Ajmer (original) (raw)

This article is about the city in Rajasthan, India. For its namesake district, see Ajmer district. For the historical region, see Ajmer region.

City in Rajasthan, India

Ajmer Ajayamerū
City
Mayo collegeNareli Jain TemplePrithviraj smarakSoniji Ki NasiyanAna Sagar Lake
Nickname: Heart of Rajasthan
Ajmer is located in RajasthanAjmerAjmerLocation in Rajasthan, IndiaShow map of RajasthanAjmer is located in IndiaAjmerAjmerAjmer (India)Show map of IndiaAjmer is located in AsiaAjmerAjmerAjmer (Asia)Show map of Asia
Coordinates: 26°27′00″N 74°38′24″E / 26.4499°N 74.6399°E / 26.4499; 74.6399
Country India
State Rajasthan
District Ajmer
Founded by Ajayaraja I or Ajayaraja II
Named for Ajayaraja I or Ajayaraja II
Government
• Type Municipal Corporation
• Body Ajmer Municipal Corporation
• Mayor Braj Lata Hada[1] (BJP)
Area[2]
• City 55 km2 (21 sq mi)
Elevation 480 m (1,570 ft)
Population (2011)[3]
• City 542,321
• Density 9,900/km2 (26,000/sq mi)
Urban 551,101
Languages
• Official Hindi[4]
• Additional official English[4]
• Regional Marwari, Rajasthani
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN 305001 to 305023
Telephone code 0145, +91145
Vehicle registration RJ-01
Website www.ajmer.rajasthan.gov.in

Ajmer (pronounced [ədʒmeːr] ) is a city in the north-western Indian state of Rajasthan.[5] It serves as the administrative headquarters of the Ajmer district and Ajmer division. It lies at the centre of Rajasthan, earning it the nickname 'the Heart of Rajasthan'.[6]

Ajmer is surrounded by the Aravalli Mountains. Ajmer has been a municipality since 1869. Ajmer has been selected as one of the heritage cities for the HRIDAY[7] and Smart City Mission schemes of the Government of India.[8]

The city of Ajmer was established as "Ajaya Meru", meaning "invincible hill" in Sanskrit[9] by a Chahamana ruler, either Ajayaraja I or Ajayaraja II. It refers to the Taragarh Hill, on which the city is situated. Over time, "Ajaya Meru" evolved into "Ajmer".[10] It served as their capital until the 12th century CE.

A Gujarati historic novel named Gujaratno Jay written by Zaverchand Meghani, based on various Jain Prabandhas, describes the city as sapādalakṣaṇa (સપાદલક્ષણ).[11]

Jahangir receives Prince Khurram at Ajmer on his return from the Mewar campaign

Ajmer was originally known as Ajayameru. Maharaja of Parmar Rajputs founded the Ajmer city in the 11th-century, which was admired from Chahamana king Ajaydeva. Historian Dasharatha Sharma notes that the earliest mention of the city's name occurs in Palha's Pattavali, which was copied in 1113 CE (1170 VS) at Dhara. This suggests that Ajmer was founded sometime before 1113 CE.[12] A prashasti (eulogistic inscription), issued by Vigraharaja IV and found at Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra (Sanskrit college), states Ajayadeva (that is Ajayaraja II) moved his residence to Ajmer.[13]

A later text, Prabandha-Kosha states that it was the 8th-century king Ajayaraja I who commissioned the Ajayameru fort, which later came to be known as the Taragarh fort of Ajmer.[14] According to historian R. B. Singh, this claim appears to be true, as inscriptions dated to the 8th century CE have been found at Ajmer.[15] Singh theorises that Ajayaraja II later expanded the town area, constructed palaces, and moved the Chahamana capital from Shakambhari to Ajmer.[16]

In 1193, Ajmer was annexed by the Ghurids and later was returned to Gaur Rajput rulers under condition of tribute.[17]

By the 15th century, Ajmer was captured by Mewar and in 1506, Ajja Jhala was appointed as the Governor of Ajmer.[18]

In 1556, Ajmer came under the Mughal Empire after being conquered by Mughal Emperor Akbar.[17] It was made the capital of the eponymous Ajmer Subah. The city enjoyed special favour under the Mughals, who made frequent pilgrimages to the city to visit the dargah of Moinuddin Chishti. The city was also used as a military base for campaigns against Rajput rulers and, on a number of occasions, became the site of celebration when a campaign bore success. Mughal Emperors and their nobles made generous donations to the city, and endowed it with constructions such as Akbar's palace and pavilions along the Ana Sagar.[19][20][21] Their most prominent building activities were in the dargah and its vicinity.[22] Jahanara Begum and Dara Shikoh, children of Shah Jahan, were both born in the city in 1614 and 1615, respectively.[23][24]

Mughal patronage of the city had waned by the beginning of the 18th century.[25] In 1752, the Scindias conquered the city,[26] and in 1818, the British gained authority over the city.[17] A municipality was established at Ajmer in 1866.[27] Colonial-era Ajmer served as the headquarters of the Ajmer-Merwara Province and possessed a Central jail, a large General Hospital, and two smaller hospitals, according to Gazetteer, 1908. It was the headquarters of a native regiment and of a Railway Volunteer corps. From the 1900s, the United Free Church of Scotland, the church of England, the Roman Catholics, and the American Episcopal Methodists have had mission establishments here.[28] At that time there were twelve printing presses in the city, from which eight weekly newspapers were published.[29]

At the time of India's independence in 1947, Ajmer continued as a separate state with its own legislature until its merger with erstwhile Rajputana province, then called Rajasthan. The Legislature of Ajmer State was housed in the building which now houses T. T. College. It had 30 MLAs, and Haribhau Upadhyay was the first chief minister of the erstwhile state, with Bhagirath Chaudhary as the first Vidhan Sabha speaker. In 1956, after acceptance of the proposal by Fazil Ali, Ajmer was merged into Rajasthan to form Ajmer District with the addition of Kishangarh sub-division of Jaipur district.[30][31]

Ajmer is in the northwest of India and is surrounded by the Aravali Mountains. It is situated on the lower slopes of the Taragarh Hill of that range. To the northwest is the Nagapathar Range of the Aravali Mountain Ranges which protects it from desertification from the Thar Desert.

Ajmer has a hot, semi-arid climate with over 55 centimetres (22 inches) of rain every year, but most of the rain occurs in the monsoon months, between June and September. Temperatures remain relatively high throughout the year, with the summer months of April to early July having an average daily temperature of about 30 °C (86 °F). During the monsoon there is frequent heavy rain and thunderstorms, but flooding is not a common occurrence. The winter months of November to February are mild and temperate with average temperatures ranging from 15–18 °C (59–64 °F) with little or no humidity. There are, however, occasional cold weather fronts that cause temperatures to fall to near freezing levels.

Climate data for Ajmer (1991–2020, extremes 1901–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 32.6(90.7) 36.8(98.2) 42.3(108.1) 44.6(112.3) 47.4(117.3) 46.4(115.5) 44.4(111.9) 42.3(108.1) 42.0(107.6) 42.0(107.6) 37.4(99.3) 34.2(93.6) 47.4(117.3)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 29.1(84.4) 32.4(90.3) 38.0(100.4) 41.9(107.4) 43.6(110.5) 43.2(109.8) 39.1(102.4) 36.0(96.8) 38.0(100.4) 37.6(99.7) 34.1(93.4) 30.1(86.2) 43.9(111.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 23.9(75.0) 27.2(81.0) 32.5(90.5) 37.6(99.7) 40.3(104.5) 38.7(101.7) 34.1(93.4) 32.0(89.6) 33.6(92.5) 34.5(94.1) 30.2(86.4) 26.1(79.0) 32.7(90.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 10.1(50.2) 13.5(56.3) 18.8(65.8) 24.4(75.9) 28.0(82.4) 27.8(82.0) 26.1(79.0) 24.8(76.6) 24.3(75.7) 21.1(70.0) 15.9(60.6) 11.4(52.5) 20.7(69.3)
Mean minimum °C (°F) 5.4(41.7) 7.8(46.0) 17.4(63.3) 17.4(63.3) 21.8(71.2) 22.2(72.0) 22.7(72.9) 22.5(72.5) 21.5(70.7) 16.2(61.2) 10.7(51.3) 6.3(43.3) 5.2(41.4)
Record low °C (°F) −2.8(27.0) −1.1(30.0) 2.2(36.0) 9.4(48.9) 14.3(57.7) 14.7(58.5) 14.4(57.9) 18.9(66.0) 14.6(58.3) 7.8(46.0) 2.8(37.0) −0.6(30.9) −2.8(27.0)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 4.9(0.19) 7.3(0.29) 3.1(0.12) 6.6(0.26) 20.4(0.80) 61.0(2.40) 182.2(7.17) 180.6(7.11) 86.7(3.41) 15.6(0.61) 1.1(0.04) 1.8(0.07) 571.4(22.50)
Average rainy days 0.4 0.7 0.4 0.9 1.7 3.8 8.8 9.2 4.1 0.9 0.1 0.2 31.2
Average ultraviolet index 5 6 7 9 9 8 7 7 7 6 6 5 7
Source 1: India Meteorological Department[32][33] Climate of Ajmer[34][35]
Source 2: Weather Atlas[36]

Historical population

Year Pop. ±%
1891 68,800
1901 73,800 +7.3%
1911 86,200 +16.8%
1921 113,200 +31.3%
1931 119,500 +5.6%
1941 147,300 +23.3%
1951 196,300 +33.3%
1961 231,200 +17.8%
1968 265,200 +14.7%
1971 264,300 −0.3%
1981 374,400 +41.7%
1991 402,700 +7.6%
2001 485,197 +20.5%
2011 542,321 +11.8%
Source: [37][38][3]

According to the 2011 census, Ajmer had a population of 542,321 in the city, 551,101 including its suburbs.[3]

The female to male ratio in the city was 947/1,000. The literacy rate in the city was 86.52%, male literacy being 92.08% and female literacy being 80.69%.[3]

Ajmer's population growth in the decade was 18.48%; this compares to a growth figure of 20.93% in the previous decade.[38]

Government and politics

[edit]

Divisional commissner of Ajmer is Bhanwar Lal Mehra and district collector is Ansh Deep.[39]

View of Ajmer from Taragarh Fort

Dargah Sharif Ajmer

Remnants of Jain and Hindu temple in converted Adhai Din Ka Jhopara Monument.

Swarna Nagari Ayodhya in Soniji Ki Nasiyan

Akbari Fort and Museum

Nareli Jain Temple is a recent addition to Ajmer

Baradari on Lake Anasagar

Tomb of Khwaja Husain Ajmeri

Pushkar Valley that connects Pushkar and Ajmer in the Aravalli Mountains

The Kishangarh Airport is the nearest airport. It is 25 km from Ajmer city. The Ajmer Airport ground breaking ceremony was done by then Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh in 2012. The airport was finally completed and inaugurated by then Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha and Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on 11 October 2017.[53] The airport is operational since then and regular flights to/from Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Indore and Surat are currently available. The airport is now among main and busy airports of Rajasthan. Currently SpiceJet and Star Air operate from Ajmer Airport on daily basis. Kishangarh Airport, Ajmer is being managed and operated by Airports Authority of India (AAI).

The Jaipur International Airport which is 135 km from Ajmer is the nearest international airport.

The Ajmer Junction is the main railway station situated in the city.[54] It was built during colonial times.

The city has many schools and colleges. Among them, Mayo College is a prominent college. The regional office of CBSE is located here.[55]

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