Ajmer is located 132 kms, west of Jaipur, in the lap of Picturesque hills of Aravalli range. Lies between 26°27” north latitude and 74°37’ east longitude. It is flanked by the Ana Sagar lake on the side and barren hills of the Aravali range on the other side. Ajmer is drained by streams of the Luni riveer flowing east ward and by tributaries of the Banas river flowing east ward. The principal attractions of Ajmer are the Dargah Sharif and Puskar, the respective holy places of Muslims and Hindus, It symbolises, as it were the abiding amity between the two chief religions of India, at one single location.

          The city derives its name from Ajayameru (The invincible hill) and is believed to have been founded in the 7^th century by AjaipalChauhan. It emerged as an important city during Ajayaraja’s rule in the 12^th century. He contributed so much to its developments and growth by adding new palaces and temples that he came to be regarded as the founder of the city. He built the fortress f Taragarh. Another ruler Amoraj, also called Anaji, constructed the Anasagar bund. Pruthviraj Chauhan of Ajmer was the last great Hindu ruler of north India before the Muslim conquest. The story of his romantic exploits and chvalrous deeds is contained in the famous bardic work, Prithviraj raso by Chandbardai. After Prithviraja’s defeat at the hands of Mohammad Ghori, the latter sacked ajmer in 1193. It peace was again disturbed during Timur’s hurricane invasion of India.Subsequently, it was seized by Rana Kumbha of Mewar. From 1470 to 1531, it came under the domination of Muslim ruler, Akbar annexed it to the mughal empire in 1556 who, realising its strategic importance made Ajmer the headquarters for his operations in Rajputana and Gujarat and constituted in into a subah. He also visited the shrine of the great Muslim saint, Khwaja muin-ud-din Chishti, several times and also to fulfil a vow that he would undertake such a journey on the birth of a son.

          Ajmer is connected with a number of remarkable events. Sir Thomas Roe, the ambassador of king James I of England, presented his credentials to Jahangir here on January 10,1616, Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Shah Jahan, was born at ajmer. The war of succession among the sons of Shah Jahan was won in 1659 by Aurangzed in the battle of Dorai near Ajmer.

PALACES OF INTEREST

• Dargah Khwaja Shaib.

• Adhai-din-ka-jhonpra.

• Taragarh Fort.

• Magazine (Akbar’s Palaces).

• Nasiyan (Jain Temple).

• Foy sagar.

• Bajrang garh

SITES NEARBY

• Pushkar Lake.

• Kishan Garh.

• Mangliyawas.

• Beawar