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Ajmer travel guide

Ajmer sits in the Aravalli hills of central Rajasthan, about 135 km from Jaipur and a short drive from Pushkar. Its old name, Ajay Meru, is usually read as 'invincible hill'. Most visitors come for the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, which draws pilgrims of every faith, but the town also has an artificial lake, a remarkable Jain temple and one of the oldest mosques in India.

Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra, Ajmer
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Jaipur (about 135 km)
Nearest railway station
Ajmer Junction
Distance from Pushkar
Under 20 km

What to see

The Dargah Sharif, the tomb of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, is the heart of the city. Hindus and Muslims alike come here to offer flowers and a chadar, and the lanes around it are full of stalls selling rose petals, sweets and prayer caps.

Ana Sagar Lake, framed by the Aravalli hills, is the place for an evening walk; the marble pavilions on its bank were added by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The Soniji ki Nasiyan, better known as the Jain Gold Temple, holds a gilded model of the Jain universe that is worth the short visit.

History in stone

Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra began as a Sanskrit college and was turned into a mosque in 1198 under Muhammad Ghori, with further work carried out by Iltutmish around 1213. Its screen of carved arches is an early example of Indo-Islamic building. Mayo College, founded in the British period to educate the sons of princely families, is still one of the country's best-known schools.

A newer landmark is the Sai Baba Temple on the edge of town, built in white marble on a site of about three acres; some of the stone is thin enough to let light through.

Best time to visit

October to March is the comfortable season, with cool mornings and dry days suited to walking the old city. Summers are very hot, and the monsoon months turn humid. If you would like to see the Urs festival at the Dargah, check the Islamic calendar, as the dates move each year and the crowds are very large.

How to reach

Ajmer Junction is on the main Delhi–Ahmedabad line, and the Delhi–Ajmer Shatabdi runs every day. The nearest major airport is Jaipur, roughly 135 km away, and good highways connect Ajmer with Jaipur, Pushkar, Udaipur and Jodhpur. We can arrange a car for a combined Ajmer and Pushkar day.

Also nearby

PushkarJaipur

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