Ajmer

Ajmer is the site of the Dargāh of Khwāja Muʿīn al-Dīn Chishtī, the most important Sufi shrine in South Asia and a major pilgrimage destination for people of all faiths.

Significance

The Dargāh of Khwāja Muʿīn al-Dīn Chishtī (1141–1236 CE) is the premier Sufi shrine in the Indian subcontinent. The saint is credited with the spread of Islam in the region through the Chishtī order’s message of love and tolerance. The Urs festival, marking the saint’s death anniversary, is the principal annual gathering.

History

The original shrine was built in the thirteenth century and expanded by the Mughal emperors Akbar, Jahāngīr, and Shāhjahān. The Akbarī Masjid and the Shahjahānī Masjid are Mughal-era additions, while the Nizām Gate was a later addition built by the Nizām of Hyderabad. The complex was patronised by successive Muslim and Hindu rulers.

Key features

The main Dargāh complex houses the tomb of the saint, the Akbarī Masjid, the Shahjahānī Masjid, the Deg (giant cauldrons for food distribution), and the Nizām Gate. The Ana Sāgar lake and the Adhai Dīn Kā Jhonprā mosque are nearby.

Modern status

Ajmer is a municipal corporation and the headquarters of Ajmer district, Rajasthan. The Dargāh is managed by the Dargāh Committee, an autonomous body under the Dargāh Khwāja Saheb Act, 1955.

Verification notes

Status verified against Chishtī order hagiographical texts and Archaeological Survey of India records. The Urs festival dates are annually announced by the Dargāh Committee.

• Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).