DESTINATION INDIA

Rajasthan(PART-VII)

Ajmer

Ajmer is the 5th largest city in Rajasthan and is the centre of the eponymous Ajmer District. Auspicious Ajmer, the scred secular town, is surrounded by the Aravalli Mountains. It is a pilgrimage centre for the shrine of the Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti and is also the base for visiting Pushkar (11 km), an ancient Hindu pilgrimage city, famous for the temple of Brahma.

 

Dargah Khwaja Sahib

 

Dargah Khwaja Sahib, is the final resting place of the great Sufi Saint-Khwaja Moinuddin Chishit, popularly known as "Garib Newaz" or the "protector of the poor".
Millions of pilgrims from all over the world come here to seek the blessings and pay homage to the Khwaja, by offering chadars at the grave of the holy soul.
The great gate, Buland Darwaza, leads to the second courtyard. The grave of the saint lies in a magnificent domed chamber in the center of the second courtyard.
Qawwals from all over the world come here to sing qawwalis in the praise of the saint.
The six day celebration of the Urs or death anniversary of Khwaja is the most imortant event of Ajmer. During this time millions of devotees from all sects and regions gather here. It is said that when Khwaja was 114 years old, he locked himself in a room to pray. Six days later, when disciples brock the door, they found his mortal remins.

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Adhai-din ka Jhonpra

 

The mosque is believed to have been built in two and a half days, thus named Adhai-din (two and a half days). Another belief is that its name is attributed to a two and a half day fair held nearby each year. The edifice was originally a Sanskrit college, but Muhammad Ghori converted it into a mosque in 1198 and built a seven-arched wall inscribed with verses from the Koran
Designed by Abu Bakr of Herat, the mosque is a fair example of early Indo-Islamic architecture and is built from masonry taken from broken down Hindu and Jain temples. Colonel James Tod, the Britisher who was the first to map Rajasthan and write about it in immense detail, describes the Adhai-din ka Jhonpra as a temple in his book Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan Volume I. Mahammad Ghori used local masons and artisans to break down this originally Sanskrit centre of learning and built a mosque in its place. Perhaps that is the reason why the mosque was completed in two and a half days, for the original infrastructure must already have existed.

Mayo College

 

 

It was established in 1875, for providing education to the children of the royal families in the country. The school was named after Lord Mayo, the Governor General of India in that period. Today, it is one of the premiere educational institutions of India and is open to everybody. There is a museum displaying historical objects of interest and biological preservation.

Ana Sagar Lake

The Baradari

Ana Sagar Lake is an artificial lake situated in the city of Ajmer in Rajasthan state. It is was built by Anaji Chauhan in 1135 -1150 AD and is named after him. The catchments (drainage basin) were built with the help of local populace. The Baradari or pavilions were built by Shahjahan in 1637 and Daulat Bagh Gardens by Jehangir. The lake is spread over 13 Kilometers. There is a Circuit house on a hill near the lake that used to be British Residency. There is an island in the center of the lake which is accessible by boat or water scooter. Boats and water scooters could be hired from the east side of the Dault Bagh. The lake gets dry every summar. The Rajasthan High Court has banned construction in the catchment areas of the lake basins. This is one of the beautiful lakes in India.

Pushkar

 

Camel Fair, Pushkar

Pushkar is a town in the Ajmer district in Rajasthan. It is situated 14 km (8.7 mi) northwest of Ajmer and is one of the five sacred dhams (pilgrimage site) for devout Hindus. Pushkar is one of the oldest existing cities of India. It lies on the shore of Pushkar Lake. The date of its actual origin is not known, but legend associates Lord Brahma with its creation.
Pushkar has many temples. Most of the temples are not very old because many temples were destroyed during Muslim conquests in the area. Subsequently, the destroyed temples were rebuilt. The most famous among all is the Brahma Temple built during the 14th century CE. And the Pushkar Lake. Pushkar is also famous for its annual fair (Pushkar Camel Fair) held in November.

 

Pushkar Lake

 

 

Pushkar Lake or Pushkar Sarovar is located in the town of Pushkar in Ajmer district of the Rajasthan state of western India. Pushkar Lake is a sacred lake of the Hindus. The Hindu scriptures describe as it as "Tirtha-Raj" – the king of pilgrimage sites related to a water-body and relate it to the mythology of the creator-god Brahma, whose most prominent temple stands in Pushkar. The Pushkar Lake finds mention on coins as early as the 4th century BC.
Pushkar Lake is surrounded by 52 bathing ghats (a series of steps leading to the lake), where pilgrims throng in large numbers to take a sacred bath, especially around Kartik Poornima (October–November) when the Pushkar Fair is held. A dip in the sacred lake is believed to cleanse sins and cure skin diseases. Over 500 Hindu temples are situated around the lake precincts.

Jagatpita Brahma Mandir

 

 

Jagatpita Brahma Mandir is a Hindu temple situated at Pushkar, close to the sacred Pushkar Lake to which its legend has an indelible link. The temple is one of very few existing temples dedicated to the Hindu creator-god Brahma in India and remains the most prominent among them.

Although the present temple structure dates to the 14th century, the temple is believed to be 2000 years old. The temple is mainly built of marble and stone stabs. The temple sanctum sanctorum holds the central images of Brahma and his second consort Gayatri.

The temple is governed by the Sanyasi (ascetic) sect priesthood. On Kartik Poornima, a festival dedicated to Brahma is held when large number of pilgrims visit the temple, after bathing in the sacred lake.

Rangji temple

 

The Rangji temple shines out reflecting the spectacular blend of cultures of Rajasthan. The temple has been constructed in South Indian style (though the mughal architecture peeks from a few points) and boasts of a high rising Gopuram which is very graceful. The temple is unique and is revered as the top three temples of Pushkar.

The Rangji temple is dedicated to Rangji, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Built by Seth Puran Mal Ganeriwal in 1823, this temple has been attracting the pilgrims for its South Indian style rituals and essence.