Travel to Ajmer
When the British took control of Ajmer in 1818, it did not form part of any princely
state. Among the colonial monuments include the Jubilee clock tower, the King Edward
Memorial Hall and the famous Mayo College, originally built as a school for princes, and
now a leading educational institution popularly known as the "Eton of the East".
Prime destinations in Ajmer
Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chishti Dargah:
To this day, the Chishti's tomb, or Dargah, remains one of the holiest shrines in India,
which attracts adherents of all faiths. A very important holy place for the Muslims, it is
believed that seven visits here are the equivalent of one to Mecca. Construction of the
tomb was begun by Iltutmish, the second ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, and was completed by
second Mughal emperor Humayun in the sixteenth-century. Later many Muslim rulers added
structures at different times. The massive gate of the Dargah was built by the Nizam of
Hyderabad in 1911.
Adhai-din-ka-jhonpra:
 A remarkable structure, the Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra, or
"two-and-a-half-day mosque" is oldest surviving monument in Ajmer and one of the
finest specimens of Indo-Islamic architecture. Originally built by the Chauhans as a
temple, which housed a Sanskrit college, it was converted into a mosque by Qutub-ud-din
Aibak, the first ruler of the slave dynasty. This is corroborated by the Hindu motifs
clearly discernible on the pillars and ceilings. The legend has it that its construction
was completed in record time of took two and a half days and hence the name.
Taragarh Fort:
A steep one and a half hour climb beyond the Adhai-din-ka-jhopra will lead you to the
ruined ramparts of the Taragarh Fort, perched on a ridge high above the city. The fort
offers a wonderful view of the city. It was the site of the military activity during the
Mughal period, later used as a sanatorium by the British.
Daulat Khana
A gigantic rectangular palace in the center of the city served as the residence of the
Mughal Emperors Akbar and Jahangir during their visits to the Dargah.. Today, the old
palace houses a small museum exhibiting mainly Hindu statues dating from the eighth
century.
Ana Sagar
The huge artificial lake sprawling northwest of Ajmer beside the road to Pushkar, known as
Ana Sagar, was laid out by the Hindu Raja Anaji between 1135 and 1150.
Mayo College:
Situated in the southeast of the Ana Sagar, Mayo College is one of the India's best public
schools, has now been converted to the Circuit House. The lake and the cenotaph and the
shrine of the Hindu reformer Swami Dayanand, founder of the Arya Samaj movement in India,
can be viewed from here. |
