Ajmer Sharif Dargah
Ajmer, Rajasthan
The Ajmer Sharif Dargah is the shrine of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, in the old city of Ajmer. It is one of the most visited shrines in India, and it welcomes people of every faith. The complex holds the saint's tomb, several other tombs and a mosque, and it is a place of prayer, music and quiet, with the qawwali heard in the evenings. A source says it can attract up to 20,000 pilgrims a day, and hundreds of thousands during the annual Urs.
What to see and do
- Visit the tomb of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, the Sufi saint
- Offer rose petals or a chadar, as pilgrims do, from the shops outside
- Listen to the qawwali, in the Mehfil Khana, if it is held during your visit
- Walk through the gates and courtyards of the old complex
Ideal for
- Pilgrims of every faith who want to pay respects at a great Sufi shrine
- Visitors who like music, flowers and a living tradition
- Travellers combining Ajmer with the Hindu pilgrimage of Pushkar
Good to know
- Entry is free, and visitors of every faith are welcome
- Cover your head (a scarf or stole for women, a cap or handkerchief for men) and dress modestly
- Large bags, sharp objects and other items are not allowed inside, and a cloakroom outside takes bags for a small fee
- Photography is permitted in the complex but not inside the sanctum
- Timings differ by source, roughly 4 or 5 am to 9 or 10 pm, with breaks, so check locally
- The Urs festival is extremely crowded, so plan well ahead if you visit then
Spiritual significance
The Ajmer Sharif Dargah is the heart of Sufi devotion in India, remembered for the saint's message of love and service to all. Pilgrims from many faiths come here with a wish, and leave with a flower and a prayer.
Why it matters
- A great Sufi shrine: the tomb of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti
- Open to all: pilgrims of every faith come here
- A living tradition: flowers, chadars and qawwali every day