AJMER HOTELS RESERVATION

A visitor's note about Ajmer
Ajmer gave me the first glimpse of the unity in diversity in India. Ajmer is the place where I learned how people from different religions live with each other in total peace and harmony. Specially, in the present circumstances, it was surprising to see people from different religions visiting the dargah with same devotion. I came here to watch the blend of Sufi culture and Hindu religion and Ajmer offered me just the same.

Factfile
Location: Rajasthan
Best time to visit: September-March
Must visit attraction: Dargah
Excursions: Pushkar

A word about Ajmer
Ajmer represents India's true face of secularism and tolerance. It is a city that attracts thousands of devotees of different religion who come here to seek the blessings of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. It is place where only faith matters and that faith is represented by the threads which are tied to the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.

PLACES OF INTEREST IN AJMER

Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti
As soon as I reached Ajmer, I dint waste a single minute and reached to the Dargah passing through the colorful bylanes of the city. The entry to the Dargah was through the Buland Darwaza that leads to the inner courtyard. The high gateway has beautifully carved silver doors. In the courtyard there were two huge cauldrons with capacity of 2240 kg and 4480 kg.

Suddenly a saw a group of young peoples carrying threads and tying them to the shrine of the saint. Inquisitive, I asked them the reason and they told me that by doing so Khwaja will fulfill all their desires. But it was particularly heartening to see that the devotees were not just the Muslims but they represented all the major religions.

The Museum of Ajmer
Exploring the Ajmer museum was like visiting the past of Rajasthan. The various galleries here exhibited a fine collection of important exhibits from almost all the princely states in Rajasthan. The museum's main sections were devoted to sculptures, epigraphs, prehistoric antiquities, arms and weapons.

There was also a library with a collection of rare books and other historical publications.

TEMPLES
Ajmer-e-Sharief Dargah - At the foot of a barren hill, is situated India s most important pilgrimage center for people from all faiths. It is the splendid tomb of the Sufi saint Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti more popularly known as Khawaja Saheb or Khawaja Sharif. The shrine is next only to Mecca or Median for the Muslims of South Asia. Emperor Akbar used to make a pilgrimage to this Dargah from Agra once a year.   
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 destroyed the college and a mosque was built in its place. 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 Quran (also spelt as Koran).

Nasiyan (Jain Temple) - This red coloured Jain temple was built in the late 19th century. The wooden gilt in the double storeyed hall depicts scenes from the Jain mythology. The beauty of this temple is widely acclaimed.