Ajmer was the capital
of the Chauhan kingdom and the last Hindu ruler of Delhi,
Prithviraj Chauhan, who was killed fighting Mohammed Ghori.
Now it is treasured as the final resting place of the
great Sufi saint, Kwaja Moinuddin Chisti, whose Dargah
Shariif is visited by lacs of Muslims every year during
Urs. The Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra near the Dargah carries
ornate calligraphic inscriptions.
The Hindus travel 11 kilometers further to Pushkar whose
holy lake is said to have been created by Brahma. Pushkar
has over 400 temples and 52 ghats and the only Brahma
temple in the country making it as important as Benaras
or Puri. In the mid-60s, it was a popular haunt of the
beat generation and even today Pushkar is fairly anglicised.
The Pushkar cattle fair is one of the most photographed
events.
Merta is a quite untouristy 16th century town
whose famous Charbhuja temple was patronised by saint
poetess Meera Bhai. Nagaur is fascinating small town in
another way. The center of attraction is a painstakingly
restored fort that has magnificent palaces, temples and
mansions partly built by Akbar and Shah Jahan. Wall frescoes
combine Persian and Nagaur styles and temple murals depict
episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharat. |
