Ajmer-e-sharif

Standing at the heart of a bustling street, Ajmer-e-Sharif is one of the most sanctified Sufi shrines in the country. Dargah Sharif or Ajmer-e-Sharif invites devotees from across the globe, who come to pay homage to Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. He was known for his secular ideologies and noble teachings pertaining to peace. The street outside the Dargah is lined with shops selling a wide range of articles like perfumes, sweets, flowers and 'chadars' or cloth, which are offered to Khwaja. As one enters the Dargah, one needs to go through a series of massive doors made of silver with striking carvings. They open into a courtyard that houses the tomb of Moinuddin Chishti, carved out of marble. The Dargah has a gold plating on top and is guarded by a railing made of silver and a marble screen. The evening rituals include Mehfil-e-Sama, which is an enthralling experience for visitors. Don't miss the massive cooking utensil called badi deg while you are leaving the Dargah compound. It is believed that throwing money in the vessel will make all your wishes come true.

Ajmer-e-sharif

Adhai-din-ka-jhonpra

Located on the outskirts of the city, adhai-din-ka-jhonpra is a significant tourist site that has been built in the Indo-Islamic style of architecture. It is the ruins of a mosque that went by the same name. The word 'adhai' means two and a half in Hindi and it is said that the mosque was constructed in two and a half days. Designed by Abu Bakr of Herat, the adhai-din-ka-jhonpra has 10 domes, which are supported by more than 100 pillars. The walls of the main hall are chiselled into small screens to allow sunlight to enter. The mosque's interior has a main hall supported by numerous richly decorated columns. The adhai-din-ka-jhonpra can be visited after you have made your prayers at the Dargah Shareef, which lies 500 m away.

Adhai-din-ka-jhonpra

Pushkar

Sprawled around the serene Pushkar Lake, the quaint town of Pushkar boasts a dramatic landscape of sand dunes, lakes, hills and forests. Steeped in spirituality, Pushkar, literally translated means lotus flower, and is believed to be the seat of Lord Brahma. Thus, Pushkar is among the rare places to house a temple of Lord Brahma. A red-spired structure that was built during the 14th century CE, it invites devotees from far and wide. Legend has it that Lord Brahma once dropped a lotus on the ground, leading to the immediate creation of a lake, which he later named after the flower.

 

Pushkar