About Ajmer Sharif Dargah
The 13th-century dargah of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti — 'Gharib Nawaz' (Benefactor of the Poor) — a white-marble tomb complex at the foot of the Taragarh hill where Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Christians queue side by side under the same rose-garlanded gate.
History
Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti was born in Sistan (present-day Iran) in 1141 CE, received the spiritual succession of the Chishtiyya order in Baghdad, and after a divine vision walked to India via Lahore and Delhi, finally settling in Ajmer in 1192 — just as the Second Battle of Tarain brought Muhammad of Ghor to the Rajput capital. He preached love, service and tolerance for 44 years, died in 1236, and was buried in the chamber where he had taken his forty-day seclusion. The dargah as we see it was endowed by Mughal emperors: Humayun built the basalt dome, Akbar walked barefoot 400 km from Agra in 1570 after his son Salim's birth and presented the giant deg (cooking cauldron) that still feeds thousands, and Shah Jahan added the white-marble Shahjahani Masjid. The dargah is Sunni-Chishtiyya but its doors are deliberately open to every faith — the 800-year-old principle of Sulh-i-Kul (universal reconciliation).
Best Time to Visit
October to March
Travel Tips
- Cover your head — handkerchiefs are sold for ₹10 at the Nizam Gate
- Chadar (rose-petal offering) ranges from ₹100 to ₹10,000; negotiate outside, not inside the Buland Darwaza
- Wednesday and Thursday qawwali at the Mehfil Khana start after evening prayer (around 7 p.m.)
- Pair with a morning at Pushkar Brahma Temple (15 km) — the only one of its kind in India
Famous Food in Ajmer Sharif Dargah
Temples & Heritage Sites
- Taragarh Fort and the Miran Saheb dargah above the town
- Adhai Din ka Jhonpra — a 12th-century mosque built from dismantled Jain/Hindu temple columns
- Pushkar Brahma Temple — 15 km, the only Brahma temple of pilgrimage rank in India
How to Reach Ajmer Sharif Dargah
Ajmer Sharif Dargah is located in Rajasthan, India at coordinates 26.4572°N, 74.6277°E. You can reach Ajmer Sharif Dargah by air (nearest airport in Rajasthan), train, or road. Use YatraJunction's free fare calculator to compare live train, bus and flight prices, and to build an AI-powered itinerary tailored to your budget and travel dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best time to visit Ajmer Sharif Dargah?
- The best time to visit Ajmer Sharif Dargah is October to March.
- What are the top travel tips for Ajmer Sharif Dargah?
- Cover your head — handkerchiefs are sold for ₹10 at the Nizam Gate. Chadar (rose-petal offering) ranges from ₹100 to ₹10,000; negotiate outside, not inside the Buland Darwaza. Wednesday and Thursday qawwali at the Mehfil Khana start after evening prayer (around 7 p.m.). Pair with a morning at Pushkar Brahma Temple (15 km) — the only one of its kind in India.
- What food is famous in Ajmer Sharif Dargah?
- Famous dishes in Ajmer Sharif Dargah include: Sohan halwa at Madanlal Halwai — Ajmer's signature sweet since 1895, Kadhi-kachori at Daal Baati Choorma, near Jama Masjid, Degh-ki-biryani distributed from the Akbari Deg on festival days.
