Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Khwaja Garib Nawaz Rajasthan (Tour Guide)

Ajmer Sharif Dargah is the tomb of Khwaja Garib Nawaz or Khwaja Mohinuddin Chishti. Mohinuddin Chishti was a popular Sufi Saint who dedicated his whole life to spread the message of Islam. Apart from this, Ajmer Sharif Dargah is a site of pilgrimage in the Islamic religion. Also, this dargah has played a significant role in promoting Islam in India. Thousands of people from every religious background visit the Dargah every year. Major components of this dargah include Buland Darawaza, Dargah Shrine, Nizam Gate, and Jama Masjid.          

In this article, you will learn about the history, location, architecture, major events, celebrations, and daily ceremonies of the Dargah. Additionally, you will also learn about the best time to visit and different modes to reach this dargah.

History of Ajmer Sharif Dargah

Moinuddin Chishti was one of the most significant preachers of Islam in India in the 12^th and 13th centuries. He helped many poor people in his lifetime. Due to this, he is also called “  Khwaja Gharib Nawaz” or “ Benefactor of the poor.” He traveled all around the world to teach the teachings of Islam. Ultimately, Moinuddin Chishti decided to live in Ajmer. After he died in the 13^th century, his disciples decided to build a tomb as a tribute to him in Ajmer. Eventually, the Dargah was built by Sultan Ghiyasuddin Khilji in 1465. This dargah is an important pilgrimage site for Muslims even today.

Overview of Ajmer Sharif Dargah

Ajmer Sharif Dargah Timings

Amazing Facts about Ajmer Sharif Dargah

• The first person to pray in the Dargah was Muhammad Bin Tughlaq.
• This Dargah was a major source of water during the rule of Khwaja Garib Nawaz.
• Nizam Sikka was an ordinary resident of Ajmer city. He saved the life of Mughal Emperor Humayun. Consequently, he got to rule the Mughal empire for a day. You can find the tomb of Nizam Sikka in the Dargah.
• You can see 33 Quranic verses with 99 names of Allah on the walls of Jama Masjid.
• Ajmer Sharif Dargah distributes large amounts of food to the general public every day.

Best Time to Visit Ajmer Sharif Dargah

The best seasons to visit the Dargah are the monsoon and winter seasons (October to March). The weather conditions in these months are optimal for exploring the Dargah.  Additionally, you can witness the celebration of various festivals in these months in Ajmer. However, if you want to witness the celebration of the Urs Festival, plan your trip in May.

How to Reach Ajmer Sharif Dargah?

By Air: Travellers can reach Jaipur International Airport or Kishangarh Airport by flight. From Jaipur International Airport, you have to travel 135 kilometers by taxi to reach Ajmer. 

By train: You can reach Ajmer railway junction if you want to travel to Ajmer by train. Ajmer railway junction is connected to major cities like Delhi and Ahmedabad. After reaching Ajmer junction, hire a taxi to reach the Dargah.

 By Road: Tourists can use buses, taxis, or private vehicles to reach Ajmer from various cities. The most popular way  to reach Ajmer is through NH8. NH8 connects Ajmer to Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Udaipur. 

Once you reach Ajmer, you can take the help of any local transport to reach the Dargah.

Beautiful Architecture of Ajmer Sharif Dargah

The Dargah is constructed in the style of Mughal architecture. Inside the dargah, you can find the tomb of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, Nizam Gate, Jama Masjid, and Buland Darwaza. The whole dargah is built from marble, sandstone, and bricks. Apart from this, the Dargah consists of eight gates. These include Shahjahani Gate, Madar Gate, Delhi Gate, and Jannati Darwaza. You can also find a courtyard in the Dargah. Devotees sing qawwali and celebrate festivals in this courtyard. Further, Jhalara is a tank of water that devotees use to perform rituals in this dargah.

Daily Ceremonies at Ajmer Sharif Dargah

Khidmat

In Khidmat, devotees offer flowers in the dargah. The timings of the Khidmat ceremony are 4 AM in the morning and 3 PM in the afternoon. Khadims can perform the Khidmat ritual in the morning for about 1 hour. In the second Khidmat ceremony, all men can enter the tomb.  These men offer sandalwood and flowers.

Lighting

In the lighting ceremony, Khadims enter the tomb with candles. After that, Khadims make lamps from these candles. These lamps light up the tomb.  This ritual is performed 15 minutes before evening prayer.

Karka

Within 1 hour of Isha prayer, the Karka ceremony takes place. In this ceremony, the devotees exit the dargah. After that, Khadims clean the tomb. After cleaning, they come out of the tomb and ring the bell six times. The tomb closes after the qawwals perform Karka.

Sama (Qawwali)

Qawwals sing songs dedicated to Allah called qawwalis in mehfil-e-sama. Qawwals perform songs in front of the main tomb. Traditionally, qawwals praise the almighty and Khwaja Garib Nawaz with their songs. Apart from this, qawwalis spread the message of spirituality and unity.

Quran Recital

Reciting the Quran is an important ritual in the Dargah. Devotees recite the Quran at Jama Masjid and Alamgir Masjid to seek the blessings of the almighty and promote spiritual growth. To recite Quran, the dargah has many skilled devotees who have memorized the holy book by heart.

Urs Festival in Ajmer Sharif Dargah

Devotees in the Dargah celebrate the Urs Festival annually for 6 days. This festival is celebrated on the death anniversary of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in the seventh month of the Lunar calendar. On this day, visitors offer chadars in the dargah. Further, devotees perform qawali, light candles, and pray to Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. 

Events of Urs Festival

Here is a list of events conducted during the Urs Festival:

• Ziyarat: Ziyarat means visiting the dargah. Devotees from all over the world perform ziyarat during the Urs Festival. 
• Flag hoisting: The Flag Hoisting ceremony marks the beginning of the Urs Festival.
• Jannati Darwaza opening: Jannati Darwaza, or the “ door to heaven,” is also open for visitors during Urs celebrations. It is a common belief that crossing the door in a specified way guarantees a place in heaven.
• Qawali: Skilled Qawali singers perform every day during the Urs Festival. They perform to seek blessings from the Almighty and Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
• Candle Lighting: Khadims light candles in honour of Khwaja Garib Nawaz. They bless the devotees with these candles.
• Qalandars: Qalandars are people who have detached themselves from the material world. They give a traditional dance performance called “Dhamal.”
• Chhati Sharif: This day marks the end of the Urs Festival. As the story goes, Khwaja Garib Nawaz prayed to the almighty continuously and left the material world after 6 days. Hence, Chhati Sharif celebrates the union of Khwaja with the almighty.
• Badhaawa: Badhawa is a special type of recitation. Devotees perform Badhawa on the 6th day of the Urs Festival.
• Cannon Firing: The qul ceremony is the last ceremony of the festival. After this ceremony, the firing of cannons marks the end of the Urs Festival.

Popular Services of Ajmer Sharif Dargah

• Mannat in Dargah: A mannat is a prayer to the almighty with an intention to offer something in return. After your mannat is fulfilled, you must offer something in Ajmer Sharif Dargah.
• Langar: Langar is organized every month in the Chhati Festival. Devotees prepare 15 kg of biryani using spices, rice, and mutton. The dargah also organizes Langar during Urs Festival and Moharram.
• Special Dua: The dargah may organize a special prayer for you if you are suffering from any difficulty in your life. The people in Dargah will pray to the almighty on your behalf. Devotees can visit the official website of Ajmer Sharif Dargah to organize a special prayer.
• Shahi Chadar: Devotees may offer a shahi chadar to dargah for seeking the blessing of Khwaja Garib Nawaz. 
• Donation: You may donate to Ajmer Sharif Dargah for various things like Langar, Urs Festival, etc.
• Ziarat or visiting the dargah: The khuddams in the dargah will help you if you want to visit the dargah. You can contact a khuddam by visiting the official website of Ajmer Sharif Dargah.

Hotels Near Ajmer Sharif Dargah

There are a lot of hotels near Ajmer Sharif Dargah for devotees. Devotees should book a hotel according to their preference. For instance, some devotees may look for a luxury hotel while others may need a more affordable hotel.

Here is a list of hotels and their distance from Ajmer Sharif Dargah:

Major Attractions Near Ajmer Sharif Dargah

• Anasagar Lake
• Adhai Din Ka Jhopra
• Soniji ki Nasiyan
• Nareli Jain Temple
• Prithvi Raj Smarak
• Mayo College and Museum
• Akbar’s Palace and Museum
• Clock Tower
• Taragarh Fort

Rules of Ajmer Sharif Dargah

• Wear modest attire: Both men and women should dress modestly in Ajmer Sharif Dargah. Additionally, they should cover their heads with the help of a dupatta or handkerchief.
• Store footwear: You must not enter the dargah with any type of footwear. Deposit your footwear outside the dargah.
• Offerings: You should buy a chadar ( a decorated cloth) or flowers at the tomb of Khwaja Garib Nawaz. 
• Recite Dua: Devotees must recite prayers(dua) in Ajmer Sharif Dargah to respect the culture of the dargah.
• Maintain silence: It is important to maintain utmost silence in Ajmer Sharif Dargah to respect the customs of the Dargah.

Tips to Visit Ajmer Sharif Dargah

• Wear cotton clothes to visit in summer.
• Covering the head is very important in the dargah. Women should cover their heads with a dupatta. Men can use handkerchiefs to cover their heads.
• Try to maintain distance from strangers.
• The best thing to offer in the dargah is a cloth of flowers (phoolon ki chaddar).
• Use buses and other local transports to reach the dargah. You might face difficulty in parking if you travel by a personal vehicle.
• Avoid taking valuable items, as thefts are common in the dargah.

Conclusion

Ajmer Sharif Dargah is a must-visit place for everyone, regardless of their religion. In this article, we learned about the best time to visit this dargah, modes of transport, daily ceremonies, and major events of Ahmer Sharif Dargah. Further, we also learned about things to offer along with useful travel tips for tourists. 

If you are also planning to visit this auspicious place, you can buy our Ajmer Sharif Dargah tour Package for a hassle-free trip.

FAQ

Q: Can non-Muslims go to Ajmer Sharif Dargah?

Yes, non-Muslims can go to the Dargah. However, daily practices in the dargah revolve around the Islamic religion.

Q: Why do Muslims visit the Ajmer Sharif dargah?

Muslims visit Ajmer Sharif Dargah to seek the blessings of Khwaja Garib Nawaz.

Q: Can women visit the tomb of Khwaja Garib Nawaz?

Yes, women can visit the tomb of Khwaja Garib Nawaz.

Q: Does Ajmer Sharif’s dargah fulfill wishes?

Yes, it is a common belief that the Dargah fulfills the wishes of the common people.

Q: What should I buy for  Ajmer Sharif Dargah?

You should buy chadars, incense sticks, a basket of flowers, and holy threads for the Dargah.

Q: Is Ajmer safe for women travelers?

Yes, Ajmer is safe for women travelers.

Q: What are the special dishes of Ajmer?

Special dishes of Ajmer are Biryani, Ker Sangri, Mutton, Curry, etc.

Q: Which are the famous dargahs in India?

Famous dargahs in India include Dargah Hazratbal, Haji Ali Dargah and Nizamuddin Dargah.

Q: How much time do I need to explore Ajmer Sharif Dargah?

You need 2-3 hours to explore the Dargah.

Q: Is photography allowed inside Ajmer Sharif Dargah?

Yes, photography is allowed inside Ajmer Sharif Dargah.