One of the largest cities of the Indian state, Rajasthan, Ajmer is located in the district of the same name and has many of the state’s key tourists locations close to it. Among them is Todgarh, which is visited by tourists for exploring a famous wildlife area called Todgarh-Raoli Wildlife Sanctuary. Accommodation in any of the resorts in Todgarh would be helpful for travelers in visiting Ajmer. The city is surrounded by the majestic Aravalli range of mountains and houses the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, a Sufi saint who lived in this region during the period between late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries. A unique aspect of Ajmer is that it is situated at the center of Rajasthan, and is protected from the Thar desert by Nagpathar range’s enormous rocks.
History of the city dates back to the seventh century when it was founded by Ajayraj Singh Chauhan. The Chauhan dynasty had to face repeated invasions by armies from Central Asia belonging to the Turkic Muslim rulers.
Founder of the Delhi Sultanate, Muhammad of Ghor, managed to conquer it in the early twelfth century, and the Chauhan rulers had to pay heavy sums to him for maintaining their autonomy over the Ajmer region. In the years that followed, this place witnessed many power struggles between the Rajputs, Mughals, and Marathas. Finally, it was ceded to the British by Marathas. After independence, Ajmer became a state in the year 1950 and later became a part of Rajasthan state in 1956. Tourists would find many places in the city that are worth visiting during their time spent in Rajasthan. A major attraction of Ajmer is the ‘Dargah’ or shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, located at the foot of Taragarh hill. It comprises of buildings constructed using white marble and arranged around two courtyards. Situated on Taragarh hill’s lower slopes is a mosque which was built from a Vaishnava Hindu temple, by Qutubuddin Aibak in the early twelfth century. Another great tourist attraction is Magazine, a museum that was once the home of Emperor Akbar’s son, Prince Salim. In recent times, it houses a good collection of sculptures and armors worn by the Mughals and Rajputs. Soniji Ki Nasiyan, a Digambara Jain temple, is also worth visiting for its rich architecture.
Air travellers can get to Ajmer from the Jaipur International Airport by using buses or private vehicles. In the year 2013, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had inaugurated work on Kishangarh Airport near the city, and it is expected that it would become operational in 2016. People who prefer to travel by train can get to this city from the Ajmer railway station. Tourists traveling by road can benefit from the bus services available from Delhi, Jaipur, and other cities to Ajmer. During peak tourist seasons, it becomes difficult to get accommodation in the city. This is the reason why tourists book their stays at the best resorts in Todgarh or any of the other places that are closer to Ajmer city.
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