camel fair, though hors3es are also sold. It is also a time for friends and families to get together, camp in the desert, entertain each other with folk songs and dances, cook meals over camp fires, and wander through the exuberant melee of people looking for handicrafts, or merely to stand in a queue for the giant wheel... Special tented camps are set up on the occasion for visitors but such is the draw of this fair internationally, that even these are soon exhausted, and people may have to stay in nearby Ajmer, or even as far as Jaipur, visiting here by day.
Man Mahal : Along the banks of the Pushkar Lake is the former residence of Raja Man Singh of Amer, Man Mahal. Presently it is converted to RTDC Sarovar Tourist Bungalow ensuring convenient accommodation to travelers. Pushkar Palace (Kishagarh House) adjoining it is a heritage hotel.

Foy Sagar (5km)
A picturesque artificial lake named after the engineer who created it under a famine relief project.