Ajmer is also the base for visiting Pushkar (11 km.),
the abode of Lord Brahma, lying to its west with a temple
and a picturesque lake. The Pushkar Lake is a sacred
spot for Hindus. During the month of Kartik (Oct./Nov.),
devotes throng in large numbers here to take a dip in
the sacred lake.
Ajaipal Chauhan founded Ajmer in the seventh century.
He constructed a hill fort "Ajaimeur" or the
invincible hill. The Chauhans ruled Ajmer till the 12th
century when Prithviraj Chauhan lost Mohammed Ghauri.
Thereafter it became a part of the sultanate of Delhi.
Ajmer was also favourite residence for the great Mughals.
One of the first contacts between the Mughal King Jahangir
and Sir Thomas Roe took place here in 1616. The Scindias
took over the city in 1818 and then handed it over to
the British and it became one of the only part of Rajasthan
controlled directly by the East Indian Co.
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