| The Urs or annual pilgrimage of the devout is
celebrated each May at the Dargah with millions of pilgrims arriving in Ajmer to pay
homage. Lengthy queues of several kilometres snake their way past the tomb at the shrine
while outside the Dargah precincts, two massive cauldrons cook sweet rice garnished with
dry fruits and condiments to be served as ‘tabarukh’ or sanctified food. Within
the dargah lies a mosque, built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Like all of Shah
Jahan’s buildings, the mosque too, is an architectural marvel - a magnificent
building in white marble with a long and narrow courtyard for the faithful to pray in,
richly embellished with ornate calligraphic inscriptions, delicate carvings and detailed
trelliswork. Getting
there and around
Although Ajmer does not have an airport of its own, there is an
airport at Jaipur (130 km away), from where regular buses and taxis come to Ajmer.
Ajmer is very well linked by train; there are frequent (in many
cases daily) trains to and from the city to other destinations in India, including Delhi,
Mumbai and Jaipur. Delhi is connected to Ajmer by the fast Shatabdi Express, easily the
quickest and most comfortable way of getting to Ajmer.
A good national and state highway network links Ajmer to other parts
of Rajasthan and many important cities in India. Hired transport is easily available, be
it cars, jeeps, minibuses or MUVs and almost all come with experienced drivers. State and
interstate roadways buses, RTDC conducted tours and coaches connect Ajmer to most
important cities in the region, including Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner,
Mt. Abu, Jaisalmer, Mumbai and Delhi.
Within the city, rented cars, local buses,
auto-rickshaws and cycle rickshaws are the means of transport available.
When to go
The best time to visit the Dargah is during the annual
Urs of Moinuddin Chishti in May. Even if you’re unable to make it to Ajmer for the
Urs, time your visit for the winter instead- summer all across Rajasthan means hot, dry
weather which can take some getting used to. Winters are much more pleasant and
comfortable.
Accommodation and other facilities
There is a wide
variety of hotel accommodation for travellers to Ajmer to choose from - deluxe, standard
and economy, depending on the budget and choice of hotel. A heritage hotel will cost more
than a deluxe while RTDC provides decent, clean accommodation at reasonable prices albeit
with few frills.
The Tourist Office
will be able to assist those travellers looking for paying guest accommodation with local
families. Hotels are booked to capacity during the Urs in May, so make sure you have
reservations done well ahead of time.
Further information on Ajmer and the Dargah can be
obtained from the local RTDC offices at the RTDC-operated Hotel Khadim (Tel:0145-2627426
). The RTDC also has a tourist information counter at the local railway station. |
