Ajmer was originally called Ajaimeur or the Invincible Hill. This city was founded by Ajai Pal Chauhan in the 7th century and was a centre of Chauhan power till 1193 A.D. Even during the Muslim conquests, Ajmer did not lose its importance. It was subsequently captured by the Marwar rulers and finally the Mughals made the city part of their empire. The Marathas then conquered Ajmer but subsequently lost it to the British and it became one of the few areas in the state, to be governed directly by the East India Company. All these dynasties bequeathed the city with their imprints and thus an Ajmer travel guide includes the following places.

The Dargah Sharif

All travel guides mention Ajmer as a holy place. It has the mausoleum of the Sufi saint, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti and pilgrims of all faiths seek his blessings at his dargah known as the Dargah Sharif, especially during the holy Urs. This was the last resting place of the saint who died in 1235 and the tomb lies at the foot of the Taragarh hill. Legend has it that the Mughal emperor Akbar came here in the 16th century and requested the birth of an heir to the throne and the saint granted the monarch's prayer. Like all of Shah Jahan’s architecture, the mosque is a magnificent building in white marble, richly embellished with ornate calligraphic inscriptions, delicate carvings and detailed trelliswork.

The gorgeous Saheliyon ki Bari garden will surely occupy one’s mind for ages to come as the very concept of providing an entire palace complex for the recreation of royal ladies with rose garden at one side and ornamental fountains on the other etc is very fascinating to me and so is glorious Udaipur.

The Urs or annual pilgrimage of the devout is celebrated each May at the Dargah with millions of pilgrims arriving in Ajmer to pay homage to the saint.

Other Attractions

Taragarh, the fort of Ajmer and seat of the Chauhan rulers is believed to be the first hill fort of Asia. Another sightseeing attraction in Ajmer is the Adhai-din-ka-jhonpra, originally a Jain temple constructed in 1153. Qutubuddin Aibak converted this to a mosque in 1193. The erstwhile residence of Prince Salim has now become the city museum known as Magazine. It is a treasure house of Mughal and Rajput armour and weaponry.

Ajmer's uniqueness is seen in its many restaurants and cafes. During the Pushkar fair and the Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, Ajmer resounds with the melodious sounds of Sufi music, qawwalis and poetry reading sessions. Folk dance and music performances are also held during these periods.