Ajmer, India: travel guide
Sufi shrine city beside lakes, forts and the road to Pushkar
Pilgrimage hub of the Dargah Sharif of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, drawing millions of devotees and serving as gateway to Pushkar.
About Ajmer
Ajmer is a city of the Aravalli hills in Rajasthan, best known for the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, the shrine of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. Pilgrims of many faiths come here, and the streets around it are loud with music, rose petals and sweet stalls.
Other things to do in Ajmer include seeing Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra, a ruined mosque with finely carved arches, walking beside Ana Sagar Lake, and visiting the Jain temple of Soniji Ki Nasiyan with its remarkable golden models. Taragarh Fort sits high above the town for wider views.
Ajmer is also the practical gateway to Pushkar, a short drive away. It suits pilgrims and history-minded travellers, and the best time to visit Ajmer is from October to March, when the weather is mild.
- Country
- India
- Currency
- INR
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
Last updated
Top places to visit in Ajmer
Ajmer Sharif Dargah
Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · free entry
The revered Sufi shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, one of South Asia's holiest Islamic pilgrimage sites, drawing devotees of all faiths amid qawwali and rose petals.
Ana Sagar Lake
Nature · 4.3 rating · about 1.3 h · free entry
A large 12th-century artificial lake with the marble Baradari pavilions built by Shah Jahan, a breezy spot for boating and sunset strolls.
Soniji Ki Nasiyan (Golden Jain Temple)
temple · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
A 19th-century Digambara Jain temple whose double-storey hall holds a dazzling gilded model of the Jain conception of the universe in gold and glass.
Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra
Heritage · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · free entry
A striking 12th-century mosque converted from a Sanskrit college, its seven-arched screen and carved pillars a rare early Indo-Islamic monument.
Taragarh Fort
Fort · 4.3 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
A rugged hilltop fort above the city offering commanding views, ancient battlements and the Miran Saheb dargah, reached by a steep winding road.
Nareli Jain Temple
temple · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A serene modern marble Digambara Jain complex on the city's edge, blending traditional and contemporary architecture amid the Aravalli foothills.
Akbari Fort & Museum
Museum · 4.2 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Akbar's 1570 fort-palace (Magazine), now the Ajmer Government Museum, displaying Rajput and Mughal armour, sculptures and miniatures.
Foy Sagar Lake
Nature · 4.2 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
A picturesque artificial lake built in 1892 during a famine-relief project, ringed by Aravalli hills — a calm spot for sunset and photography.
Baradari (Daulat Bagh)
Heritage · 4.2 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
The marble pavilions and gardens laid out by Shah Jahan along Ana Sagar's embankment, a graceful Mughal-era promenade over the water.
Mayo College
Heritage · 4.3 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
A grand 1875 white-marble Indo-Saracenic campus, the "Eton of the East", whose stately main building is admired for its colonial-Rajput architecture.
Things to do
- Ajmer Sharif Dargah Ziyarat Cultural · 1.5 h · from INR 500 per person
- Ana Sagar Lake Boating Activity · 0.8 h · from INR 150 per person
- Pushkar Day Trip from Ajmer Cultural · 5 h · from INR 1,000 per person
- Taragarh Fort Heritage Walk Cultural · 2.5 h · from INR 800 per person
Day trips and tours
- Ajmer & Pushkar Combined Day 10 h · from INR 2,200
- Ajmer City & Dargah Tour 8 h · from INR 1,500
- Ajmer Heritage & Lakes Tour 5 h · from INR 1,200
Where to stay in Ajmer
- Dargah Area about INR 1,500 per night
Sacred shrine area with budget accommodation
Hotels
- The Ananta Spa & Resort 5-star · INR 7,000 to INR 13,000 per night
- Hotel Mansingh Palace Ajmer 4-star · INR 4,500 to INR 8,000 per night
- Hotel Merwara Estate 4-star · INR 4,000 to INR 7,500 per night
- Ambassador Hotel Ajmer 4-star · INR 3,500 to INR 6,000 per night
- Hotel Embassy 3-star · INR 2,500 to INR 4,500 per night
- Zostel Ajmer 2-star · INR 500 to INR 1,700 per night
Where to eat
- Madina Hotel Mughlai, Biryani · about INR 250 per person
- Honeydew Restaurant North Indian, Chinese, Continental · about INR 450 per person
- Jannat Restaurant Mughlai, North Indian, Biryani · about INR 350 per person
- Mango Masala North Indian, Italian, Cafe · about INR 400 per person
- Daawat Restaurant North Indian, Chinese · about INR 350 per person
- Elite Restaurant Mughlai, North Indian · about INR 250 per person
- Sheesh Mahal (Ana Sagar) North Indian, Chinese, Tandoor · about INR 500 per person
- Bombay Sweets & Namkeen Sweets, Snacks, North Indian · about INR 150 per person
Getting to Ajmer
Nearest airport: Jaipur (JAI), about 124 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
Getting around
- Auto Rickshaw
- Taxi
- Walking
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Frequently asked questions about Ajmer
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Ajmer?
- The highest-rated places in our Ajmer guide are Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Soniji Ki Nasiyan (Golden Jain Temple), Nareli Jain Temple, Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra, Ana Sagar Lake.
- Where should I stay in Ajmer?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Ajmer: Dargah Area.
- How do I get around Ajmer?
- Ways to get around Ajmer covered in our guide: Auto-rickshaw, Taxi, Walking.