|
|
|
Tourist Destinations of Rajasthan Ajmer History of Ajmer
Ajmer was ruled by the
great Raja Prithvi Chauhan the last Hindu king of Delhi, until his defeat
in 1192 . After having changed hands several times, in 1556 Ajmer finally
came under the Mughal Emperor, Akbar who used it as the headquarters for
his vitally important operations in Rajasthan. It was here, a generation
later, that the first British Ambassador, Ajmer Travel Map
|
The small town of Ajmer, 78 miles west of Jaipur, played a surprisingly
important role in India's history. Set at the point where the rocky
Aravalli Hills end and the Thar Desert begins, this was originally the
stronghold of the powerful Chauhan Dynasty of Rajputs, who built India's
first ever hill fort here in the 7th century, Taragarh, whose ruins you
can still see today.
Sir Thomas Roe, had an historic
meeting with Emperor Jahangir in 1615, and it was here, half a century
later, that the critical battle between the Mughals crown prince, Dara
Shukoh, and the usurper, was fought. Later Emperor, Aurangzeb, took place.
In the 19th century, Ajmer became a little British enclave, from where the
British Chief Commissioner for Rajputana kept and eagle eye on all the
Rajput Kingdoms. Today Ajmer is, frankly, not the most charming of towns,
unlike its hayday in the 17th century when it was Emperor Shah Jahan
pleasure resort. There are also various buildings of historical interest
to visit here.