Rajasthan Travel and Tourism

Foy Sagar (5km)

A picturesque artificial lake named after the engineer foy who created it under a famine relief project.

Puskhar Fair

It is one of the most colorful fairs of India. Lakh of pilgrims throng the lake during the annual cattle fair. Beside trading of horse camels, cows and bulls, there are exciting camel-cart races and cultural cents, clothes household items and leather goods are for sale during the fair on the full moon of Kartik (Nov.), pilgrims take a holy dip in the lake.

Pushkar Lake (11km)

The lake, situated on the edge of desert and surrounded by hills on the three sides is separated from Ajmer by Nag Pahar-the snake mountain. On this mountain the Panchkund and the cave of saint Agastya are located. It is believed that Kalidasa the 4th century Sanskrit poet and playwright, choose the setting for its masterpiece “Abhigyana Shakuntalam” in this forest heritage. According to legend, the origin of Pushkar dates back to the time when Lord Brahma was on his way in search of a tranquil land to perform a “Yagna”, A lotus fell from the hand of the Lord into this valley. A lake spring upon this spot and was dedicate to him. A Brahma temple located here is a popular place of pilgrimage.

The Circuit House

The former British Residency, overlooking the artificial lake, Ana Sagar, 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.

The Museum

Once the royal residence of Emperor Akbar, the museum houses a rich repository of the Mughal and Rajput armor and exquisite sculptures.

Taragarh Fort

A steep one and half hour climb beyond the Adhai-Din-ka-Jhonpra leads to the ruins of the Taragarh Fort, perched on a hill. One can have an excellent view of the city from here. The fort was the site of the military activity during the Mughal period later used as a sanatorium by the British.

Adhai-Din-Ka-Jhonpra

A remarkable structure, this is a masterpiece of Indo Islamic architecture located on the outskirts of the city. Just beyond the Dargah. As the legend goes, its construction took two and a half days. (Adhai-Din) to complete. It was originally a Sanskrit college, built within a temple. In 1193 A.D. Mohammad Ghauri conquered Ajmer and converted the building into a mosque by adding a seven arched wall in front of the pillared hall in just two-and-a-half days (adhai-din) and hence the name. The district pillars and arched “screen with its ruined minarets make it a splendid architectural masterpiece.

Shahjahan’s Mosque

This mosque is a beautiful building made of white marble with long and narrow court that is as long as 30 meters. This court have low arcade & trellis work with delicate carving that make it as the most marvelous of all the sanctums within the enclosure of the Dargah Khwajah Sharif.

Mayo College Ajmer

It was founded in 1875 A.D. only for the children of royal family, where each of those special pupils had their own house in the premises of this spacious college grounds, which hosted the prince & his entire retinue. But now it is a public school open for all kind of children’s & since has become Indian’s one of the best public schools.

Dargah

One of the most important pilgrimage for Muslims after Mecca or Medina of South Asia. Situated on a barren foot hill this Dargah has become one of the most important religious center for people from al walk of life be it Hindu, Muslims. More popularly known as Khwajah Sharif, was made in remembrance of Sufi Saint Khwajah Moinuddin Chishti, Mughal Emperor Akbar used to make a pilgrimage to the Dargah from Agra once a year. The mausoleum has a gigantic gate, which was built by the Nizam of Hyderabad. The two massive cauldrons in the courtyard are of particular interests and on the right side of the courtyard is the Akabari Masjid built in white marble.

There is another mosque in the courtyard built by Shahajahan & visited this once a year from Agra. The saints tomb with a splendid marble domes is in the centre of the second courtyard which is surrounded by a silver platform. The shrine attracts thousands of pilgrims during the Urs commemorating the death anniversary of the Saint, held from the 1st to 6th day of the Islamic month of during this time is the major attraction.