| Shopping
at Natural Nirvana
|
|
Pop:
490,000
Phone Code: 0145
Ajmer,
138km southwest of Jaipur, is where the Sufi saint Khawaja Muin-ud-din
Chishti lived. He founded the Chistiya Order, the main Sufi order in
India. His tomb, the Dargah, is one of the most visited Muslim shrines
in India.
Most
travelers come to Ajmer on their way to or from Pushkar. There is little
of interest here, so most people move on quickly.
Information
The helpful Tourist Office (262-7426) is in the Khadim
Tourist Bungalow near the bus stand (Mon to Sat 10am-2pm and 3 to 6
pm). They can arrange tourist taxis and approved guides. There is a
tourist information counter in the railway station.
You
can change money at the State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur,
on Station Rd, and the State Bank of India, near the bus stand. The
State Bank of Baroda, Pushkar Rd, opposite the GPO,
changes cash, travelers cheques (must have the receipt) and accepts
some credit cards. The State Bank of India (262-7048) changes travelers
cheques and currency.
Pratap
Memorial Hospital (20402), Kutchery Rd, and JLN Hospital (21420)
are possible hospitals.
Satguru's
Internet (242-45350, 60-91 Kutchery Rd is a good place for
Internet (Rs 25 per hr)
Dargah (Muin-ud-din
Chishti Tomb)
Thousands of devoted Muslims come to Ajmer during the Urs Mela to visit
the tomb of Khwajaxe Muin-ud-din Chishti. When he died in 1236, he was
buried in a small brick tomb in the northern part of town. A marble
complex called the Dargah now surrounds it. Visitors enter the complex
from Dargah Bazaar through an ornate gate that leads to a courtyard.
There are two gigantic containers, called degs (3m wide), full of rice
that is distributed to devotees as tabarukh, sanctified food. The mosque
built by Akbar is to the right. The tomb of Muin-ud-din Chishti is a
central marble building surrounded by a silver railing. Nearby is a
superb mosque built by Shah Jahan. A small donation is expected.
Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra
& Taragarh Fort
Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra means the “2½ day Mosque,” which
is how long it is said it took Muhammad of Ghur to build it in 1195.
It has giant pillars and Persian lettering on its seven arches. It is
located half a km past Dargah.
Three km west of Dargah (built 1100) is the Taragarh Fort or
Star Fort. It is now in ruins and is not so interesting, but the view
is good.
Daulat Khana Palace
It was once the palace of the Mughal emperor Akbar. It is now a government
museum containing sculptures and other exhibits. Open daily
except Fri 10 am to 4.30 pm; admission Rs 3, photography prohibited.
It is located near the GPO.
Other
Places
The lavishly decorated Nashiyan (Red) Jain Temple has
models depicting the Jain conception of the universe and theology. It
is dedicated to Adinath. It is very well done and is worth seeing. About
25% of the population of Ajmer are Jains. Open daily 8.30 am to 5 pm.
Admission Rs 3
Ana
Sagar, in the northeast side of town, is an often-dry artificial
lake. When there is water in the winter months it is a nice place to
walk around. Next to it is the Dault Bagh gardens.
Near
the railway station are Edward Memorial Hall and the
Jubilee Clock Tower.
A
few km from Ajmer on the road to Pushkar are wet lands, which is a good
place for bird watching. When I went there with a friend, we spotted
28 types of birds.
Where to Stay—Lower
Be careful of the rickshaw drivers who will bring you to any hotel for
Rs 5. In truth they will only bring you to the hotel of their choice,
where they receive a commission.
You
can stay in a room in a family’s house using the Paying
Guest Scheme. This is arranged at the tourist office in the
RTDC Khadim Tourist Bungalow.
Anand Hotel (23099), Prithviraj Marg, has clean rooms
with bath and hot water for Rs 125/150. It is a good place.
Hill Top Cottage (623-984), 164 Shastri Nagar, is a
nice place with clean rooms for Rs 350/450 to Rs 600. It serves veg
meals.
King Edward Memorial Rest House (KEM) (429-936), across
the street from the railway station, has basic rooms for Rs 90/130 and
Rs 150/200. You should ask to see some rooms, as many of them are different
and some are really run-down.
Hotel Ashoka (24729), near the railway station, has
basic rooms with common bath for Rs 125/150.
Sirtaj Hotel (20096), near the railway station, has
good rooms for Rs 150/200. The restaurant serves Punjabi food.
RTDC Khadim Tourist Bungalow (262-7490; fax: 243-1330)
is by the bus station, an 8-min auto-rickshaw ride from the railway
station. Rooms are Rs 450/550 and Rs 700/800 with A/C. Dorm beds are
Rs 60. It has a nice location, but is not so well maintained. It is
popular with travelers.
Aravali Holiday Resort (52089), nearby, has rooms with
bath (bucket hot water) for Rs 150/175 and a room with bath with constant
hot water is Rs 250/300.
Hotel Samrat (621-257), Kutchery Rd, near the railway
station, has rooms with TV for Rs 300/375 up to Rs 700. It is close
to the private bus companies and is convenient for an early morning
bus departure. It is overpriced. 24-hour checkout.
Bhola Hotel (243-2844), opposite the church at Agra
Gate and near the train station on Prithviraj Marg, has rooms with bath
for Rs 200/250. Hot water from a tap in the hall. It has a good veg
restaurant. 24-hour checkout. Friendly place. Free bucket hot water.
Nagpal Tourist Hotel (242-9503), across the street
from the railway station, has modern, comfortable double rooms with
TV starting at Rs 500. It is a good place. 24-hour checkout. Free hot
water in buckets
Where to Stay—Middle
and High
Hotel Regency (620-296; fax 420-747), Delhi Gate, has
good modern rooms for Rs 600/700 and Rs 970/1000 with A/C.
Hotel Embassy (262-3859; Email: hotelembassy@satyam.net.in),
Jaipur Rd, has moderncomfortable rooms for Rs 600/900. Have Indian toilets.
Mansingh Palace Hotel (242-5956; fax 242-5858), Ana
Sagar Circular Rd, a few km northeast of town, is the only high-end
hotel with comfortable rooms. Rooms are Rs2400/3400. It is a nice place
and is well-located overlooking Ana Sagar. Pleasant garden.
Where
to Eat
Bhola Hotel is a recommended, cheap vegetarian place.
A thali is Rs 40.
Jai Hind Restaurant, behind the clock tower, across
from the railway station, is a good vegetarian place. $.
Mango Masala (242-0724) has vegetarian, Indian, Chinese and International
food. Also has good baked goods and ice creams. $-$$.
Honeydew Restaurant, near the KEM Rest House, has Indian
food, pizzas and ice cream.
Sabras, Prithviraj Marg, is a good, reasonably cheap
veg place, popular with the locals. $.
Tandoor Restaurant, south of the bus stand, has a tandoori
cuisine. $-$$.
Sheesh Mahal, at the Mansingh Palace, is a very good
place with main dishes ranging from Rs 75 to Rs 200 (12.30 to 3 pm and
7.30 to 11 pm). $$$.
Local
Travel
An auto-rickshaw to most places in town should be no more than Rs 20.
Travel
Train Ajmer is on the Delhi–Jaipur–Ahmedabad
line, and most trains on this line stop here. You can not get tourist
quota for many of the train departing from here so it is a good idea
to book as soon as you can. You can also book through the travel agents
in Pushkar or in Ajmer from Midway Tours & Travels
(262-8744; E anilgujra@yahoo.com) who charges Rs 25 to Rs 40 to book
a ticket.
Agra:
Agra Fort Fast Passenger Exp #9706 (8 pm, 10½ hr); Ahmedabad:
Ahmedabad Exp #9903 (9.50 pm, 12½ hr), Ahmedabad Mail #9901 (8.30
am, 12 hr); Delhi: Shatabdi Exp #2016 (3 pm, 7 hr), Aravalli Exp #9932
(7 pm, 10½ hr); Jaipur: Shatabdi Exp #2016 (3 pm, 2¼ hr),
Pink City Exp #2916 (1.50 pm 2½ hr); Jodhpur: Jodhpur Mail #4893
(5.45 am, 6 hr); Udaipur: Chetak Exp #9815 (3.35 pm, 8 hr).
Bus
The bus station (20398) is about 2km southwest of the railway station.
It has a baggage storage place. There are deluxe buses to Delhi (7½
hr), Mumbai, Jaipur (2½ hr, every half-hour), Udaipur (7 hr,
every hr), Chittorgarh (4 hr, every hr), Kota (5 hr, every hr), Bundi
(165km), Mt Abu (10 hr), Bharatpur (7½ hr), Bikaner (7 hr), Jodhpur
(4½ hr, regularly), Jaisalmer (12 hr, 7.30 am) and Ahmedabad
(12 hr).
On
Kutchery Rd, near the railway station there are private companies that
operate buses to many places. If you book a bus ticket in Pushkar with
a travel agency, the agency will usually provide a free jeep ride to
Ajmer. Ekta Travels and Shrinath Travels are two possible companies.
Buses
to Pushkar (Rs 5, return Rs 4) depart from outside Gandhi Bhawan, which
is across the street from the railway station, a few hundred metres
to the right after exiting the station. There are shared jeeps (Rs 10)
to Pushkar.
If you know of
a informationthat is not correct or if you would like to help update
our listings, please e-mail us at:
|
|
Our
own Vegetarian, Vegan, Alternative & Spiritual Sales Shop
Buy
Spiritual India, A Practical Guide
Practical
NEPAL Guide
Please
Give To Help Keep This Spiritual India Guide Online
Our
own Vegetarian, Vegan, Alternative & Spiritual Sales Shop
How
To Travel Cheaply Using the Internet
!!
DVD Kurma Great Vegetarian Dsihes Cooking Videos Set for just $49.
Individually each video costs $14.95.for a savings of over $100. I took
one of his courses in person and found it to be very educations and
fun. These videos are a great gift.
24
Devotional DVD Set for just $99 Individually each
video cost $14.95 for a savings of over $200
VEGAN BAGS
Hemp
Bags
Vegetarian
& Animal Rights Message Bag
Hemp
Backpacks
Indian
Quilted & Embroidered Bags
Ecolution
Bags
Splaff
Bags
CLOTHES
Vegetarian
T-Shirts
Animal
Rights T-Shirts
Vedic Gods T-Shirts
Hemp
Gloves
Vegan
Message Hats
Animal
Rights Beanies
Hemp
Hats
Vegetarian
Message Hats
Indian
Men Clothing
Indian
Women Clothing
Scarves
Indian
design Stoles
Indian
Sarongs
Sacred
Threads Tops
S.
T. Dresses
S.
T. Pants
Sacred
Threads Children Clothing
Bedding
& Pillows (beautiful)
Indian
Bedspreads
Indian
Design Quilts
Indian
Design Pillows
FOOD
Raw Foods
Vegan
Foods
AYURVEDIC
MEDICINES
Ayurvedic
Medicines
Neem
Products
Ayurvedic
Books
Herbal
Vedic
NeemAura
AyurvedicSupplements
Ayurvedic
Incense
Organic
South Neem
Ayurvedic
Soaps
Ayurveda
Toothpaste
Ayurveda
Massage Oil
VEGAN
HEALTH
Vegan
Vitamins
Vegan
Herbal Remedies
Massage
Oils
Sport
Supplements
Vegan
Protein
First
Aid Products
Cold
Medicines
Olbas
Well-In-Hand
Skin
& Blemish
Herbal
Salves & Balms
VEGAN
BODY CARE
Vegan
Soaps
Vegan
Shampoos
Vegan
Hair Spays
Vegan
Toothpaste
Tongue
Cleaners
Neti
Pots
Vegan
Perfumes
Vegan
Sun Care
Lip
Balm
Contact
Len Cleaner
Skin
Treatments
Men's
Products
Dental
Floss
Natural
Mouthwashes
Vegan
Hair Removal System
INCENSE
& OILS
Incenses
Essential
Oil
Vegan
Candles
VEGAN BELTS & WALLETS
Vegan
Wallets
Hemp
Belts
Vegan
Belts
Hemp
Guitar Straps
VEGETARIAN
&
VEGAN BOOKS
Vegan
Books
Vegetarian
Books
Vegan
Cookbooks
Vegetarian
Cookbooks
Restaurant
Cookbooks
Raw
Food Book
VEG
COSMETIC
Eyeshadows
& Liners
Nail
Polish
Blush
Lip
Stick
Mascara
Powders
Nail
Polish
VEDIC
& SPIRITUAL
Mandala
Publishers
OM Jewelry
Krishna
Photos
Radha
& Krishna Dolls
JEWELRY
Anklets
OM
Jewelry
Nose
Rings & Studs
Toe
Rings
Astrological
Gems
Earrings
Pendants
Silver
Tulasi Beads
Neckbeads
Necklaces
Silver
Jewelry
Gold
Jewelry
BUTTONS STICKER
Animal
Rights Buttons
Vegan
Patch
Jam
Bands Stickers
Jam
Band Stickers (20 stickers for $5)
SPIRITUAL
BOOKS
All
Books
Holy
Places
Vedic
Scriptures
Mandala
Publishing
Art
Books
Kurma
Cook Books
Bhagavat
Gita
Caitanya
Mahaprabhu
Children
Srimad
Bhagvatam
Spiritual
Biography
Vedic
Coloring Books
SPIRITUAL
MUCIC
Bhajans
S.
Prabhupada Bhajans
Kirtana
New
Age
Musical
Instruments
Spiritual
Lessons
Audio
Vedic Books
VEGETARIAN
VIDEO
Vegetarian
Cooking
Vegetarian
SPIRTUAL VIDEO
Devotional
Movies
Interactive
CDs
Vedic
Puppet Shows
Vedic
Art & Culture
Indian
Music Lessons
Bhativedanta
Swami Prabhupada
Spiritual
Photos & Art
Krishna
Posters
Krishna
Pictures
Vedic
Gods Photos
Vedic
Gods Posters
OTHER
PRODUCTS
Putumayo
World Music
Pet
Products
Outdoor
Neem
Air
Garcia T-shirt
Bob
Marley Reggae
Hats
Shirts
Key
Chains
License
Plates
Scarves
Books
Please
Help Support This Site Buy USA Vegetarian Restaurants Book
Please check out
our Natural
Nirvana Store, which we started to help
pay for the maintenance of this Website. Natural Nirvana is dedicated
to selling vegetarian, spiritual and alternative products. We sell only
animal-friendly and cruelty-free clothing, gifts, health foods, books
and beauty products.
|
