Places to visit in Ajmer City

The city of Ajmer is a beautiful place full of rich heritage and history. It is Rajasthan’s fifth largest city and is surrounded by the Aravelli Mountains. According to its history, Ajmer was once ruled by the Hindu King, Prithviraj Chauhan (of the Chauhan Dynasty).

Ajmer

Today, Ajmer is a well-known tourist site and pilgrimage center. Dargah of Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chishti, Adhai din ka Jhonpra, and Akbar’s Palace are but a few of the wonderful sites in Ajmer.

Being an ardent traveler, the vivid colors that we can associate with Rajasthan has always attracted me and when it was time to visit Ajmer for a photoshoot I was amazingly happy from inside.

What more can you ask for if the thing that you want comes walking to you! The great anticipation and high excitement level that I had before visiting the glorious city was met with aplomb.

The amazing places that I visited includes:

Dargah of Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chishti

Dargah-of-Khwaja-Muin-ud-din-Chishti

The Dargah Sharif or Ajmer Sharif (which is what Dargah of Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chishti is better known as) was the first place that I visited on my trip. It is a Sufi shrine to Muin-ud-din Chishti, who is a revered Sufi saint.

The Dargah of Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chishti is a majestic structure, with the main gate to the shrine being the famous Nizam gate. It is followed by the Shahjahani Gate and then by the Buland Darwaza. The Buland Darwaza carries atop it the “urs” flag, which is the flag that marks the start of the death anniversary rituals in the shrine.

Every year, on the sixth and seventh of “Rajab”, the “urs” of Muin-ud-din is celebrated. It is a grand and solemn ritual to witness, with the main attraction of the “urs” being the Kalanders who walk from Delhi to Ajmer every year.

Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra

Adhai-Din-Ka-Jhonpra

Following the trail to the outskirts of the town, and further from Dargah of Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chishti, my next stop was the Adhai din ka Jhonpra mosque in Ajmer.

There are two legends around this ancient mosque: One legend is that the structure was named for the fact that it took only two and a half days to build it (with more than a thousand workers working on its construction). The other legend states that the Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra was simply named after a festival there that was held for two and a half days.

According to its history, the Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra was initially constructed to be a Sanskrit college. But when Mohammed of Ghori captured the city of Ajmer in 1198, he converted the construct into a mosque, doing so by constructing a wall with 7 arches in front of the pillared hall; this wall is engraved completely with Islamic calligraphy. Currently, this mosque is in ruins.

But with its high domes and pillars that stand to this day, it is still an exemplary piece of ancient architecture.

Akbar’s Palace

Akbars-Palace-Ajmer

The famous Mughal Emperor Akbar built this regal place in 1570. History goes that Emperor Akbar officially built this palace as a leisure retreat, but that his real purpose was to keep a wary eye on the local chiefs in the area.

Another name by which this structure is known is “The Magazine”, for it was used as an arms magazine when Ajmer was under the British rule. It has now been converted into a museum that houses a collection of small weapons and ancient miniature paintings. Old stone sculptures and rock inscriptions also make up this museum’s collection.

Ana Sagar Lake

Ana-Sagar-Lake

The grand Ana Sagar Lake that spreads over thirteen kilometers of area was my next visitation site. It is the largest lake in the city of Ajmer and it provides visitors with a beautiful view. The lake and its surroundings are also chalk-full of historical information and historical testament.

The Ana Sagar Lake is actually a man-made lake that was built by Anaji Chauhan (who happened to be the grandfather of Prithviraj Chauhan of the Chauhan dynasty). It is consequently named after Anaji Chauhan. There is also a hill near the lake that has a house that used to be a British Residency.

There is a scenic little island in the middle of the lake that can be reached by boat. Tourists and visitors can subsequently visit this island by hiring boats from the east side of the Dault Bagh Gardens (which were built here by Jehangir).

The lake being the largest in the city, it also has the maximum catchments area and storage capacity. Hence, the Rajasthan High Court has banned construction near or in the lake’s basins, ensuring that this beautiful lake is preserved for many more generations to come.

One could even say that the Ana Sagar Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in all of India – Such a title would certainly not be remiss for this lake!

Nasiyan (Red) Temple

Nasiyan-Red-Temple

Also known as the Ajmer Jain Temple and “The Golden Temple”, the Sonji Ki Nasiyan or Nasiyan (Red) Temple was built in 1865. This temple earned the name “The Golden Temple” thanks to the incredible golden display in the temple’s hall.

The display consists of an amazing golden diorama of the Jain perception of the ancient world, and the entire hall is decorated with gold, silver, and precious stones.

This hall and the intricate golden display and décor is what makes this temple unique, and, even if it’s only for the architectural beauty of the temple, it is a must for anyone to visit at least once!

Plus have a look at our one day Ajmer Sightseeing Package via cab. Here we assist travelers in exploring every destination mentioned in this post.

Places to stay in Ajmer

For a great trip, you also need a great place to stay. And where top-notch service and lodging is concerned in Ajmer, you have two great options: The Bijay Niwas Palace, and the Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Ajmer.

Bijay Niwas Palace

Bijay-Niwas-Palace

This hotel has a wonderfully romantic and whimsical allure to it. Nestled in between private farmlands and with an orchard, it’s a great place to kick back and relax away from the hustle and bustle of the city. With scenic gardens, beautiful interiors, and personalized service, this luxurious heritage hotel is one of the best places you can stay at Ajmer.

Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Ajmer

Country-Inn-Suites-By-Carlson

Whether you’re visiting Ajmer for leisure or business, the Country Inn & Suites By Carlson (Ajmer) is a stunning residence to spend your stay. The inn is surrounded by lush green landscapes and offers exquisite hospitality services.

Having facilities from banquet halls to a spa and a swimming pool, this place is a great way to pamper yourself and really enjoy your stay in Ajmer.

Where to eat in Ajmer

Apart from the witnessing the rich cultural history of the place, I also visited the most amazing restaurant of this place, the Ambrosia Restaurant.

Ambrosia Restaurant

Ambrosia-Restaurant

The name of the restaurant is obviously taken from the Greek word “Ambrosia”, with reference to what is called “the food of the Gods”. And it certainly lives up to its name! The restaurant has a tranquil and luxurious ambiance with a great view that really makes you feel like you’re dining like Gods.

And the food – catering to both vegetarians and non-vegetarians – is utterly mouthwatering! In short, this is the best place in Ajmer to eat in style, as well as if you want to sample both traditional and neo-Indian cuisines.

Ajmer is an incredible city with romantic views, historical heritage, and wonderful hospitality and cuisines. So whether you decide to spend a weekend here, or an entire fortnight – for business or leisure trips – you can be sure that it will be an experience that you will never forget!