The small town of Ajmer, 78 miles west of Jaipur, played a surprisingly important role in India's history. Set at the point where the rocky Aravalli Hills end and the Thar Desert begins, this was originally the stronghold of the powerful Chauhan Dynasty of Rajputs, who built India's first ever hill fort here in the 7th century, Taragarh, whose ruins you can still see today.

Arabesqued facade of arhai Din ka jhonpra

Ajmer was ruled by the great Raja Prithvi Chauhan the last Hindu king of Delhi, until his defeat in 1192 . After having changed hands several times, in 1556 Ajmer finally came under the Mughal Emperor, Akbar who used it as the headquarters for his vitally important operations in Rajasthan. It was here, a generation later, that the first British Ambassador, Sir Thomas Roe, had an historic meeting with Emperor Jahangir in 1615, and it was here, half a century later, that the critical battle between the Mughals crown prince, Dara Shukoh, and the usurper, was fought. Later Emperor, Aurangzeb, took place. In the 19th century, Ajmer became a little British enclave, from where the British Chief Commissioner for Rajputana kept and eagle eye on all the Rajput Kingdoms. Today Ajmer is, frankly, not the most charming of towns, unlike its hayday in the 17th century when it was Emperor Shah Jahan pleasure resort. There are also various buildings of historical interest to visit here.