Ajmer Tourism

AKBAR PALACE

Happy to present the all new revamped look of Government Museum Ajmer, popularly known as ‘Akbar or Magazine Ka Quila’, featuring various galleries like inscription, arms, sculpture, Jain, paintings, Decorative arts. Recently displayed coins gallery which is exclusively in Ajmer. Mannequins of Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan, Chandravardaai, Akbar and Mansingh, Jahangir and Thomas Roe has also been added. One can also see magnificient photo library depiciting spirit of Ajmer . Timings to visit would be 12-8 PM.

◙राजस्थान के मजबूत किलों में से एक है अजमेर का अकबर का किला। मुगल बादशाह अकबर ने इस किले का निर्माण 1571 से 1574 ईस्वी में कराया था। बादशाह जहांगीर ने 1613 से 1616 के दौरान यहीं से सैन्य अभियानों का संचालन किया। इसमें चार बड़े बुर्ज और विशाल दरवाजे हैं।
◙ नया बाज़ार, अजमेर में स्थित अकबर का क़िला एक 'राजकीय संग्रहालय' भी है। यहाँ प्राचीन मूर्तियाँ, सिक्के, पेंटिंग्स, कवच आदि रखे हुए हैं।
◙ अकबर हर साल KhwajaGareebNawaaz के दर्शन करने और राजपूताना के युद्धों में भाग लेने के लिए यहाँ आया करता था। अकबर ने अपने ठहरने के लिए क़िले का निर्माण करवाया, जो अकबर के क़िले के नाम से जाना जाता है। बादशाह जहाँगीर भी यहां पर बने - झरोखे से लोगों को दर्शन देता था। Haldi Ghati के युद्ध को अंतिम रूप इसी किले में दिया गया था। 1818 में इस क़िले पर अंग्रेज़ों ने अधिकार कर लिया था। अंग्रेज़ों ने इसका इस्तेमाल राजपूताना शस्त्रगार के तौर पर किया और वे इसे 'मैग्जीन' के नाम से पुकारते थे।
◙ 1571 से 1574 ईस्वी में इस किले का निर्माण हुआ था।इस किले के परकोटे के भीतर शहर बसा हुआ था। यह किला भी मजबूत परकोटे, गहरी खाई की किलेबंदी में घिरा हुआ था। बेजोड़ स्थापत्य कला का नमूना है ये किला।

Akbar's Palace, Ajmer was built in 1570 A.D. by the great emperor named Akbar. Akbar's Palace in Ajmer in India was built to serve as a home to Akbar during his visits and pilgrimages to Ajmer. Akbar's Palace was made almost impregnable and unattackable by the two impressive stone walls that surrounded the palace.

Akbar's Palace, Rajasthan holds an important position in the history of Ajmer as it had acted as the platform for the historic meeting between Emperor Jehangir and Sir Thomas Roe of British East India Company.

During the British occupation in Ajmer, Akbar's Palace was converted into a munitions house. The palace was then renamed as the 'Rajputana Arsenal'.

A portion of Akbar's Palace was converted and changed into a museum in 1908. There is beautiful massive black marble idol of Goddess Kali in the palace. There are brilliant military armor and weapons on display at the palace turned museum.

Akbar's Palace, Ajmer is a masterpiece work. The rooms in the palace are beautifully decorated. The palace is situated quite close to the railway station in Ajmer. The palace is a grand and elaborate way to learn more and gain knowledge about the romantic yet tumultuous and disruptive history of the picturesque city of Ajmer.

The palace possesses an awesome collection of some of the most beautiful stone sculptures. The palace also displays the ancient and medieval armory and weapons. There are various other artistic objects in the palace and not to forget the eye catching and delicate miniature paintings that are really beautiful.

Akbar's Palace also displays the best and choicest collection of Mughal and Rajput armor.

Adhai Din Ka Jhopra

Adhai Din Ka Jhopra is a mosque that has an interesting tale behind it. It’s believed that the structure was built in just two and a half days. The building was originally a Sanskrit college which was converted into a mosque by Mohammad Ghori in 1198 A.D. The mosque is surrounded by a wall having 7 arches on which verses from the Quran have been inscribed. Designed by Abu Bakr of Herat, the mosque is an example of early Indo-Islamic architecture. Later in 1230 AD, a jali (screen) was added under a raised arch by Sultan Altamush. A gateway in the north serves as the entrance to the mosque. The front facade is decorated by a number of arches built from yellow sandstone. The main arch is flanked by six smaller arches and has many tiny rectangular panels that serve as the lighting system. These types of features are mostly found in ancient Arabic mosques. The interior of the edifice has a main hall which is supported by a large number of columns. The pillars are placed one over the other so as to provide more height to the structure. The columns, which have been built with large bases, diminish with an increase in height. 

Adhai Din ka Jhonpra under Chauhan Dynasty

During the period of Chauhan dynasty, there was a Sanskrit college built by Vigraharaja IV, also known as Visaladeva, who belonged to Shakambhari Chahaman or Chauhan dynasty. The college was built in square shape and a dome-shaped pavilion was constructed on each corner of the building. A temple was also there that was dedicated to Goddess Sarasvati.

The construction of the building includes the features of Hindu and Jain architecture. Some historians say that the mosque was built by the materials used after the destruction of some old and abandoned Hindu Temples. Others say that the Sanskrit college was a college of the Jains. The local people say that Seth Viramdeva constructed the college to celebrate Panch Kalyanaka. The mosque was constructed after the defeat of Prithvi Raj Chauhan III by Mohammad Ghori in the second battle of Tarain.

Adhai Din ka Jhonpra under Delhi Sultanate

After defeating Prithvi Raj Chauhan III, once Mohammad Ghori was passing by Ajmer and saw many temples so he ordered his slave named Qutbuddin Aibak to construct a mosque so that he can offer prayers. The sultan also ordered that the mosque has to be built within two and a half days.

The workers worked hard and were able to construct a screen wall where the sultan could offer his prayers. The mosque was completed in 1199 according to an inscription. Iltumish, the successor of Qutbuddin Aibak, built a screened wall with arches and inscriptions on it. The inscriptions have the name of Iltumish and the supervisor named Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Arid.

History behind the Name

The name of the mosque is Adhai Din ka Jhonpra which means shed of two and a half day. There are many things related to the name of the mosque. According to a legend, the life of a human being is two and a half day on earth. Historians say that there was a fair used to be held for two and a half days in ancient times.

Other assumptions say that during the Maratha era, fakirs came to celebrate urs and so the mosque was started being called jhonpra. Since the urs was held for two and a half days, so the mosque was named as adhai din ka jhonpra.

Adhai Din ka Jhonpra is one of the oldest mosque in India that was built on the basis of Indo-Islamic architecture. Mohammad Ghori ordered the construction of the mosque which was designed by Abu Bakr of Herat who came with the Sultan. Each side of the building has the height of 259 feet. People can enter the mosque from southern and eastern gates