Voyagetoindia » North India » Travel to Rajasthan

Located in the heart of Rajasthan, Ajmer is small town with a very interesting past. It was founded in the 7th century A.D by Raja Ajai Pal Chauhan. When you visit Ajmer today, it is difficult to imagine that this small city was that one time the seat of power of the Chauhan dynasty. It was from Ajmer that the last Hindu ruler of Delhi, Prithviraj Chauhan, controlled a major part of northern India. The legendry Prithivraj lived here and became a force to reckon with. Today, Ajmer is more important as the final resting - place of the great Sufi saint - Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. Muslims from all over the world revere the Dargah Sharif, where the saint lies buried. This has been so far centuries now. While you are around the dargha, don't miss seeing the beautiful Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra with its ornate calligraphic inscriptions. There are other areas of interest like the Taragarh Fort and the Anna Sagar lake with its marble pavilions.

Lying in the north of the desert state, the city is dotted with scores of sand dunes. Bikaner retains the medieval grandeur that permeates the city's lifestyle. More readily called the camel country, the city is distinguished for the best riding camels in the world and hence boasts of having one of the largest Camel research and breeding farm in the world. The ship of the desert is an inseparable part of life here. A camel besides doing transportation duties, also works on wells. These are built on high plinths with slender minarets on each of the four corners and can be noticed even from a distance.

The strategic location of Bikaner on the ancient caravan routes that came from West/Central Asia made it a prime trade centres in those times. Bikaner stands on a slightly raised ground and is circumscribed by a seven km long embattled wall with five gates. The magnificent forts and palaces, created with delicacy in reddish-pink sandstone, bear testimony to its rich historical and architectural legacy. Surging lanes, colourful bazaars with bright and cheerful folks make Bikaner an interesting experience to explore.