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Rajasthan
( Ajmer )
INTRODUCTION
Located
in the heart of Rajasthan, Ajmer is a small
town with a very interesting past. It was
founded in the 7th century AD by Raja Ajai Pal
Chauhan. When you visit Ajmer today, it is
difficult to imagine that this small city was
at one time the seat of power of the Chauhan
dynasty. It was from Ajmer that the last Hindu
ruler of Delhi, Prithviraj Chauhan, controlled
a major part of northern India. The legendary
Prithviraj lived here and became a force to
reckon with. His exploits are related with
great wonder and sometimes disbelief. Few
rulers of that time could match the charisma
and heroism of this dynamic ruler. The Chauhans
dominated Ajmer for many years and it was only
towards the end of the 12th century that
Prithviraj was killed in battle with Muhammad
Ghori. That changed the history of this region
totally. 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
of his province. However, from 1818 AD onwards,
the British Empire gained full control here ad
it remained so until India's independence. The
British left behind a legacy that still lives
on in the excellent educational institution,
the colonial bungalows, the club and the old
railway quarters.
SIGHTSEEING
Today, Ajmer is more important
as the final resting place of the great Sufi
saint-Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. Muslims from all
over the world revere the Dargah Sharif, where
the saint lies buried. This has been so for
centuries now. Even Akbar waled to the Dargah
all the way from Agra. Every year, during the
Urs, lakhs of Muslim devotees gather here to
pay homage to the Garib Nawaz, the protector of
the proof. If you want to see an altogether
different side of this sleepy little town then make sure you're
here during the annual urs. This town where very little activity
seems to be going on, a normal days, suddenly turns into a
bustling, livery place. While you're around the Dargah,
don't miss seeing the beautiful Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra with
its ornate calligraphic inscriptions. There are other areas of
interest like the Taragarh Fort and the Ana Sagar Lake
with its marble pavilions
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