» Ajmer Attractions : Rajasthan Travel, Vacations, Holiday Packages

Sola Khamba 16 Pillars Tomb Ajmer

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Sola Khamba (16 Pillars Tomb): Built during the reign of Aurangzeb albeit minus his contribution, the Sola Khamba is also known as the Shaikh Ala-al-Din’s tomb. This saint was the overseer of the shrine of Moin-ud-din Chisti and he built his own tomb in four years from 1659. Located just outside Chisti’s dargah and completed in 1660, the Sola Khamba is so named because of the 16 pillars that support its roof (sola or solah means 16). Built in white marble, this rectangular building is not a very large one, but its size is overshadowed by the spectacular trio of cusped arches leading upto the flat roof out of which rise four slender minarets from each corner. The cusped arches are a rare sight for these times, and it was only during Aurangzeb’s reign that they came into their own.

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Shah Jahan Mosque Ajmer

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Shah Jahan’s Mosque: In the inner courtyard on the east is Shah Jahan’s mosque or Jami masjid, another white marble mosque. of all the monuments within the dargah complex, Shah Jahan’s masjid is needed the most spectacular. This 45m long mosque with 11 arches bears Persian inscriptions under its eaves and is surrounded on three sides by an intricately carved balustrade. The arches are not true arches but merely curved brackets meeting in the centre to hold up the ceiling. The marble that went into the making of this mosque was extracted from the same mines in Makrana from where the marble for the Taj Mahal in Agra was sourced. Slender pillars divide the mosque into three sections, and the mihrab (prayer niche) is a deep star shaped recess in the wall.

On the outside wall of the mosque just above the arches is an inscription in Persian stating that it was built in 1638 and that Shah Jahan, as a prince, had vowed to build a mosque near Moin-ud-din’s shrine. This resolve was in gratitude after Shah Jahan defeated the Rana of Mewar for the second time. The Emperor held Khwaja Moin-ud-din in high esteem, and while building his own mosque ensured that it was devoid of a dome to allow the main shrine to be the dominant one in the complex. The Holy Shrine

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Ajmer Museum

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Museum: This imposing edifice was converted into the Ajmer Museum in 1908 and is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. throughout the week except on Fridays. The museum houses 6th and 7th century Hindu sculptures and fine examples of Rajput and Mughal armour. A black marble statue of Goddess Kali is a must see.

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Akbar Fort Ajmer

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Akbar Fort: Built by Akbar in 1570 for his visits to Ajmer as well as a bastion for his advancing empire, the fort is rather small compared to others. But its lack of size is compensated by its impregnable structure, being one of the strongest forts in southeast Rajasthan. The entire fort is surrouned by two thick walls; one on the outside and another running parallel to it on the inside. The fort walls encompass a double storeyed palace surrounded by a row of columns held together at the top by arches. A large hall in the centre of the palace leads into number of rooms around it, meant for the emperor and his entourage while he was in Ajmer.

Sir Thomas Roe, East India Company’s envoy met Jahangir in this fort in 1616. The British took charge of the fort in 1818, and during the mutiny of 1857 used it as a magazine to hold arms and ammunition, calling it the Rajputana Arsenal.

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Taragarh Fort

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Taragarh Fort: Tour the imperial Taragarh Fort and explore the regal secrets of this remarkable structure in stone located atop the Nagpahari hill in Ajmer with Indian Horizons. It is constructed in 1354 A.D., the Taragarh Fort in Ajmer is a spectacular illustration of Rajasthani architecture. Six imposing gates and a thick crenellated wall guard the entrance to this erstwhile Chauhan bastion.

Explore the royal secrets of Taragarh though a section of this massive structure is not open for public viewing. See the awe-inspiring Bhim Burj i.e. a massive battlement on which rests a large canon and admire the huge stone water reservoirs built within the fort. The main gateway that leads you to the fort is decorated with stone sculptures of elephants.

Pay homage at Miran Saheb ki Dargah that is located within the fort walls. This mausoleum is dedicated to Miran Saheb, a brave warrior who sacrificed his life defending Taragarh in an enemy invasion. Taragarh Fort was an important center of military activity during the Mughal domination in Ajmer. Later during the British occupation of Ajmer, Taragarh was used as a sanatorium.

Enjoy a spectacular view of the city below from the Taragarh Fort and drink in beautiful vistas of Ajmer steeped in the warmth of the last rays of the setting sun. Also tour the interesting Dudha Mahal located at a little distance from the Taragarh Fort.

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Swami Dayanand Saraswati Smarak Ajmer

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Swami Dayanand Saraswati Smarak

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Mayo College Ajmer

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Mayo College: Mayo College has been called the “Eton of India” since its founding in 1870 AD. One of India’s best public schools, located in the southeast of the Ana Sagar, has now been converted to the Circuit House. One can view the lake and the cenotaph and the shrine of Swami Dayanand, founder of the Arya Samaj movement in India. Established in 1875 by Lord Mayo, the then Viceroy of India, it was exclusively for the education of the aristocracy and patterned on the British public school pattern. The credit for originating the idea of Mayo College must be given to Colonel Walter who in his Bharatpur Agency Report in 1869 suggested the opinion of such an esteemed institution in order to ensure to the sons of the aristocracy of this country a liberal and enlightened education. The main building is built of white unpolished marble, constructed in the Indo-saracenic style with a delicately proportioned clock tower, which is 127 ft in height this is best expressed in the words of Lord Lytton, Viceroy of India on his visit to Mayo as the Chief Guest on the Annual Prize Giving day on 5th Dec. 1879.

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Nasiyan Jain Temple Ajmer

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Nasiyan Jain Temple: Dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankara Rishabdebji, this temple is greatly revered by the Jain community. The construction of this temple was completed in the year 1895. The first floor of the temple named Swarna Nagari has gold plated replicas of every Jain Temple in India. Over 1,000 kilogram of gold has been used for the purpose. Depictions of scenes from Jain mythology also adorn the walls of Swarna Nagari.

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Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Dargah Ajmer

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Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti: Sprawled over a huge area in the heart of Ajmer, the Dargah of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti is located at a distance of 4 kilometers from the Ajmer railway station. The holy Dargah Sharief in Ajmer is the second most important pilgrimage after Mecca and Medina for the Muslims all over the world. The magnificent gateway that leads to the Dargah was constructed by the Nizam of Hyderabad. Invoke the blessings of almighty Allah at the two mosques located within the Dargah Sharief in Ajmer, Rajasthan, India. azrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti was born and brought up in Persia. He lost his parents at the age of 16 and inherited an orchard and other family businesses that he renounced after he met a pir baba who stopped by on his orchard one day.

Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti was a great Sufi saint who was the harbinger of Islam in India. He served and blessed the poor. It is believed that those who come and pray with unadulterated faith and devotion at his Dargah or mausoleum are blessed out of their miseries.

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The Circuit House

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The Circuit House: The former British Residency, overlooking the artificial lake, Ana sagar, has now been converted to the circuit House. The lake and the cenotaph and the shrine of the Hindu reformer Swami Dayanand, founder of the Arya Samaj movement in India, can be viewed from here.

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