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Come to India and exlore the royal city of
Ajmer, worshiped and visited by number of people because of its Dargah
Sharief.
 Ajmer
Sharif
Decide your favourite colour and pick a city to
match, Rajasthan's kaleidoscope of colours covers all.
Bastions of history, bristling with memories,
these splendid treasures stand battling the vageries of time.
Fort Amber
The City Palace, Jaipur
Wind Palace, Jaipur
Chittaurgarh Fort
City Palace, Udaipur
Jaisalmer Fort
Mehrangarh
Fort
Nahargarh Fort, Jaipur
The desert sands shimmer and pulsate with an
energy and a spirit of festivity permeates the air, every season
provides many reasons to celebrate.
Camel Festival
Mewar Festival
Elephant Festival
Gangaur Festival
Pushkar Festival
Desert Festival
Ride a camel over the dunes or horses through
the hillside, speed ahead in a jeep and camp under open skies.
A delicate ecosystem, part desert part marshy
lands and even a small section of lush water filled valleys, sports a
wildlife rich in variety.
Whichever Budget Hotel you choose you will
always experience a traditional hospitality that you may never want to
forget.
Jaipur Budget Hotels
Jaisalmer Budget Hotels
Bharatpur Budget Hotels
Bikaner Budget Hotels
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Rajasthan Tours Travel » Sacred
Places & Shrines » Ajmer Sharif
Ajmer Sharif
On the foot of a barren hill stands the
dargah sharif, a saint's marble domed mausoleum and India's most important
shrine for the Muslims. The saint Hazrat Mu'inuddin Chishti was a Persian
and a missionary of Islam who with his piety, charisma, blessings, and
service changed the ways of this land. The Khwaja established the Chishtia
order of 'fakirs' in India and was also known as 'Gharib Nawaz' (protector
of the poor). The mortal remains of this highly revered Sufi saint Khwaja
Moin-ud-din Chishti lie buried in this tomb and attract believers from
every faith. The shrine receives an endless flow of visitors of all
religions, the sick, the troubled and the childless come here in hoardes,
seeking a boon, a blessing or just peace of mind. The central assumption
is that the saint is still conscious and attentive, and can confer
blessings upon people, by acting as a channel for God's grace. Legend has
it that the Mughal emperor, Akbar came here to be blessed by the saint and
beget a heir.
Within
the dargah lies a mosque, built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Like all
of Shah Jahan's buildings, the mosque too, is an architectural marvel - a
magnificent building in white marble with a long and narrow courtyard for
the faithful to pray in, richly embellished with ornate calligraphic
inscriptions, delicate carvings and detailed trellis work
In the centre of the compound lies the actual mazaar, or grave, which is
the focus of all the attention. Around it is a golden railing donated by
Emperor Jahangir and atop it a couple of kilos of gold. The jewelled
mazaar, covered with gold cloth, is protected by railings and partially
covered with a marble screen . A great dome swells gracefully above. The
walls are panelled with velvet curtains, including one from Mecca. Inside
the atmosphere is hushed and reverant. Prayers are said constantly and the
interiors are covered with rose petals. The daughter of Shah Jahan had
built a prayer room in the Dargah for the women devotees. The premises of
the Dargah also has the tomb of Bhishti, tomb of Saint's daughter-Bibi
Hafiz Jama, tomb of Shah Jahan's daughter Chimni Begum. In the courtyard
are two huge cauldrons with capacity of 2240 kg and 4480 kg. Gifted by
emperor Akbar, these cauldrons are used on special occasions when 'Kheer'
and other delicacies are cooked in them and distributed among the
pilgrims. During the urs festival the khadims ( caretakers) even put on
boots and leap into the hot cauldrons to ladle food out from the bottom.
The entrance doors are opened each day at specific hours by the Khadims.
The entrance is beautifully decorated with gold and enamel work, as well
as Belgian crystal chandeliers (lights and lamps have traditionally
appeared at Sufi tombs, perhaps to convey the image of the saint as
illuminating people). Clocks are another regular feature of mosques and
Sufi tombs--in part to help the faithful keep track of prayer times.
In this reverent and intensely spiritual atmosphere groups of traditional
musicians sing the qawwal throughout the day and their singing enhances
this devotional ambiance.
The Urs Festival
The Khwaja left for heavenly abode in 1256 AD after a six day prayer in
seclusion. These six days are celebrated every year as the annual Urs,
which is attended by innumerable pilgrims irrespective of their faith.
This annual pilgrimage of the devout is celebrated each May at the Dargah
with millions of pilgrims arriving in Ajmer to pay homage to the saint.
Lengthy queues of several kilometers snake their way past the tomb at the
shrine while outside the Dargah precincts te two massive cauldrons cook
sweet rice garnished with dry fruits and condiments to be served as
'tabarukh' or sanctified food.
The Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit the Dargah is during the annual Urs of Moinuddin
Chishti in May when the pious and reverent imbue the landscape with faith
and devotion. Even if you're unable to make it to Ajmer for the Urs, time
your visit for the winter (October-March), since the summers are hot and
dry and the winters are pleasantly warm.
Getting There
Air : The nearest airport is Jaipur (132 km); one can
get well connected flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.
Rail : Ajmer has excellent rail links, being located on
the Delhi-Jaipur-Ahmedabad-Mumbai line. The Shatabdi Express runs to Delhi
every day except Sunday.
Road : Jaipur to Ajmer takes about two and a half
hours. From there there are good roads to the rest of the country
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