It is believed that a person who places utmost faith at the holy Ajmer Sharif get his or her vows fulfilled. The most famous and the most visited Sufi Shrine in the country, Ajmer Sharif is the resting place of the famous pious Persian Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. The Islamic Sufi saint, also known as “Sultan-e-Hind”, is popular for his secular preaching and Sufi teachings.  Legend has it that Moinuddin Chisti was Prophet of Islam Muhammad’s direct descendant and was asked by him—Muhammad came in his dream—to go to India and spread the Islamic message of peace, love and tolerance. The Sufi saint reached Ajmer in 1192 AD via Lahore (in modern day Pakistan) and breathed his last breath in 1236 AD.

The shrine was constructed by Humayun, the Mughal Emperor. Entering the dargah may require walking through a series of massive silver doors with intricately designed beautiful carvings.  The courtyard welcomes you with the tomb of Moinuddin Chishti, which is carved out of polished marble. With gold plating on top, the tomb is well sealed by a silver railing and marble screen.

You can find many mosques once you’re inside the shrine complex, built by the famous Mughal emperors Akbar and Shah Jahan, who used to pay respect to the Sufi Saint at least once every year.

The shrine, undoubtedly, is an architectural and structural marvel, and is the perfect Sufi retreat to connect with your inner self. The place is open to people of all religions and faiths and one doesn’t have to be religious to enter the shrine. You can be at complete peace with the oneness of God at the Ajmer Sharif dargah— this is something you can’t really buy elsewhere.  The annual Urs Sharif at the dargah is world-famous that draws crowds in large numbers.

There are a quite a lot of shops outside the dargah selling silver jewellery, bangles, jodhpuri jutis and embroidered dupatta, which is a must-visit for any shopaholic traveller. The Dargah is open from 6:00AM to 9:00PM and remains closed from 3:00PM – 4:00PM. There isn’t any entrance fee to visit the place as it is a Sufi shrine.  Winter is the most recommended time to visit Ajmer. While you are at the Dargah, you shouldn’t miss out on the heavenly and traditional Sufi Qawali music performed by local artists, particularly during the months of November – March. You can also plan to visit the place during the holy month of Ramadhan.