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The city of Ajmer is famous as a pilgrimage site. It houses
the Dargah, or tomb, of the popular 13th-century, Sufi saint Hazrat Khwaja
Moinuddin Hasan Chisti. The city also boasts of a number of monuments dating
back to the Mughal era. The city is also well known for its traditional
handicrafts industry.
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The small town of Ajmer, 78 miles west of Jaipur, played a
surprisingly important role in India's history. Set at the point where the
rocky Aravalli Hills end and the Thar Desert begins, this was originally the
stronghold of the powerful Chauhan Dynasty of Rajputs, who built India's first
ever hill fort here in the 7th century. Ajmer was founded by a Rajput
chieftain Ajayapal Chauhan, who also built first hill fort in India, the Tara
Garh. As the fort was supposed to be invincible, it was named Ajai Meru (the
Invincible Hill). Ajmer was brought under the control of Delhi Sultanate in
1193, when Prithvi Raj Chauhan was defeated by Mohammed Ghori. It was later
returned to the local chieftains albeit for a small tribute. Ajmer also played
an important role in paving the way for British East India Company in India.
In 1616, Jehangir met ambassador of King James, Sir Thomas Roe. That was the
first meeting between any Mughal Emperor and representatives of Britain. In
the 17th century, Shahjahan built marble pavilions around the Ana Sagar Lake.
The Taragarh Fort was damaged badly during the Mughal war of succession
between Aurangzeb and Dara Shikoh. Schindi Rulers of Gwalior took over Ajmer
in the mid 18th century, to be handed over to the British in 1818. |