The strategic position of this city has been the key to its long, and
rather turbulent history. Ajmer is connected to Delhi, Agra, Ahmedabad, Abu,
Jodhpur, Udaipur and Jaipur, by main highways. It was a key centre of
Chauhan power, along with the twin capital of Delhi. However, with
Prithviraj Chauhan's defeat at the hands of Sultan Mohammed Ghori (1193),
Ajmer was rendered vulnerable to many an invasion and gory battles.
Ajmer has been, for time immemorial, a great centre of pilgrimage, for both
Hindus and Muslims, a feature that gives the city its character. The city is
a genuine amalgam of rich Hindu and Islamic heritage. The sacred lake of
Pushkar believed by Hindus, to be as old as the temple of Brahma, has been a
place of pilgrimage, for ages. The great Sufi saint Khwaja
Moin-ud-din-Chisti of Persia, was buried here, and his Dargah is equally
sacred for the followers of Islam, as well as Hinduism.
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History of Ajmer
Ajmer was established in the early seventh centuary by Ajaipal Chauhan.
Ajaipal chauhan constructed a tall fort here and named the place Ajaimeru
means invincible hill. Here he built India,s first hill fort Taragah. Ajmer
was a chauhan Stronghold till 1194. The Only remains of their times are the
fort and the beautiful Anasagar lake built in 1150 by Anaji. The legendry
Prithviraj, last of the Chauhans, is the inspiration for many heroic ballads
sung even today in the vilages of Rajasthan.
It was during the regim of Prithviraj, in 1191, that Muhammad of Ghori
invaded India. Prithviraj died fighting the sultan's army, and with the
establishment of the Sultanate in Delhi, a new era began.
Ajmer remained under the Sultanate till 1326. Thereafter, it became a bone
of contention between the Sultans of Delhi, the Ranas of Mewar, the Rathors
of Marwar and the Sultans of Gujarat. Peace was restored with the accession
of Akbar to the Mughal throne in 1556. He made Ajmer a full fledged province
and the base for his operations in Rajputana.
He fortified the city, but only parts of the 4045-yard (3735-m) long wall
remain.
His palace, the Daulat Khana, houses ceding the Government Museum.Akbar's
son, Jahangir, lived in Ajmer from 1613 to 1616. His palace, the Daulat
Bagh, is now in ruins. The celebrated English ambassador during to the
Mughal court, Sir Thomas Roe, was received here by the emperor.
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During the course of his extended stay, Roe met the emperor several times
and showered him with gifts varying from maps to a coach. But he failed to
conclude a commercial treaty between England and the Mughal empire.
In 1659 a battle was fought in Ajmer between the Mughal princes, Aurangzeb
and Dara Sukoh, during which Taragarh was greatly damaged. In the first half
of the 18th century, Ajmer was affected by the political chaos in Delhi. At
times it was the Rathors who reigned here, at others the emperors of Delhi.
In 1755, the situation became more complex with the involvement of the
Marathas.
In 1818, finally the Marathas ceded Ajmer to Sir David Ochterlony and, as
part of the British empire, it remained under the care of successive
superintendents.
In 1947, with the reorganization of the princely states Ajmer became a part
of Rajasthan.
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Places To See
The Dargah
The Dargah is the tomb of a sufi saint, Khwaja Muin-uddin Chisti, who came
to Ajmer from Persia in 1192. Construction of the shrine was completed by
Humayun. Constructed of white marble, it has 11 arches and a Persian
inscription running the full length of the building. It has a marble dome
and the actual tomb inside is surrounded by a silver platform. The tomb
attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims every year on the anniversary of
the saint's death.
Adhai-Din-Ka Jhonpara
One of the finest example 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 was built on
pillars and surprisingly no two pillars are alike.
The Museum
The Royal Palace of Akbar was converted into a Museum and today it houses a
rich collection of Mughal and Rajput armoury. Some of the fine and delicate
sculptures of the region have been displayed here. The building itself has
been constructed of red sandstone which have been laid down in a square
pattern, giving it a fabulous look.
Ana Sagar Lake
This lake was built by Anaji during 1135-1150 AD. Later the mughal emperors
made additional constructions to beautify the lake. The 'Baradari', a marble
pavilion was built by Shah Jahan and the ' Daulat Bagh ' gardens were laid
by Jahangir. This lake is located towards the north of Ajmer city.
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Taragarh Fort
Built in the 7th century by Ajaipal Chauhan, the fort gives birds 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.
Nasiyan (Jain Temple)
The Red temple on Prithviraj Marg is a Jain temple built last century and
is definitely worth checking out. Its double storey hall contains a
fascinating series of large, gilt wooden figures from Jain mythology which
depict the Jain concept of the ancient world. 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.
Shah Jahan's Mosque
This mosque is the most beautiful of all the structures, in the Dargah
precinct. It is made of white marble, delicately carved with trellis-work.
Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra
Beyond the Dargah, among narrow and crowded lanes, is a remarkable, early
Islamic structure, the Adhai - din - ka - Jhonpra. Mohammed Ghori, with the
remains of several neighbouring temples, hurriedly put together, a mosque
within two and a half days (Adhai Din). Pillars, from at least thirty
temples, must have gone into the making of this elegant monument, a superb
example of Indo-Islamic architecture.
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