AJMER – A Tourist Destination

One of the most famous tourist destinations in Rajasthan is the city of Ajmer. This is not just a tourist city, but a religious pilgrimage destination. Ajmer a tourist destination is also close to another famous city, which is Pushkar. Millions of Hindus and Muslims visit Ajmer to visit the holy dargah known as Ajmer Sharif Dargah. This holy site is the place where a famous Sufi saint called Moinuddin Chishti lived. People built this great shrine to honour the great saint. Ajmer a tourist destination is famous not only for the dargah but for other famous historical monuments.

Must Visit Tourist Attractions in Ajmer

• Ajmer Sharif Dargah
• Akbar Palace & Museum
• Foy Sagar Lake
• Kishangarh Fort
• Taragarh Fort
• Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra
• Anasagar Lake
• Soniji Ki Nasiyan
• Nareli Jain Temple
• Anasagar Baradari
• Mayo College
• Sai Baba Temple
• Pragya Shikhar

1. Ajmer Sharif Dargah

The holy Muslim shrine called Ajmer Sharif Dargah is just one kilometre away from the Ajmer Junction railway station. People call Ajmer Sharif Dargah by the name of Moinuddin Chishti Dargah. This holy site is near Taragarh Hill in Ajmer. Muslims visit this pilgrimage place in Ajmer to pay homage to the great saint. Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti came from Persia and visited this place and lived there until he died in 1236. People all over India remember the saint for his noble teachings. 

2. Akbar Palace & Museum

Akbar’s Palace and Museum is an ancient heritage site situated in Ajmer. Mughal Emperor Akbar built this palace in 1570 AD. Akbar often visited Ajmer and spent time at this palace. This is also a historic site where Mughal Emperor Jahangir and Sir Thomas Roe held meetings. In 1908, the government converted a small part of the palace into a museum. The beautiful black stone sculpture of Mata Kali is a main attraction of this museum. You also view armour and weapons.

3. Foy Sagar Lake

Foy Sagar Lake is a man-made lake in the west of Ajmer city. In 1892, the government created the lake to get rid of the lack of water and famine. The English architect Mr Foy constructed Foy Sagar Lake and therefore the people named the lake after him. You can view the panoramic view of the Aravalli Hills from the lakeside.

4. Kishangarh Fort

People all over India call Kishangarh the Marble City of India. Kishangarh and it is situated very close to Ajmer. Prince Kishan Singh laid the foundation of the place in 1609. Khoda Ganesh temple, Phool Mahal palace, and Gondalava Lake are some major attractions in Kishangarh city. The Navgraha Temple (Temple of 9 Planets) is a fabulous temple dedicated to the nine planets of Hindu mythology. Kishangarh Fort is situated on the bank of Gondalav Lake. You can view the blend of Mughal and Rajputana architecture in this fort. Phool Mahal is a palace that is now turned into a luxury heritage hotel. 

5. Taragarh Fort

This huge fort called Taragarh Fort is situated in Ajmer. King Ajaypal Chauhan built the fort on top of a hill called Nagpahari Hill. You can get beautiful views of Ajmer from the top of the hill. People also remember this fort as one of the oldest hilltop forts in India. The king built the fort in 1100 and the fort is located at the height of 800 feet on Taragarh Hills. Mughals controlled the fort during their reign. The dargah of a great warrior is also located inside the fort. People also call this dargah as Miran Sahib ki dargah.

6. Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra

This is the oldest mosque in India, and also the most historic place in India. Adhai din ka Jhonpra is situated in Ajmer. Qutbuddin Aibak the first Sultan of Delhi laid the foundation of this mosque. Earlier there was a Sanskrit college here. But later Muhammad Ghori ordered the construction of a mosque here in 1192. He built the mosque in Indo-Islamic architecture. He engraved the walls of this mosque with phrases from the holy Muslim book Quran. 124 pillars support the 10 domes in the mosque. You can also see a small script of Sanskrit at the top of the main gate which symbolizes the main historical origin of the monument.

7. Anasagar Lake

Yet another famous attraction of Ajmer a tourist destination is a lake called Anasagar Lake. This is an artificial lake in Ajmer city. Arnoraj Chauhan built this lake in 1150. He was the son of the king of Ajmer, Ajaypal Chauhan. People called him by the name of Anaji and named the lake after him. Later the Mughal Emperor Jahangir renovated the lake by adding various monuments such as Baradari, Daulat Bagh Gardens, and others.

8. Soniji Ki Nasiyan

This is a Jain temple called Soniji ki Nasiyan. People count this temple among the richest Jain temples in India. The architects who built this temple used red stone and marble in its construction. Adinath or Rishabhdev is the main deity of this temple. You will find various sculptures and carvings on the pillars, ceilings, and walls of this temple.

9. Nareli Jain Temple

This is yet another famous temple in Ajmer and it is called Nareli Jain Temple. There are sculptures and idols of various Jain gods in this temple. There are many smaller temples around the main temple. Jains from all over the world visit Nareli Jain Temple as a pilgrimage site.

10. Anasagar Baradari

These are pavilions on Anasagar Lake and are popular by the name of Baradari. Shah Jahan and Jahangir built this during their rule. That is why you will find beautiful Mughal architecture in Anasagar Baradari. The Mughal rulers also built a Mughal garden in this pavilion and named it Daulat Bagh Gardens. The Hammam or the royal baths are also situated in this pavilion.

11. Mayo College

This is the name of a boarding school and college in Ajmer. It is also a historic site and is considered to be one of the oldest educational institutions in India. The Earl of Mayo established Mayo College in 1875 as an all-boys boarding school. Royal families of those times sent their children to study in this boarding school. The builders adopted Indo-Saracenic architecture to construct Mayo College. John Lockwood Kipling, who was the father of Rudyard Kipling became the Principal of this prestigious college.

12. Sai Baba Temple

In Ajmer, a tourist destination, Sai Baba Temple is a beautiful temple of the mystic saint Sai Baba. The builders of the temple used marble in its construction. Devotees of Sai Baba can find accommodation in the temple. The temple was constructed in 1999.

13. Pragya Shikhar

The temple known as Pragya Shikar is made for the Jain religion. The Jain community built this temple in fond memory of Acharya Tulsi, who was a Jain philosopher. Builders of that era used black granite to construct the temple. The temple and its surroundings are very scenic and peaceful. The temple is in Todgarh, which is a scenic village near Ajmer. You can visit Katar Ghati, Dudhaleshwar Mahadev, Todgarh-Raoli Sanctuary, and other places on your visit to Ajmer.