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Ajmer is an oasis wrapped in the green hills.
The city was founded by Raja Ajay Pal Chauhan in the 7th Century A.D. and
continued to be a major centre of the Chauhan power till 1193 A.D., when
Prithviraj Chauhan lost it to Mohammed Ghauri. Since then, Ajmer became home to
many dynasties. Today, Ajmer is a popular pilgrimage centre for the Hindus as
well as Muslims. Especially famous is the Dargah Sharif-Tomb of the Sufi Saint
Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, which is equally revered by the Hindus and Muslims. Ajmer is a centre of culture and education. The British chose Ajmer for its prestigious Mayo College, a school exclusively for Indian nobility. Ajmer is also the base for visiting
Pushkar (11 km.), the abode of Lord Brahma, lying to its west with a temple and
a picturesque lake.
ATTRACTION
Dargah
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The Dargah Shareef of Khwaja Moinuddin
Chishti is situated at the foot of the Taragarh hill, and consists of several
white marble buildings arranged around two courtyards, including a massive gate
donated by the Nizam of Hyderabad, a mosque donated by the Mughal emperor Shah
Jahan, the Akbari Masjid, and the domed tomb of the saint. To this place
Emperor Akbar, with his queen, performed pilgrimage on foot from Agra every year in observance of a vow he had made when praying for a son. The term ‘dargah’
is derived from a Persian word which can mean, among other uses,
"portal" or "threshold". Many Muslims believe that dargahs
are portals by which they can invoke the deceased saint's intercession and
blessing.
Adhai-Din
Ka Jhonpra -
This is a masterpiece of Indo - Islamic
architecture. As legend goes its was constructed in two and a-half days (Adhai-Din).
It is a relic of an old mosque consisting of a quadrangle with a front screen
wall of seven pointed arches. The distinct pillars and arched screen with its
ruined minarets make it a splendid architectural masterpiece.
Ana
Sagar -
It is an artificial lake named after Anaji
Chauhan. The catchments were built with the help of local populace. The
'Baradari' pavilion was built by Shah Jahan, to facilitate his long stays in Ajmer. The Baradari and the adjoining parks are the lungs of city and favorite outing spot.
Nasiyan
(Red) Temple-
The red temple is a Digambar Jain temple
which has a double- storey hall adjacent to the main temple. The hall displays
a series of large gold plated wooden figures depicting legends from Jain
mythology. The entire hall is richly adorned by glass mosaic, precious stones,
gold and silver work.
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