Showing posts with label Historical Places. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Historical Places. Show all posts

January 25, 2012

Jannati Darwaza - Ajmer Shareef

Jannati Darwaza - Ajmer Shareef


This gate too is situated on the western side of the Shrine adjacent to the tomb of Gaiti Ara. The doors of the gate are covered with silver metal. It is opened only four times during the year, viz twice on ids (for one day) during the annual Urs (for six days) and on the 6th of Shawwal, the Urs of Khwaja Saheb's Pir.

Ibadat Khana (Place of Recitation)

Ibadat Khana (Place of Recitation)

The two enclosures situated just outside the southern gate of the Shrine adjacent to the tomb of Bibi-Hafiz Jamal bear the graves of some of the early descendants. The Holy Quran is recited by the devotees especially by ladies in these enclosures and the reward of this virtuous action is offered to the noble soul of Hazrat Khwaja Saheb.

Mazar (tomb) of Khwaja Sahib's Daughter - Ajmer Shareef

Mazar (tomb) of Khwaja Sahib's Daughter - Ajmer Shareef


The Mazar of Bibi Hafiz Jamal, daughter of Khwaja Sahib, is situated to the south of the Shrine
There is a small dome with a kalas on top of it. The doors of this tomb are plated with silver.

Victoria Tank (Hauz) - Ajmer Shareef

Victoria Tank (Hauz) - Ajmer Shareef


In memory of Queen Mary's visit to the Shrine, the roof of the tank was constructed by the British Government for the convenience of the worshippers.

Langer Khana (Free Kitchen) - Alangar - Ajmer Shareef

Langer Khana (Free Kitchen) - Alangar - Ajmer Shareef


Langar Khana is a free public kitchen where about 5 mounds of barley meal is cooked twice a day and distributed to the poor without any discrimination.

Buland Darwaza - Ajmer shareef

Buland Darwaza - Ajmer shareef


Buland Darwaza is a high entrance that was erected by Mahmood Khilji or one of his successors. Before the commencement of Urs Sharif a flag is hoisted on top of this gate with grand ceremony on the 25th Jamadiulsaani for ushering the 'Urs' of Khwaja Saheb, which starts from 1st of Rajab (The 7th month of lunar Calendar)

Akbari Masjid - Ajmer Shareef



Akbari Masjid - Ajmer Shareef

Shahjahani Gate - Ajmer Shareef



Shahjahani Gate - Ajmer Shareef

Immediately following the Nizam gate is the Shahjahani gate erected by Emperor Shahjahan. Before the construction of the Nizam Gate this used to be the main gate. Above the gate the Kalma Sharif is inscribed in a beautiful style. The doors are made of fine timber covered with silver-plated metal. In the building above the gate there are two huge beating drums.

Nizam Gate - Ajmer Shareef

Nizam Gate of Ajmer Shareef




Mir Osman Ali Khan, The Nizam of Hyderabad Deccan, erected the main gate of the Dargah Sharif in 1911. Upstairs small drums beat, during the day and night at an appointed hour. A view of Dargah Bazaar can be seen from the top of the gate.

Chilla Bare Pir Sahib

Chilla Bare Pir Sahib

On the top of a hill in the South of Dargah Sharif is a green coloured tomb. It is said that a brick of holy Mazar of hazrat Piran-e-Pir Dastagir (R.A.) is buried. That is why the place is famous as Chillah Bare Pir Sahib, otherwise Hazrat Piran Pir (R.A) never came to India.

Ana Sagar,

Ana Sagar


Ana Sagar is a beautiful lake in the heart of the city. There is a high hill on the south western side of Ana Sagar, known as Sada Bahar hil, On the South western corner of the hill is a small cave having a Tomb on the Top of it. Khwaja Gharib Nawaz (R.A.) took seclusion here for the first time. He used to sit on the stone-bench lying inside the Chillah Sharif and engaged himself in Contemplation.

On the North-Eastern side of Sada Bahar is located the Chillah of Hazrat Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar kaki (R.A.). It is the place where Hazrat engaged himself in prayers when in Ajmer

Taragah. Taragadh

Taragah. Taragadh, Taragad, Ajmer Shareef


During the reign of Qutubuddin Ebak, Syed Meeran Husain (R.A.) was the Garrison of Taragarh Fort. He also live in the fort. While playing polo in Lahore, Sultan Qutubuddin Ebak fell down from the back of the horse and died. As soon as the news of his death reached Ajmer, the Thakur and Rajput landlords of adjoining areas jointly launched a night atack on Taragarh and entered the fort It was totally dark and the Muslims were sleeping unaware. Most of them were slashed. rest of them were awaken in a panic and started resisting. But they were smaller in number than the powerful enemy. at last they all were martyred. the enemies fled before the break of the day. Meeran Husain Khatak (R.A.) was also martyred in the attack.

When the Muslims of the city heard the news of the bloodshed there was a mass mourning. Knowing about the tragedy, Khwaja Gharib nawaz visited the fort with his followers and after the Namaz-e-Janaza, burried the martyres of Taragarh. Presently the ruins of the fort are left, but however everyone visits the Dargah of Hazrat Meeran Husain Khatak (R.A.) to pay the tributes.

Hazrat Meeran Husain (R.A.) was a great abstemious saint. He mostly used to be at the service of Gharib Nawaz (R.A.) as a staunch follower. His Urs falls on 17th and 18th Rajab every year.

Dhai Din Ki Masjid - Dhai Din ka Jhopra

Dhai Din ka Jhopra




One of the oldest and most interesting historical building of Ajmer, is Jama Al-tamish popularly known as Dhai-din-ka-Jhonpra, situating in Ankerkot at the foot of the Taragarh hill According to Tod Rajasthan " it is a relic of nobler days and architect and the antiquarian because of its multifarious artistic attractions.

The monumental mosque has, however, been the subject of diverse opinion about its origin. According to Ajmer Historical and Descriptive (by Dewan Bahadur Harbilas Sarda) it is claimed to be a Saraswati Mandir which is said to have been built in 1153 A. D. by Raja Visaldeva who was the first Chauhan Emperor of India. But according to the Arabic inscription appearing on the marble arch in the centre of the mosque and the convincing arguments advanced by the author of Main-ul-Arifin (P. 150-154) it is recognised to be a mosque ever since its origin which was built by Sultan Shahabuddin Ghori in 595 A. H. (12th century A.D.) wherein Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti himself (who came to Ajmer in 587 A. H.) is said to have offered his prayers for a considerable time. Later on, Sultan Shamsuddin Altamish of Delhi (607 to 633 A. H.) is reported to have built its present massive structure of red stone which was completed in 614 A. H. by Ali Ahmed mason under the supervision of one Mohammed Ariz - a claim which is also substantiated by another Arabic inscrition on its central arch. (Ahsan-us-Siar, P. 87-92). In any case, this magnificent mosque is one of the rare historic monuments of India.

General Cunningham., Director of Archaeology Government of India, who inspected this mosque in 1864 A. D., appears to have fallen into the error of accepting the common belief that it was built in Dhai-din i.e. two and a half days, as its name implies out of the material released from some demolished temples - a judgment which is difficult to believe in view of its extensive and massive stony structure replete with extremlely fine and most intricate workmanship on stone. It seems that only the smaller marble arch in the centre of the mosque may have been finished in 2-1/2 days to meet an emergency but the whole massive structure, with its elaborate Arabic tracings and delicate engraving details, is definitely a work of many years sustained labour.

Writing of the beautiful details of this marvellous edifice, Mr. Furgusson, author of the Eastern and Indian Architecture (P. 513 ) says - "As example of surface decoration, the Jhonpra and the mosque of Al-tamish at Delhi are probably unrivalled. Nothing in Cairo or in Persia and nothing in Spain or Syria is so exquisite in detail and can approach them for beauty or surface decoration. The gorgeous prodigality of ornamental work , the fascinating richness of tracery, the delicate sharpness of finish, the fascinating richness of tracery, the delicate sharpness of finish, the endless variety of detail and the accurate and laborious workmanship, are eternal credit to its past Indian engineers and masons". There is a rich variety of Quranic verse inscribed all over the building to tax the brains of both inquisitive historians and the antiquarians alike . In short, it is a model of excellence in the art Indian architecture.

Important Historical Places of Ajmer Shareef - Sarwar Sharif

Sarwar Sharif

Hazrat Khwaja Fakhruddin (R.A.) was the eldest son of Khwaja Sahib (R.A.) who earned his livelihood by farming in Mandal town. He was a great saint and a scholar as well . After twenty years of Khwaja Sahib. (R.A.) death he died in Sarwar town, some 40 miles away from Ajmer. His Mazar is located near a pond in the town. His Urs is celebrated on the 3rd of Shaban every year with great fervour. He was blessed with five sons. One of his sons, Hazrat Khwaja Hussamuddin was a perfect Sufi. His grave is at Sanbar Sharif. Every year on 13 and 14 Rajab Urs is organised.

To Reach Sarwar Sherif You can take a ST bus from Ajmer Bus Stand which is 15 minutes away from the Dargah. or you can hire a Sumo. There is regular Bus after every half an hour from Ajmer to Sarwar. It take around two hous to reach Sarwar.

Tu Zinda Hai Wallah - Owais Raza Qadri