Ajmer

Ajmer, one of the twelve provinces created by Mughal emperor Akbar, shapes a part of Rajasthan’s innate history and cultural values. The city is a mixture of cultures extracted from Chauhan rule, Marathas and Mughals.Ajmer was discovered in the 7th century, but it was only when the great Prithvi Raj Chauhan ruled the city for 13 years which flipped its history upside down. In the 12th century,  Mohammed Ghori, an Afghan ruler defeated Prithvi Raj Chauhan. Later on, in 1556 Akbar took over Ajmer and made it headquarter for all the campaigns in the state of Rajasthan. There are a notable number of Mughal monuments and mosques which depicts its rich Mughal history. Ajmer is the land of Hazrat Khwaja Muin-ud-Din Chisti who preached competent and worthy values. Until 1950, Ajmer was governed by a chief commissioner appointed by the President of India. Later in the year 1956, it was merged into the state of Rajasthan.

Ajmer is a godly city embedded with calmness and composure. Ajmer is a perfect destination for tourists. The city is known for its historic shrine of Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti and also it offers a variety of places to visit, live, click and shop. The local street markets are popular among tourists because people get to buy traditional stuff which reflects the beauty and culture of Rajasthan. The lively markets of Ajmer are well-known for its exquisite momentoes such as embroidered apparels and shoes, silver and lac jewellery, black metal showpieces, handmade jute bags and more. Here are the most eminent markets of Ajmer for shopping:

Dargah Bazaar

Dargah Bazaar is located near Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti’s shrine and the market extends on either sides to fulfil all the needs of pilgrims visiting the Dargah which include items like chaddars made out of flowers, sweets, flowers, incense sticks and scarfs. In addition to this, there are many shops selling delicious non-vegetarian delicacies and instinctive handicrafts. The market is all about bargaining, the more is your expertise in this field more bucks will you save.

Nalla Bazaar

Nalla Bazaar is famous for its ethnic apparels and accessories collection. The market opens at 9 in the morning and closes around 10 pm. People can also enjoy the mouth-watering Rajasthani delights served at restaurants across the market.

Mahila Mandi

As the name suggests, it is a market for shopaholic women where they can find ‘A to Z’ of their traditional wardrobe fantasies. Mahila Mandi sells a bountiful variety of entities including bangles, embroidered kurtis and Rajasthani jackets, mojaris (embroidered shoes), bagatelles, odhnis, Bandhini art, ittar, Rajasthani lehenga-cholis, tie and dye fabrics and printed scarfs. The market is also famous for its kulfi-faluda speciality.

Naya Bazaar

As you will enter into the premises of Naya Bazaar the fragrance of ittar will blow your mind. Naya Bazaar, located near the famous Raghunath temple, always smells irresistibly good and fresh. Furthermore, there are shops which sell products like wooden art, miniature paintings, idols for worship, antique jewellery etc.  

Churi Bazaar

Churi Bazaar offers a variety of bangles made out of lac, silver, black metal, glass etc. The market opens at 10 in the morning till 9 in the night.

One of the many beautiful cities of Rajwadi Rajasthan, Ajmer is another go-to destination for lovers of Rajasthani aura and aesthetics. Widely famous for the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, Ajmer also stands out as the base for reaching Pushkar, the city of Lord Brahma. Pushkar is one of the few places where Lord Brahma's temple can be found. Surrounded by the range of Aravali Hills, the city boasts of an exquisite blend of Mughal Jharokhas and Forts, Sufi Dargah, serene lakes and Jain temples.

If you are a shopaholic, explore the streets of Ajmer for its handpicked collection of a wide range of souvenirs, handicrafts, accessories and a lot more. You can soak in the beauty of the lakes or meander your way along the uphills to Pushkar. Ajmer has also been selected as one of the heritage cities for the HRIDAY (Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana) scheme of the Government of India.

If you happen to visit Ajmer in November, you cannot miss out the Pushkar Mela, the five-day long gala local fair. One of the world's largest livestock and camel fair, Pushkar fair stands apart for its colourful revelry, folk traditions, vibrant music and folk dances. If you are enthusiastic about the Ship of the Desert, Camel Safari is a must for you! The local sightseeing on camel rides is a loved experience to take away.

Ajmer's cuisine derives much of its spice, excitement and colour from the street food here. The must haves here are the Chaat, Samosa, Kachori and Kadi-Bhujje. These are popular and widespread in Ajmer's street and can be the most enjoyable. Other than these, Ajmer has a number of restaurants which offer various vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
View Top Restaurants in Ajmer

Day 1: Reach Ajmer by morning. Freshen up and relax for a while. Later, you can head towards the Ajmer Sharif Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. Remember to take a scarf or a dupatta to cover your head. After visiting the Dargah, you can head towards the Adhai Din ka Jhopra mosque. The marvellous ruins boast of an exquisite architectural delight, with pillars, domes and platforms. Take a break for lunch; Ajmer is famous for its traditional Rajasthani cuisine. You can also try street snacks or mouth-watering sweetmeats. Head towards the Akbari Fort and museum to feast your eyes at the Mughal architecture and Rajput sculptures. The museum was once the resident of Prince Salim, Akbar's son. Later, wind up your day at the banks of the famous Ana Sagar Lake.
Day 2: After breakfast, you can visit Soniji ki Nasiyan. The Jain Temple is famous for its chamber, the 'Swarna Nagri' or the 'City of Gold' (Ayodhya), depicting the various aspects of Jain ideology. You can later visit the ruins of Taragarh to have a magnificent bird's eye view of the city. Post this, head towards Nareli Jain Temple of lake Foy Sagar. Alternately, you can shop at the local market to your heart's content.
Day 3 You can now head out to Pushkar for a day or two if you still have time or you can go back and visit Pushkar later.