If you are visiting Ajmer for the first time and want to know which are the famous places in Ajmer, then, here, is a list that’ll help you. As one of the best hotels in Ajmer, we cater to a lot of tourists – Indian as well as International and some of the questions we are often asked is, ‘which are the best places to see in Ajmer?’ or ‘which are the popular tourist places in Pushkar?’ Thus, if a trip to Ajmer is on your bucket list, then check out some of these tourist places in Ajmer known for their historical significance and other absolutely delightful & fantastic touristy destinations.
History of Ajmer
Located in the heart of Rajasthan, Ajmer, founded in the 7th century A.D. by Raja Ajai Pal Chauhan has a very interesting past. It was from Ajmer that the last Hindu ruler of Delhi, Maharaja Prithviraj Chauhan, controlled a major part of northern India. Today, Ajmer is more important as the final resting place of the great Sufi Saint – Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti and is one of the revered places in India for the Muslims.
Just as the Muslims revere the Dargah here, the Hindus accord the same sanctity to the holy town of Pushkar. Located just 11 kilometres from Ajmer, the Holy Lake of Pushkar is believed to have been created by Lord Brahma himself. Devout Hindus believe that it is essential to visit Pushkar at least once in their lifetime.
The Chauhans dominated Ajmer for many years and it was only toward the end of 12th century that Maharaja Prithviraj was killed in the battle with Muhammad Ghori. This totally changed the history of the region. The importance of Ajmer diminished with the death of its most valiant ruler and Ajmer passed under the Delhi Sultanate.
From then on, Ajmer saw many upheavals until Emperor Akbar came to the throne in 1556 and gave Ajmer the status of a full-fledged province. He also used Ajmer as a base for his operations in Rajputana. But Ajmer saw some more turbulence when the Mughals, the Marathas and British all tried to interfere in the affairs of this province.
However, from 1818 AD onwards, the British Empire gained full control here and it remained so until India’s independence. The British left behind a legacy that still lives on in the fine education institutions, the colonial bungalows, the clubs and the old railway quarters.
Tourist Places in Ajmer
1.The Dargahof Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti
Today, Ajmer is more important as the final resting place of the great Sufi Saint –Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. Muslims from all over the world revere the Dargah Sharif, where the saint lies buried. This has been so for centuries now. Even the Mughal Emperor Akbar walked to the Dargah all the way from Agra.
Every year lakhs of Muslim devotees gather here to pay homage to the Garib Nawaz – ‘the Protector of the Poor.’ The best time to visit Ajmer Sharif Dargah is during the annual ‘URS’ festival (the death anniversary of the Sufi saint). During this time, you’d see an altogether different side of this sleepy little town, where on normal days, very little activity seems to be going on, but during the festival, it suddenly booms into a bustling, lively place.
While the dargah is one of the major Ajmer attractions, don’t miss seeing the beautiful Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra with its ornate calligraphic inscriptions. The other places of interest in Ajmer are the Taragarh Fort and the Ana Sagar Lake with its marble pavilions.
2. Ana Sagar Lake
According to “Prithviraj Vijaya,” Arnoraja or Raja Anaji (1130-1150 A.D.) the grandfather of Maharaja Prithviraj Chauhan, had built the picturesque lake of Ana Sagar at Ajmer in order to purify the land which was alleged to have been despoiled by the spilling of the Mussalman blood in a battle fought at this place.
As a man-made lake, this is the most scenic and relaxing tourist place in Ajmer. This lake offers you activity like boating. Also, right next to the lake is the beautiful and well-manicured ‘Daulat Bagh’ garden which was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir.
3. Pushkar
When it comes to Ajmer places to visit, this is another destination that tops the list. No pilgrimage is considered complete without a dip in the holy Pushkar Lake. Pushkar has as many as 400 temples and 52 ghats and the only temple in the country that is dedicated to ‘Lord Brahma’ is found here.
Pushkar Lake is surrounded by hills on three sides and the desert on the other side. There is one belief that Kalidasa, the Indian counterpart of Shakespeare, had this place as his locale for his Sanskrit drama, Shakuntalam. According to a legend, the lake was formed when Lord Brahma wanted to perform a Yagna here. This is the reason a temple dedicated to him can be seen here.
While Pushkar is a haven for the religiously inclined, it is also the venue of one of the country’s most colourful cattle fairs – the Pushkar Camel Fair. This annual fair is an unforgettable event when the entire little town is taken over by lakhs of animals and visitors. This is certainly the best time to visit Pushkar. Just relax and let yourself go, you’ll be carried away by the heady exuberance that is so much a part of this mela.
- Goddess Savitri Temple: A temple dedicated to the wife of Lord Brahma. It is situated behind the Brahma temple; Brahma temple (See under Pushkar Lake above).
- Man Mahal: Built by Raja Man Singh, this is the largest palace near the Pushkar Lake. This is one of the other Ajmer historical places that is a popular tourist getaway.
- Soniji ki Nasiyan: Also known as the ‘Red Temple,’ the Nasiyan temple is a Digambar Jain temple and is counted among the finest and the best Jain temples in Rajasthan.
- Naga Pahar: There is a cave of Saint (Sage) Agastya here, which is another Ajmer Pushkar sightseeing option that is quite famous. This hill offers a splendid view of the Pushkar city and also has a lake called ‘Nag Kund.’
Pushkar Fair is one of the best-known fairs in India. The pilgrims take a holy dip in the Pushkar Lake. The fair falls in Kartik Poornima in October – November. Horses, camels, cows etc are traded at this cattle fair. There are also races and other events. A large number of markets come up selling various items as is usual with all fairs and festivals.
So, ride camels, shop at the colourful market, watch the sunset over the sand dunes. You can even try donning the local outfits – gorgeous odhnis (scarves) and turbans. Do what you will, the Pushkar Camel Fair is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you will want to repeat.
Other Pushkar Sightseeing Places include;
Other Tourist Places Near Ajmer Rajasthan
- Akbar’s Palace: One of the most visited places near Ajmer, the Akbar Palace is a spectacular monument. At present, it is converted into a museum and houses medieval armoury, fabulous miniature paintings and stone sculptures.
- Prithviraj Smarak: Another Ajmer famous places to visit, this is a commemorative monument built in the honour of the great Ajmer Emperor Prithviraj Chauhan.
- SaiBaba Temple: Constructed in 1999, this temple is built entirely in marble and has gained quite a lot of popularity in recent times.
- Nareli Jain Temple (Shri Gyanodaya Tirth Kshetra): Situated amid the Aravalli hills, this temple is made of marble and is an important pilgrimage site for the Digambara Jains.
- Foy Sagar Lake: Another lake that serves as a tourist place, this Ajmer sightseeing spot is great for family picnics.
- Birds Eye View Point: For a striking sunset view and an exceptional bird’s eye view of the Aravalli range and the city of Ajmer, this is another place you must visit.
- Mayo College& Museum: The Mayo College is one of the best and oldest boarding school for boys in India founded in 1875 A.D. The museum houses various collection of priceless antiques, artifacts, old paintings and armoury, thus making it one of the other must-visit Ajmer historical places on our list.
So this is the complete list of places to visit in Ajmer and Pushkar. If you want to visit Ajmer and are looking for luxury accommodation then check out the wide variety of accommodations we offer and book now. For more details or any query, you can also contact us and we’d be happy to help you out!
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