Historical Places In Ajmer

The city is surrounded by Aravalli mountains and other places of historical importance like Pushkar and Kishangarh. It is said that the old name of Ajmer was Ajayameru. This word translates to ‘Invincible Hills’. There are speculations as to who established the city. It is said either Ajayaraja I or Ajayaraja II, both Chauhan rulers, led to the foundation of Ajmer. The city during those times was the capital of Chahamana up till 12th century CE. This has been verified by a text called Prithviraja Vijaya belonging to this time period. However, the name of the city is said to have appeared in an earlier text called Pattavali (by Palha) as well which was later written down again. Combining all the dates and the time periods of the texts and other relevant information where the name of Ajmer appears, it seems so that the city came into formation sometime before 1113 CE.

The rich history of Ajmer doesn’t end here. With the many empires and kingdoms that later came and won the city established their supremacy leaving behind hordes of stories and marks of history. The Mughals ruled this city and this is when Ajmer witness the birth of Mughal prince Dara Shikoh and a powerful Mughal princess called Jahanara Begum. Later, when the Britishers took over India, Ajmer was also a part of the kingdom. When India got independent in the year 1947, Ajmer continued its legacy of being an independent state, separate from the identity of the new India. Later, it got merged into the Rajputana province which later came to be known as Rajasthan.

A grand mosque located in the heart of the city of Ajmer, Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra is one of the primary historical places in the city. The place is known for its rich history and amazing architecture. The structure is a composition of both Hindu and Islamic styles of architecture. The place used to be a temple that was later converted into a mosque when the Ghoris took over the city. The monument has now become a perfect amalgamation of both religions and cultures.

Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra, one of the historical places in Ajmer Rajasthan, also has an inscription that was said to have been issued by Vigraharaja IV. This piece of history translates to tell that that the apparent founder of the city, Ajayaraja II moved his home to the city of Ajmer. The king later expanded the area of the city and led to the construction of many palaces and other structures. This is how he moved the capital of Chahamana to Ajmer from Shakambhari.

A temple complex that came into the formation during the 19th century, Ajmer Jain Temple is one of the iconic historical places. The structure is known for its amazing architecture and the various exhibits and features that the temple holds. Many rich materials and minerals were used for its construction, making it an interesting feature. In fact, the main chamber here is called the ‘City of Gold’ as it showcases the entire story of the Indian mythological text Ramayana through many scenes made out of pure gold.

A popular Jain temple in Ajmer, Nareli Jain Temple has a rich history to it. The place is dedicated to the Tirtha of Digambar Jains and is known for its amazing architectural designs and carvings. The architectural styles employed here are that of contemporary and traditional combined together in perfect harmony.