Ajmer: Akbar's fort to gain a new look

AJMER: The fort of Akbar in Ajmer from where Jahangir granted permission to East India Company to trade in the country would get a new look from Monday. A museum situated in the fort was closed for last four months. Archaeological department has tried to give an original look to the walls of the fort and to the craft work on the walls. The audience hall will be thrown open to tourists from Monday.

It was Akbar the Great who built the fort here to suppress the Rajput rulers of the state. "The fort was used by Akbar to plan the war strategy for the battle of Haldhghati against Maharana Partap of Udaipur" said a historian According to him, Swai Mansingh of Jaipur leaded the battle of haldighati against Maharana Partap. The fort is important for turist as they come to witness the architecture and craft importance of Rajput Mugal collaboration.

Beside the fort the museum in the fort also attracts the tourists. "Mainly tourists want to know the place from where the permission was granted to Sir Tomas of East India Company and we show them the window of the fort" said Manak Kumar, a tourist guide. He said that even domestic tourists are interested to know the history of this fort as it played important role in the history of India.

"We are going to open the audience hall of the fort from 22 December" said Sayed Ajam Hussein, deputy director of archeological department and executive curator of Museum. He said that work of innovation would continue in other part of the fort.

The museum has the treasure of ancient statues belonging to Jain and Bodh scriptures. "There are the statues dating long back to 2 century BC" said sources. There are also written scriptures and in scripts found from the Pushkar region. "The importance of this museum is also signifies the development of Ghandar, Mugal and Rajasthani sculpture in different period of time" said Hussein. The statues also show the great work and development of stone to metal and copper in the sculpture.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Jaipur

AJMER-अजमेर

AJMER-अजमेर

TEMPLES

Ajmer-e-Sharief Dargah - At the foot of a barren hill, is situated India s most important pilgrimage center for people from all faiths. It is the splendid tomb of the Sufi saint Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti more popularly known as Khawaja Saheb or Khawaja Sharif. The shrine is next only to Mecca or Median for the Muslims of South Asia. Emperor Akbar used to make a pilgrimage to this Dargah from Agra once a year.

Adhai-Din-Ka Jhonpara - One of the finest examples of Indo-Islamic architecture, this mosque was a Sanskrit college in the 12th century. In 1193 AD Mohammad Ghori destroyed the college and a mosque was built in its place. The mosque is built on pillars and surprisingly no two pillars are alike. The

archways are finely engraved with Kufi and Jughra inscriptions from the Holy Quran (also spelt as Koran).

Nasiyan (Jain Temple) - This red coloured Jain temple was built in the late 19th century. The wooden gilt in the double storeyed hall depicts scenes from the Jain mythology. The beauty of this temple is widely acclaimed. MUSEUMSGovt. Museum - The Royal palace of Akbar was converted into a museum and today it houses a rich collection of Mughal and Rajput armoury. Some of the fine and delicate sculptures of the region have been displayed here. The building itself has been constructed of red sandstone, which have been laid down in a square pattern giving it a fabulous look.

LAKES

Ana Sagar Lake - This lake was built by Anaji during 1135-1150 AD. Later the Mughal Emperors made additional constructions to beautify the lake. The 'Baradari', a marble pavilion was built by Shah Jahan and the Daulat Bagh Gardens were laid by Jehangir. This lake is located towards the north of Ajmer city.

Foy Sagar - This artificial lake was built during a famine relief programme. Named after the engineer responsible for its construction, the picturesque lake is 5-km from Ajmer

FORTS

Taragarh Fort - Built in the 7th century by Ajaipal Chauhan, the fort gives a bird's eye view of the city. Taragarh Fort, seat of the Chauhan rulers, is claimed to be the first hill fort of Asia, built at a time when the Aravalli mountain ranges were above the snowlines. This gives it the reputation of being one of the oldest hill forts of the world, and it is definitely the oldest among the hill forts in India.

Magazine - the city's Museum, was once the residence of Prince Salim, son of Emperor Akbar, and presently houses a collection of the Mughal and Rajput armour and sculpture.This residence of Salim is significant from a historical point of view, because Salim as Emperor Jahangir read out the firman for trade to India to the British East India company from here, thus starting the chain of events that lead to India's colonisation by the British

OTHERS

Mayo College - a boarding school founded by the British Raj in 1870 to educate the children of Rajputana's nobles on the lines of an English public school. Also home to the prestigious Sophia Girls' School (now College), and the historic Ajmer Music College, founded in 1942, the first accredited institution in Rajputana for teaching classical Hindustani music. One of the four NCERT Demonstration Schools of India is also located in Ajmer.

Kishangarh, Ajmer and the Famous Urs Fair Twice in a Year

An interesting ritual is the looting of kheer (milk-pudding) which is cooked in two large cauldrons called degs and distributed to the devotees as tabarruk (blessed food).

On the 6th of Rajab, after the usual mehfil and the sound of cracker-bursts accompanied by music, the Sajjada Nashin performs the ghusal of the tomb. Fatiha and Salamti are read. A poetic recitation called mushaira is arranged in which poets of all communities arrive to recite compositions dedicated to the Khwaja. The Qul (end-all) on the 6th of Rajab marks the end of the Urs.

At night, religious assemblies called mehfils are held in the mehfil-khana, a large hall meant for this purpose. These are presided over by the Sajjada Nashin of the dargah.

Qawwalis are sung and the hall is packed to capacity. There are separate places reserved for women who attend the mehfil. The mehfil terminates late in the night with a mass prayer for the eternal peace of the Khwaja in particular and mankind in general.

The Dargah is located at the conjunction of three bazaars. There are a number of restaurants around the Dargah where visitors can choose from a variety of dishes most of which are non-vegetarian preparations. Guest houses on the road leading to the Dargah offer accommodation that ranges from economical to luxurious. Many other guest houses are strewn across the city.

The shops in the market around the Dargah sell flowers, prayer mats, rosaries, textiles, and general merchandise as well. Ajmer is 132 kms. south-west of Jaipur and 198 kms. east of Jodhpur. It is connected by road to Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Udaipur and Kota. Ajmer is a railway junction on the Delhi-Ahmedabad section of the Western Railway. During the Urs, special buses ply from cities all over India carrying people to Ajmer and back.

Excursion of Ajmer :

Kishangarh

Kishangarh is 27 Kms north east of Ajmer and was founded by Kishan Singh a Rathore Prince. In the 18th century it acclaimed fame as one of the finest schools of miniatures paintings. Though a smaller school with a much shorter duration it had a more refined style. It peaked under the patronage of Savant Singh an heir to the throne, who later became a hermit. It is said that Savant Singh modeled as Krishna while his mistress nicknamed as Bani Thani modelled for Radha. Paintings of Bani Thani are it most celebrated. The artist of this school favoured evening lights and grey skies with fine colours.

Pushkar Fair – An Unforgettable Experience

Do you wish to get a feel of the vibrant tradition and culture of India? Then visit the Pushkar Fair in Rajasthan with indianholiday.com. One of the most colorful and charming fairs in India, Pushkar is a fine example of the diversity of culture and tradition in the country. A visit to this fair is simply an unforgettable experience.

The Pushkar Fair is held every year in the small town of Pushkar in the state of Rajasthan. Located in the Thar Desert around 14 km from Ajmer, this small town is surrounded by mountains and sand dunes. The fair takes place between the months of October and November during Kartik Shukla Ekadashi. The fair goes on for a period of 5 days and ends on Kartik Purnima.

Coming to Pushkar is also easy. You can hire buses, cars of taxis for coming to the town. It takes around 30 minutes to come to Pushkar from Ajmer. The nearest airport is located in the city of Jaipur. Buses and cars ply between Pushkar and Jaipur.

Wide spread celebration takes place during the Pushkar Fair. You will simply be awe inspired by the intensity of fun and frolic during these 5 days. Around 20,000 people participate in the fair on average. Thousands of tourists from all over the world come here to have an experience of the rich Indian culture and tradition.

Pushkar Fair is an ideal shopping destination if you wish to buy beautiful Rajasthani handicrafts and local artifacts. From colorful turbans and ghagaras to local jewelry, you can pick up almost everything here at reasonable rates. You can also shop for woolen textiles and garments from the shops and markets. Food lovers can have a taste of mouth watering local and Indian delicacies in the fair. You will enjoy various Rajasthani snacks and refreshing beverages that are served in the food joints in the fair.

A major attraction of the Pushkar Fair is the camel festival. Around 50,000 camels participate in the camel race. The camels are decorated with colorful garments and jewelries. There is also a well known camel market in Rajasthan where various types of camels are sold at moderate rates. Other than camels, domestic animals like bulls, cows and horses are also sold at affordable rates.

There are also some attractions around Pushkar which you can visit. Popular tourist attractions like Pushkar Lake and Brahma Temple draw plenty of tourists.

Various tours and packages are offered by the tourist board and travel agencies for the Pushkar fair. Some of the popular tours are Colorful Pushkar tour, Pushkar Village tour, Pushkar Delight, Pushkar Special, Pushkar Splendor and lots more.

There are plenty of lodges, resorts and hotels in Pushkar which cater to the booming tourist inflow during the fair. Discounts and packages are offered during this season to lure more visitors. The hotels and resorts are equipped with contemporary facilities and services and offer you high degree of comfort and satisfaction.

Rajasthan is the wonder full palace for visits in India

Rajasthan is the land of the Maharajas, an exotic and colourful home to the legendary warriors of yore, famous for their gallantry, chivalry, revelry and romance. Its kingdoms redolent with imposing forts, ethereal palaces, boisterous bazaars, vibrant people, timeless traditions and centuries of art and culture. Each of its cities has a unique character and a different colour, its capital Jaipur has the ditinction of being pink, also considered the colour of hospitality.

Capital of Rajasthan
The Pink City of India, the royal capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh in 1727 AD. The ancient heart of this regal city still beats in its fairy tale palaces, its magnificent fortresses perched on barren hills, and in the broad avenues that provide a superb transport network throughtout the city.

Soak in the medieval flavour of this city by exploring its many monuments, go on a camel safari to explore unending stretches of the Thar desert , enjoy the cool evenings boating at the Ramgarh lake or linger in its boisterous bazaars, laden with handicrafts, handloom, jewelery, bandhani, block print, blankets and trinkets.


History of Rajasthan
The panoramic landscape of Rajasthan has been a silent witness to some of the most intense battles in history, tragic seiges, astounding victories, the unearthly valour of fine-cheeked Rajputs, charging to their deaths in ash and saffron. Dedicated Maharanis committing jauhar by the thousands and its forts and palaces that have lived on to tell the tale.

Once ruled by the Mauryan empire, Rajasthan became the stronghold of the Rajput clans in 700 B.C. Around the 12th century parts of Rajasthan were occupied by Muslim rulers but it was only in the early18th century under Mughal emperor Akbar's rule that all of Rajasthan was united into one province. After the decline of the Mughal rulers the Marathas penetrated into Rajasthan. As a legacy of this back-and-forth rulership of the province it has a rich culture and architectural heritage blending toghether Mughal, Hindu and Jain influences.


The People :
Rajasthan is the region of the proud Rajputs, their valour and chivalry now a part of legend. They are of Scythian descent- a stock which moved out from the Caucasus in Central Asia towards the Indus Valley on the one side and the Germanic parts of Europe on the other.

What meets the eye when travelling through Rajasthan though are dusky, lissom Rajasthani women with sparkling, kohl-limned eyes, adorned with silver jewellery and thick, bone bangles worn way above the elbows. They sport backless cholis, generously pleated long skirts rich in mirror work and embroidery. A long odhni or head covering flowing gaily behind them completes the picture of ethnic allure. They smile with a winsome charm as they sway past with several terracotta pots casually poised on their heads. The men, without exception, sport colourful, flamboyantly styled turbans. Their swarthy faces flaunt large mustachios, displaying careful grooming and obvious pride. In rural Rajasthan, a moustache is an indication of manhood, virility and macho power.

Along with the Rajputs this land is also inhabited by Muslims and Brahmins. The Bhils and Meenas are two of the biggest tribes to be found here. The official language is Hindi.
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How Can We Visit The Ajmer City ?

The city of Ajmer is famous as a pilgrim place. It houses the Dargah or tomb of the popular 13th-century, Sufi Saint Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chisti. Millions of pilgrims from all over the world throng Ajmer to attend the death anniversary of the great saint every year. The city also boasts of a number of monuments belonging to the Mughal era. The city is also known for its traditional handicrafts.

LOCATION

The city of Ajmer is located in the state of Rajasthan, in the northwestern part of India. It lies 130 km southwest of Jaipur. It is flanked by the Ana Sagar Lake on one side and barren hills of the Aravali range on the other side. Ajmer is drained by streams of the Luni River flowing southwestward and by tributaries of the Banas River flowing eastward. The climate of Ajmer is hot. The maximum temperature can go up to 45°C in summers (April-June). Winters are cool (November-February).

Tour to Ajmer BEST TIME TO VISIT

The best time to visit Ajmer is in winters (November-February). It can also be visited in the seventh month of the lunar calendar every year when the annual Urs festival is held to commemorate the death of the Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti.


HISTORY

Ajmer was founded by Ajayadeva, an 11th-century local Rajput ruler. It was shortly annexed by Delhi Sultanate in 1193, but returned to the local rulers, upon payment of tribute. Ajmer was also sacked by Mohammed Ghori in one of the many raids carried out by him on India. Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, the patron Saint of Ajmer, came here from Persia at the end of the 12th century. Ajmer became the part of the mighty Mughal Empire during the medieval period and was an important military center. Military campaigns against local Rajput rulers were initiated from Ajmer. Akbar built a fort here. The first contact between the Mughals and the British also happened in Ajmer, when Jahangir met Sir Thomas Roe in 1616. Shahjahan built marble pavilions around the Ana Sagar Lake in the 17th century. The Scindia rulers of Gwalior took over Ajmer, which was later taken over by the British in 1818. The British founded the famous Mayo College, a prestigious school here, in 1875.

Tour to Ajmer TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS

The most important tourist spot of Ajmer is the Dargah or tomb of Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. The Ana Sagar Lake and Daulat Bagh are other important sites within the city. Ajmer also has an imposing fort built by Akbar. It also houses the government museum within it. The Nasiyan (Red) Jain Temple built in the 19th century is also worth paying a visit.

PLACES AROUND AJMER

Adhai-din-ka-Jhompara mosque is on the outskirts of the city. Three kilometers beyond the mosque and located on a steep hill is the Taragarh Fort, which offers a breathtaking view of Ajmer city. The small town of Kishangarh is located 27 km from Ajmer and is famous for its traditional miniature paintings. Roopangarh Fort is 52 km from Ajmer and can be reached via Kishangarh.

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

The main festival of Ajmer is the celebration of the Urs held every year in the seventh month (date varies) of the lunar calendar. A number of Qawali (traditional Muslim recital of devotional verse) functions are held within the Dargah or tomb.

HOW TO REACH

BY RAIL - Ajmer is also accessible by train, as it is located on the main Delhi-Jaipur-Ahmedabad-Mumbai line. There are different means of transport available to the traveler to move around in Ajmer.

BY ROAD - Ajmer is accessible by road from both Jaipur and Delhi. We would provide you all India tourist permit vehicles for the local transportations and also for the intercity drives too.
Source: www.tourism-of-india.com