My Visit to Holy Khwaja Sharif Dargah at Ajmer in India

There are many pilgrimage spots for Muslims also in India. One of the most vital spot is Khwaja Sharif dargah located at Ajmer in the State of Rajasthan in India. Ajmer has become famous because of this holy dargah of Khwaja Sharif. Thousands of Muslim pilgrims visit Ajmer every year to bow down at this dargah. If you have any problem in your life, it gets solved immediately if you perform holy Namaj and bandagi at this dargah. The dargah is situated at the center of the Ajmer city. Khwaja Momuddin Chisti was a Sufi saint who was staying here from the year 1190. He was buried here at this dargah in the year 1236 after his death. Mogul kings Akbar, Jehangir and Shanjehan have built this dargah during their rules. They were also visiting this dargah regularly in their life time for namaj/bandagi.

You can reach Ajmer by train from Mumbai. If you want to travel by air, Jaipur is the nearest airport that is around 78 miles away. There are good hotels available at Ajmer for the stay. Hotel Mansingh Palace is the most luxurious hotel here having three star facilities. The other hotels like Regency, Motimahal Palace, Ambassador, and Naresh Palace are also available. Make sure to book your hotel in advance as there can be heavy rush here at times. You need to take taxi or hired car for visiting this famous dargah. You will have to leave your car and taxi little away from the actual dargah and walk till the entrance gate of the dargah. There are shops on both the sides of this road, where you can shop some special items of Rajasthan. The caps are available in various designs and shapes, knitted in colors. The entrance gate is very big and you have to climb around 80 steps to enter the dargah. As soon as you enter, there are two very big brass containers kept, in which you have to put some money, if you wish. This money is used in making food for thousands of pilgrims visiting during the annual urs. Such urs is held every year when most of the Muslims and also other caste people from all over the country and abroad visit this dargah. The two big brass containers are filled with sweet rice, dry fruits and various other Prasad items for all the pilgrims. This Prasad is known as pavan Prasad, which is considered very holy. You have to cover your head with cap or some white cloth prior to entering the dargah. All women also cover their heads suitably. You may put Chaddar of flowers on the grave of the saint. There is very heavy rush at times for entering inside the dargah. You have to enter from one door and move out from the other door after touching your head at this saint's grave. As soon as you come out of the dargah, there is a big tree on which you have to tie the thread with a particular wish in your mind. When that wish gets fulfilled, you have to come again and remove the thread tied by them.

There is a big open compound in front of the dargah, where the pilgrims sit and sing couple of quavalis in the respect of the great saint. There are many big programs held here in the compound of this dargah. The cameras are not allowed inside the dargah and are to be deposited at the entrance gate. You have to be careful while taking very young children inside the dargah due to very heavy rush and suffocation inside. Some incidents of stampings have occurred in the past, mainly during the urs days. You can buy the sweet Prasad of the saint from the outside market near the main gate. There is one masjid called Dhai Din Ka Zompada near this dargah. It is said that the pilgrimage to Khwaja Sharif is not treated as complete unless you perform your prayer here. This masjid was built in two and a half days only and hence, the name.

The people of all castes have deep and strong faith in Khwaja Sharif and they visit this holy place to get their wishes fulfilled. Have you any plans for visiting this one of the most holy and sacred place in India? If not, perhaps this article shall encourage you to make one.