Where is Ajmer

Where is Ajmer?
Ajmer is an important city, with a population of about 400,000 people, located in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is about 132 kms west of Jaipur and rests in the lap of the serene and beautiful surroundings of the Aravalli Range of hills.

A Brief History
Situated in the heart of the Rajasthan desert, Ajmer offers a compatible blend of Sufi culture and Hindu religion. For long, Ajmer was always a politically and spiritually important centre for the Rajputs, the Mughals and the Marathas. It was the seat of administration for the Chauhans till, in 1193, the army of Mohammad Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan. Thereafter, it became a part of the Sultanate of Delhi.
However, the Rajputs regained the control of the city with the crusades of Rana Kumbha of Mewar and Raja Maldeo.

Now, Ajmer is an important spiritual and cultural centre of India and people from all walks and religions of life throng to the city to seek the blessings of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti, whose shrine is located in the heart of the city.

How to reach Ajmer
Ajmer can be easily accessed through air, train or road. While the nearest airport is about 138 kms, in the city of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, the easier way is to take a train to the city.
Air: Jaipur Airport, about 138 kms from Ajmer. Fly in to Jaipur. Thereafter, take a train or a bus to Ajmer.
Rail: Ajmer is well connected with the major cities of India through a Rail network. You can get direct trains to Ajmer from Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Udaipur, Abu Road, and Jodhpur. To reach from other cities, you will have to change trains at one of the mentioned locations.
Road: Regular Buses operate from most cities. However, Delhi, Rajashtan and Gujarat offer a good frequency of service. During the Urs time, one can find additional bus services from other cities as well

Accommodation
There are a host of RTDC (Rajasthan Tourism Development Council) motels and hotels, which offer a comfortable stay in the city. There are also a couple of Deluxe Hotels, which though expensive, are luxurious and comfortable.

Hotel	Phone
Hotel Jannet Dargah, Ajmer	0145-2430108
RTDC Hotel Khadim	252490
RTDC Hotel Khidmat	252705
Haveli Heritage Inns	2621607
Hotel Man Singh	250875
RTDC Hotel Sarovar (Pushkar)	22040
RTDC Tourist Village (Pushkar)	22070
Hotel Pushkar Palace (Pushkar)	22001

Ajmer Map

For further information, contact
Tourist Information Bureau,
RTDC Hotel Khadim, Ajmer. Phone: 252426


Climate
Temperatures are very high during summers and very low during winters. Ajmer has a typical desert type of climate. The best period to visit Ajmer is between October and March.

What to see
Ajmer offers a plethora of spiritual and cultural delights. We list below a selection of major attractions of Ajmer.

Dargah Sharief
It is the final resting-place of the Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti. The Dargah of Gharib Nawaz is visited by millions of people from all over the world, irrespective of caste and religion. For more details, click here.


Chillah Sharief of Hazrat Ghous-Ul-Azam
The place of meditation of Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (ra), better known as Ghous-Ul-Azam is located atop a hill overlooking the shrine of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti.Ghous-Ul-Azam was a contemporary of Hazrat Usman Harooni and Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti.

He was a great Sufi Saint and has left for humanity a treasure of writings and teachings based upon the tenets of the Holy Quran and the Hadith.
He was the founder of the Qadirriya Order of Sufis. Millions of devotees throng to his Chillah to invoke his blessings.

Chillah Sharief of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti and the Usmani Chillah

Situated atop a hill overlooking the Ana Sagar Lake, the Chillah Sharief is where Khwaja Gharib Nawaz meditated for forty days continuously. Here also lie the holy relics of his spiritual guide, Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni. Flanking the sides of the meditation place of Khwaja Gharib Nawaz are the holy shrines of the Saints of the Gudri Shahi Order. For more details on the Chillah Sharief, click here.

Adhai-Din-Ka Jhonpara
One of the finest examples of Indo-Islamic architecture, this mosque was a Sanskrit college in the 12th century. In 1193 AD Mohammad Ghori converted the college into a mosque. The mosque is built on pillars and surprisingly no two pillars are alike. The archways are finely engraved with Kufi and Jughra inscriptions from the Holy Koran. It is said that the entire mosque was reconstructed in an amazingly short period of two and a half days - thus the name Adhai Din Ka Jhonpara (A hut of two and a half days)

The Museum
The Royal Palace of Akbar was converted into a museum and today it houses a rich collection of Mughal and Rajput armoury. Many fine and delicate sculptures of the region have been displayed here. The building itself is constructed in red sandstone, which has been laid in a square pattern giving it a beautiful look.

Taragarh Fort
Built in the 7th century by Ajaipal Chauhan, the fort gives a bird's eye view of the city. Taragarh Fort or the 'Star Fort' is situated on a hill and to reach there, one has to take winding bridle path. Situated atop the hill is the Holy Shrine of Martyr Sawar Sharief.

Ana Sagar Lake

Ana Sagar Lake is located towards the north of the city. The famous lake was built between 1135-1150 AD by Anaji. Later, the Mughal Emperors made additional constructions around the lake to add to its splendour. Shah Jahan built a marble pavilion now called the Baradari, while Emperor Jehangir laid the beautiful Daulat Bagh gardens, where people still go in plenty to walk and enjoy the greenery.

Nasiyan (Jain Temple)
This red coloured temple was built in the late 19th century. The wooden gilt in the double storied hall depicts scenes from Jain mythology. It is an interesting place to visit. Offers examples of fine craftsmanship.

Pushkar
The Sister City of Ajmer, Pushkar is only 11 Kms away from the city. The road to Pushkar passes through the Nag Pahar or the Snake Mountain. It is a sacred city of Hindus and boasts of the only existing temple in Asia dedicated to Lord Brahma. According to Hindu Mythology, this lake was formed when a lotus flower fell in the valley from the hands Lord Brahma. There are 52 bathing ghats around the Pushkar Lake and each of them is supposed to be endowed with special mystical powers. For instance, the Naga Kund is for fertility, the Roop Tirth is for beauty while the Kapil Vyapi Kund is said to possess powers that can help cure Leprosy. The famous Pushkar fair is held every year on the Kartik Purnima (Full moon during the Hindu month of Kartik). This fair is famous for its animal bazaar where cattle and herds of camel are traded between villagers from nearby. A time for celebrations and festivities is made bright and colourful with folk dancers and traditional folk musicians performing round the clock.

KishanGarh

Kishangarh was an ancient school of art where painting miniatures had reached a pinnacle of excellence and worldwide acclaim. 27 Kms from Ajmer, towards Jaipur, Kishangarh is now an important town for Marble mining and trade. This town of artists is also famous for Gundelao Lake, Phool Mahal Palace, Temple of Sri Kalyan Raiji and the Majhala palace.

About Hotel Sahil

Ajmer is as vibrant as its glorious past. It is fascinating mixtures of open air, Holy atmosphere of Dargah, Pushkar & Jain Temple with very good Educational institutions.

Hotel Sahil is designed to cater your requirements with all Luxury comfort & peace, situated in the heart of ajmer. Hotel Sahil is a modern hotel with a total of 30 elegantly dressed rooms with impeccable hygiene standards that are modern & efficient. Hotel Sahil is a establishment where individual needs are understood and catered to with graciousness.

Nuzzled in the base of Aravali mountain range

Nuzzled in the base of Aravali mountain ranges, Ajmer is a renowned holy spot for both Hindus and Muslims. The great king of the Chauhan dynasty, Ajaipal Chauhan in the year 1100 AD, established this historic city. Ajmer signifies India's true rendezvous with religious convictions, where a saint is revered by all, irrespective of his caste or creed. The secular nature of true India is enlivened in the life and history of this great city.

Bestowed with the natural beauty, Ajmer is flanked by majestic mountains on all sides. Formerly called as Ajaimeru, which is synonymous with 'Invincible Hill', Ajmer reflects all that is virtuous and thrilling about Rajasthan. Once the glorious domicile of the illustrious Prithviraj Chauhan, Ajmer is a miscellany of amusing cultures absorbed from various dynasties like the Mughals, the Scindias, Rajputs and the rulers of the Delhi Sultanate. Founded in the 7th century, Ajmer withstood the mighty Turkish invasions and finally, it reached in the hands of the British. These famous dynasties had contributed much to the historic development of Ajmer in to vibrant city.

A renowned pilgrim center, Ajmer presents a remarkable synthesis of Hindu culture with Sufi traditions. It has played a key role in the history of Rajasthan since it was tactically and politically a vital state in the early times.

Though not a shoppers delight, Ajmer provides excellent artifacts and Silver Jewellery. Well placed on the shores of a flamboyant watercourse, Ajmer is a retreat in a desolate tract shrouded in comforting greenery. With its magnificient peaks, majestic lakes, elegant Mugal style mansions and historical monuments, Ajmeer offers as a trendy tourist location that displays the celebrated Rajasthan traditions.

Travel within city

Ajmer is a historical city and also a Muslim pilgrimage site. The place has a good transport system that is constructed to cater to the tourists as well as the local population. Getting around the city is easy in Ajmer as most of the important places are located next to each other. Ajmer has a public transport system and also many autos which are available throughout the city. The nearest airport is at Jaipur and travelers are advised to book pre arranged taxis for pick from the airport. The distance is around 130 km and taxi companies usually charge around Rs 1500 for the trip.

Ajmer railway station is located in the city and there are many auto rickshaws that are available from the station. Tempos, Tongas, cycle rickshaws and autos are the main modes of inter- city transport.

Tempo

Tempos are available extensively and they charge around Rs 10 to any part of the city.

Cycle Rickshaw

Cycle rickshaws are another cheap mode of travel. They are found in street corners and prices are negotiable.

Auto Rickshaw

Auto rickshaws are a quick and cheap way to travel around the city. There are no separate night fares. They have a fixed rate system and it is advisable to check the prices before hand

Ajmer History and now

Ajmer

Weather In Summer: 45 C (Max) - 25 C (Min) In winter: 18 C (Max) - 4C (Min) Rainy Season : July to Mid Sept, and very humid (up to 90%) Our suggestion: Best time to come: Oct to March

Ajmer History
Historically, Ajmer always had great strategic importance and was sacked by Mahumud of Ghazni on one of his periodic forays from Afghanistan. Later it became a favorite residence of the great Moghula. One of the first contacts between the Moghula and the British occurred in Ajmer when Sir Thomas Roe met with Jahangir here in 1616. The city was subsequently taken by the Scindias and, in 1818, it was handed over to the British, becoming one of the few places in Rajasthan controlled directly by British rather than being part of a princely state.

Ajmer Fair & Festivals

Held in the memory of the revered Sufi saint Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti, it is an occasion for thousands of believers to congregate at the shrine and offer their prayers. All of Ajmer seems to take on a festive air and several programs are organized to mark the festivals.

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How to reach Ajmer
By Air
The nearest airport from Ajmer is Jaipur. Jaipur is well connected to all the major cities which includes Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Jodhpur, Udaipur. Recently, flights to Dubai has also started from Ajmer by Indian Airlines.


By Road
Rajasthan Roadways run very comfortable deluxe buses from Jaipur. There are buses from Jaipur to Ajmer every 15 minutes, some nonstop. The roads are very good, and it takes around 2 hrs from Jaipur. You can also come by taxi.


By Train
Ajmer is on the Broad Gauge and hence connected to all the metro cities of India. There are daily trains from Delhi in morning (Shatabdhi Exp) and evening (Intercity Exp).


Getting around
Ajmer is a relatively small town and easy enough to get around on foot, but there are plenty of auto - rickshaws and cycles - rickshaws.

About Ajmer Tourism

 Ajmer, formerly known as Ajmere or Ajaymeru is a city in Ajmer district of Rajasthan. The city was founded by the rulers of the Chauhan dynasty who ruled it for several decades, with Prithviraj Chauhan being one of its most illustrious rulers.

At a distance of 135 km from the capital city of Jaipur, Ajmer is surrounded by the Aravalli range and is located at the slopes of the Taragarh Hill. The city is guarded by the mammoth Taragarh Fort which is one of the country’s oldest hill forts, and is at the summit of the Taraga?h Hill providing a breathtaking view of the city below.

Ajmer is famous for the Dargah Sharif of the great Sufi Saint Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti. Located at the foot of the Taraga?h hill, the site is visited by thousands of devotees from all religions and sects who come here to offer their prayers. Especially during the festival of Urs, believers from all around the globe throng the holy site with the hope of getting their wishes fulfilled by offering prayers to the Saint.

The Anasagar is a beautiful artificial lake located at the north of the city. The Bardani pavilions which surround the lake and the adjoining parks add to the beauty of the location and are popular for outings and picnics. The city has several other attractions like Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra, which is the remains of an old mosque and is a unique example of Indo-Islamic architecture, the Nasiyan (Red) Temple which is a well known Jain temple, the Nimbark Peeth, Nareli Jain temple, among many others. The Ajmer Museum, which was once the residence of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, has a range of unique sculptures and armour of the Mughal and the Rajput dynasties preserved here for visitors to see.

The city of Ajmer has been the hot seat for culture and education from ages. The British established the prestigious Mayo College, an institute set up exclusively for the erstwhile Indian nobility, which is now considered to be one of the best schools in the country. 

Ajmer is also the gateway to the holy city of Pushkar, which is just 11 km away from the here. Pushkar is famous for the Lord Brahma temple and the sacred Pushkar Lake, and the town has become a favourite spot for domestic and international tourists. 

The best time to visit Ajmer is during the winter season when the weather is pleasant and comfortable for exploring the city.