Tourist Destinations of Rajasthan

Ajmer

Dargah or Ajmer Sharif

Construction of the shrine was completed by Humayun and the gate was added by the Nizam of Hyderabad. Situated at the foot of a hill and in the old part of town, this is one of the most important places in india for muslim pilgrims. The dargah is the tomb of a Suffi saint, Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chishti, who came to Ajmer from Persia in 1192 and died here in 1236. Construction of this shrine was completed by Humayun and the gate was added by the Nijam of Hydrabad. Akhbar used to make the pilgrimage to the Dargah from Agra once a year.

As you enter the courtyard, the mosque, constructed by Akhbar, is on the right. The enormous cauldrons are for offerings that are customarily shared by families involved in the shrine's upkeep. In the inner court there is another mosque built by Shah Jahan. Constructed of white marble, it has 11 arches and a Persian inscription running the full length of the building.

The saint's tomb is in the center of the second court. It has a marble dome and actual tomb inside is surrounded by a silver platform. The horse shoes nail to the shrine doors are offerings from successful horse dealers. This shrine is a hive of activity and you can really get a sense of how deeply significant it is to the Muslim people.

History of this Shrine
The final resting place for 'Gharib-Nawaz', Moinuddin Chishti is located in Ajmer. People of all religions visit the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. 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. The shrine is considered to be a place of wish fulfillment for those who pray with devout and pure hearts. It is said that Emperor Akbar sought blessings for his son at the Dargah.

Activities
The holy town of Ajmer in honor of the Sufi saint, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, special prayers are offered at the mosque, and huge amounts of consecrated food offered from the large, steaming cauldrons that were a gift from Akbar. While quwwallis are sung at night, the celebrations unite people of all faiths, and the complete town is decorated with buntings, and wears the spirit of festivity. It is an occasion for thousands of believers to congregate at the shrine and offer their prayers. All of Ajmer seems to take on a festive air and several programmers are organized to mark the festivals.

Ajmer Travel Map