Ajmer (Where Culture Converged)

Ajmer  formerly written as  Ajmere, is a city in Ajmer District in Rajasthan state in India. Raja Ajai Pal Chauhan founded the historic city of Ajmer - a green oasis, wrapped by barren hills. Ajmer was once known as Ajaymeru, the city ruled by Prithviraj Chauhan. The city has given its name to Ajmer district,and to a former region of British India called Ajmer-Merwara and to the erstwhile state of Ajmer, which was formed after Independence of India.

Today, hundreds of years later, Ajmer is popular pilgrimage centre for Hinus  as well as the muslims. It is located 135 kilometres (84 mi) west of the Rajasthan state capital Jaipur,200 km from Jodhpur, 274 km from Udaipur, 439 km from Jaisalmer, and 391 km from New Delhi.

(Dargah Scared Threads of Faiths, Ajmer)

Ajmer is surrounded by the Aravalli Mountains.It is a popular Muslim pilgrim city for the shrine or Dargah of the Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti.It is also the base for visiting Pushkar(11 km), an ancient Hindu pilgrim town for the temple of Brahma.Ajmer is regarded as a center of education in Rajasthan.

Prime Sites

The Dargah

(Dargah Shariff - A Place of Hindu  Muslim Pilgrimage )

At the foot of a barren hill Dargah, is situate, India's most important pilgrimage centre for people from all faiths. The shrine attracts thousands of pilgrims during the Urs-commemorating the death anniversary of the saint, held from the 1st to 6th day of Islamic month of Rajab. To reach Sarwar Sheif Dargah you can take a ST bus from Ajmer Bus stand which is 15 minutes away from the Dargah or you can hire a car. There is regular bus after every half an hour from Ajmer.

Adhai-Din-Ka-Jhonpra

(Masterpiece of Indo-Islamic Architecture)

A remarkable structure, this is a masterpiece of Indo-Islamic architecture located on the outskirts of the city, just beyond the Dargah. As the legend goes, its construction took two and half days (Adhai-Din) to complete. The Distinct pillers-and arched 'screen' with its ruined minarets make it a spledndid architectural masterpiece. "Dhai Din Ka Jhopra" is a grand mosque, is located at a high place. Sultan Shamsuddin Altamash got it repaired and made some modifications. One can reach the building, it starts from Dargah Bazar to west along the boundary wall of Ajmer Dargah Sharif. After crossing Tripoli Darwaza there is Mohalla Inderkot. At a short distance from Inderkot this mosque is located on right hand side. 

Taragarh Fort

(Way for Taragarh Fort)

A steep half an hour climb beyond the Adhai-Din-Ka-Jhonpra leads to the 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 the military activity during the Mughal period, later used as a sanatorium by the British. It is now connected with a motorable Road. It's a grand fort, located on steep hill in south of Ajmer Dargah Sharif, The height of the hill is 800 ft. During the reign of Rai Pithora, it was a famous and a strong fort and was considered it cannot be conquered. But Sultan Shahabuddin Ghauri conquered it  without any difficulty and appointed Syed Meeran Husain (R.A) as the Qiledaar.

Ana Sagar Lake

(Pavilion at Ana Sagar)

Ana Sagar lake is a beautiful lake in the heart of Ajmer city. There is a high hill on south western side of Ana Sagar, known as Sada Bahar hil, On the South western of the hill is a small cave having a Tomb on the Top of it. Khwaja Gharib Nawaz (R.A) took seclusion here for the first time. He used to sit on the stone-bench lying inside the chillah Sharif. On the North-Eastern side if Sada Bahar is located the Chillah of Hazarat Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kakii (R.A). It is the place where Hazrat engaged himself in prayers when in Ajmer.  

The Museum

(Rajputana Museum, Ajmer)

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

HOW TO GET THERE

By Air

Jaipur's sanganer airport is nearest (137km) airport for Ajmer.

By Rail

Regular train services link Ajmer with important cities. Some imporatant train connections are : Delhi Mail (Ahmedabad- Ajmer- Delhi); Shatabdi Express (New Delhi- Ajmer- New Delhi).

 

By Road

NH 8 connects Delhi and Jaipur to NH 79 TO Ajmer.Buses also connect Ajmer to Delhi,Jaipur and Udaipur. A good network of bus services operate from Ajmer to key destinations around.

SHOPPING

Shopping in Ajmer is an enjoyable experience. One can stop for antiques, curios and fascinating gold and silver jewellery in contemporary designs, colourful tie and dye sarees and embroidered Jodhpuri 'Juits'. Especially during the annual Urs fair, a range of colouful items and marvellous creations of traditional folk artisans are for sale.

EXCURSIONS

Pushkar Lake (11km)

Pushkar Fair

Man Mahal

Foy Sagar (5km)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Area                    55.76 sq. km.

Altitude            486 Meters

Climate             Mean Max.    Mean Min.

Summer            43.1 Dgr.       37.7 Dgr.

Winter               23.3 Dgr.       5.5 Dgr.

Rainfall             38 to 51 cms.

Best Season      July - March

Jaipur (Sheer Symphony In Pink)

The color pink is associated with hospitality in Rajasthan. Jaipur, popularly known as the Pink City, was founded in 1727 AD by one of the greatest rulers of the Kachhawaha clan, the astronomer king Sawai Jai Singh. The pink color was used at the time of making to create an impression of red sandstone buildings of Mughal cities - and repainted in 1876, during the visit of the Prince of Wales. The city is best explored on foot and the adventurous visitor willing to go into the inner lanes can discover a whole new world not visible to the tourist-in-a-hurry.

(Rajput Marionettes)

The city was designed by Vidyasagar Chkravarty, a young Bengali architect, who succeeded in making a marvellous synthesis of many influences- Hindu, Jain, Mughal (with Persian overtones), beside his own idea from eastern India.This fascinating city with its romantic charm takes you to an epoch of royalty and tradition. The imperial city, replete with amazing legends of romance and heroism.Displaying remarkable harmony, the heart of the Pink City still beats in its fairy tale palaces, rugged fortresses perched on hills. The only planned city of its time, Jaipur is encircled by a formidable wall. Jaipur today is a blend of tradition and modernity.

Prime Sites

City Palace 

In the heart of the old city is the former royal residence built in a blend of the Rajasthani and Mughal styles. The carved arches are supported by grey-white marble columns ornate with floral motifs in gold and colored stones. Two carved elephants in marble guard the entrance. The palace complex, which is located northeast of the centre of the grid patterned Jaipur city, incorporates an impressive and vast array of courtyards, gardens and buildings. 

 

Jantar Mantar  

A stone observatory. Largest of Jai Singh's five remarkable observatories. Its complex instruments, whose settings and shapes are scientifically designed, represent the high points of medieval Indian astronomy. The Most striking of these are the Ram Yantras used for gauging altitudes. The worlds largest sundial at Jantar Mantar.

Hawa Mahal 

Built in 1799 A.D., the Hawa Mahal or Palace of Winds is a major Rajput landmark. The five-story building along the main street of the old city is in pink splendor with semi-octagonal and delicately honey combed sandstone windows. The monument was originally conceived with the aim of enabling ladies of the royal household to watch the everybody life & royal processions of the city.

 

Govind Devji Temple

The most popular spireless temple of Jaipur dedicated to Lord Krishna. It is located in the central pavilion of the Jai Niwas graden to the north of Chandra Mahal. The image of the patron deity-Govind Devji, originally installed in a temple of Vrindavan, was reinstalled here by Sawai Jai Singh II as his family deity.

 

Swargasuli (Isar Lat)

The highest tower dominating the skyline on the western side of the Tripolia bazaar. It was built by Sawai Ishwari Singh in 1749 A.D. to commemorate a grand victory.

 

Ram Niwas Bagh

A lush spacious garden with a zoo, an aviary, a greenhouse, a herbarium, a museum and popular sports ground. The Albert Hall - fine example of Indo-sarcenic style of architecture designed by Sir Swinton jacob, was opened later with an exiquist collection of sculptures, painting, decorative wares, natural history specimen, an Egyptian mummy.

Nahargarh Fort

A sentinel to the Pink City is Nahargarh Fort, situated beyond the hills of Jaigarh. Although much of it is in ruins, the lovely building added by sawai Ram Singh II and Sawai Madho Singh II provides interest to the fort.

Jaigarh Fort 

One of the few military structures of medieval India,  retaining its ancient splendour in palaces, gardens, reservoirs, a granary, an armoury, a well planned cannon foundry, several temples, a tall tower and a giant mounted cannon-the Jai Baan, one of the largest in the country are preserved here. The extensive parkotas (walls), watch-tower and gateways of Jaigarh dominate the western skyline.The world's largest cannon on wheels is to be found here. The fort houses a museum and provides some excellent views of the Amer Palace.

Amber Palace and Shila Mata Temple 

A beautiful complex of palaces, halls, pavilions, gardens and temples built by Raja Man Singh, Mirza Raja Jai Singh and Sawai Jai Singh over a period of about two centuires still stand in magnificent state. Tourists often ride on the elephant back to the Singh Pol and the Jaled Chowk. The well proportioned Mohan Bari or Kesar Kyari in the centre of the Maotha Lake and the Dilaram Bagh at its north & provides a spectacular view of the palaces above.

Statue Circle

full-length exquisitely carved statue of Sawai Jai Singh in white marble in the center of the circle was erected under the newly planned scheme area to pay homage to the founder of Jaipur.

Jal Mahal 

Jal Mahal is palace located in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake in city. The palace and the lake around it were renovated and enlarged in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Amber.The Jal Mahal palace has got an eye-popping makeover. Traditional boat-makers from Vrindavan have crafted the Rajput style wooden boats. A gentle splashing of oars on the clear lake waters takes you to Jal Mahal. You move past decorated hallways and chambers on the first floor to climb all the way up to the fragrant Chameli Bagh. Across the lake, you can view the Aravalli hills, dotted with temples and ancient forts, and on the other side, bustling Jaipur. The most remarkable change is in the lake itself. Awater treatment system was developed, local vegetation and fish reintroduced, the surrounding wetlands regenerated and five nesting islands created to attract migratory birds.

 
                                                                    HOW TO GET THERE

By Air

Jaipur is connected by air with Delhi, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Varanasi, Calcutta, Ahmadabad.

By Rail

An excellent connection from Delhi is Shatabdi Express which provides a fast, air conditioned rail service. othe connections to Jaipur are from Agra, Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Abu Road (Mount Abu), Udaipur, Mumbai and Sawai Madhopur, Bikaner, Kolkatta, Varansi, Haridwar, Goa.

By Road

A convient mode of travel to Jaipur is by road, through a network of comfortable tourist buses. Rajasthan Roadways runs excellent regular service of AC and Deluxe coaches from Delhi, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Ajmer.Good motorable roads connect Jaipur with Delhi 258 km, Agra 236 km, Bikaner 321 km, Udaipur 405 km, Ajmer 131 km, Jodhpur 316 km, Bharatpur 176 km, Jaisalmer 638 km and Mumbai 1202 km

                                                                                SHOPPING

Jaipur offers  one of a kind shopping experience with its rich treasure of bewithching jewellery, beautiful gems, semi - precious stones, kundan and Minakari work (enamel work on gold). Beautiful cotton fabrics including Sanganeri prints, tie and dye and fine 'Kota doria' saris are the best buys for women.

The exotic blue pottery, enamelware and brassware make excellent souvenris and gift items. The city is also famous for woollen carpets and cotton rugs. Equally popular are the leather footwear, especially the embroidered 'Juits'.

The famous shopping spots are Rajasthali (Govt. Handicrafts shop on MI Road), Johari Bazar, MI Road, Nehru Bazar, Bapu Bazar, Chhoti & Badi Chaupar stalls. The markets generally remain closed on Sundays.

                                                                                        EXCURSIONS

Sanganer (12km)
Bagru (35 km)

Ramgarh Lake (32km)

Samode (40km)

Bairath (86km)

Abhaneri (80km)

Sambhar (94km)

Jaisinghpura Khor (12km)

Madhogarh-Tunga (40km) 

 

                                                                      FESTIVE FUN

Some of the festivals unique to the city include :

Gangaur (March-April) : The Festival of women, dedicated to Goddess Gauri.

Elephant Festival (March) : Playing holi on these majestic mammals is unique sight during the festival.

Teej (July-August) : Another festival exclusively for women and dedicated to Godess Parvati.

 

                                                          GENERAL INFORMATION

Area                 Jaipur city (Municipal limits 64.75 sq. km, Pink City 9.8 sq.km)

Altitude         431 Meters

Climate           Mean Max.    Mean Min.

Summer          45.0 Dgr.       25.8 Dgr.

Winter             22.0 Dgr.         8.3 Dgr.

Rainfall           64 cms.

Best Season    September - March

Royal Rajasthan

Rajasthan has a rich and colorful history making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Rajasthan was once a part of the world's first & oldest Indus Valley Civilization. Rajasthan was earlier called Rajputana (state of Rajputs) after the ruling class of Rajputs. Rajasthan is a land of contrasts.It has a glorious history. Rajasthan Literally means a Land of Kingdoms.

 

(A Royal Ride Of Colorful Elephants & Camels )

Arts & Crafts

Rajasthan is among the rechest states in country for its arts and crafts. May be it was a result of the war-like lifestyle of the people of Rajasthan which sharpened the creative senses, artistic skills and inspired them to create the most wealthy and richest of treasures. Stone, Clay, Leather, Wood, Ivory, lac, Glass, Silver, Gold and Textiles were given the most brilliant forms. Other crafts like blue pottery, hand block printing, tie and dye, terracotta sculptures, painting on camel hide, embrodiery, cloth painting, carpets, durries, inlay work on brass and wood are to be found all over Rajasthan.

Rajasthan is known for its traditional, colorful art, wall painting in bundi. The block prints, tie & dye prints, Bagaru prints, Sanganer prints, and Zari (an even thread traditionally made of fine gold or silver) embroidery are major export products from Rajasthan. Handicrafts items like wooden furniture and handicrafts, carpets and blue pottery are some of the things commonly found here. Rajasthan is a shopper's paradise, with beautiful goods found at low prices.

Culture

Rajasthan is culturally rich and has artistic & cultural traditions which reflect the ancient Indian way of life. There is rich and varied folk culture from villages which is often depicted and is symbolic of the state is part of the cultural tradition of Rajasthan. The music is uncomplicated and songs depict day-to-day relationships and chores, more often focused around water from wells or ponds. Reflecting the colorful Rajasthani culture, Rajasthani clothes have a lot of mirror-work and embroidery. A Rajasthani traditional dress for females comprises an ankle length skirt and a short top, also known as lehenga or a chaniya choli. A piece of cloth is used to cover the head, both for protection from heat and maintenance of modesty. Rajasthani dresses are usually designed in bright colurs like blue, yellow and orange.

Tourism 

Rajasthan attracted 14 percent of total foreign visitors during 2009 -2012 which is the fourth highest among Indian states. It is fourth also in domestic tourist visitors. Endowed with natural beauty and a great history, tourism in flourishing in Rajasthan. The palaces like Pink City Jaipur, City of lakes Udaipur and desert forts  & Golden City Jaisalmer, Courageous  Rajput Rulers City Chittorgrah,The Sun City Jodhpur, Muslim pilgrim city Ajmer, Hindu pilgrim town Pushkar, City of forts, temples & palaces Bikaner, Eastern Gateway of Rajasthan Bharatpur ,Switzerland of Rajasthan Mount Abu are among the most preferred destination of many tourists, Indian and Foreign. Rajasthan tourism has accounts of eight percent of the state's domestic product. Many old and neglected palaces and forts have been converted into heritage hotels. Tourism has increased employment in the hospitality sector.

Fair & Festivals

Rajasthan Fair & Festival are very colorful and unique. Rajasthan has a fair for every religious occasion, for every change of season and for every harvest. Rajasthan comes alive with enthusiastic folk dances, melodious music and stunning festivals. The prominent festivals of Rajasthan are Deepawali, Makar Sankranti,  Pushkar Fair,Camel Festival, Mewar Festival, Nagaur fair, Kaila Devi Fair, Mahavir Ji Fair, Teej Festival, Summer Festival, Gogaji Fair, Ramdevra Fair, Marwar Festival, Dusshera, Gangoor Fair etc. There are fairs with snake charmers, puppeteers, acrobats and folk performers. Camels, of course, play a stellar role in festivals.

A small request, Do come with time on your hands to soak in the charms of Rajasthan. A tourist paradise that stretches to the limits of your imagination.