Ajmer Day Trip from Jaipur
One of South Asia's most spiritually powerful places. 2 hours from Jaipur.
Getting to Ajmer from Jaipur
Ajmer is 130 km southwest of Jaipur — about 2 hours by road on NH48. The highway is well-maintained and the drive is straightforward. You'll pass through Dudu and Kishangarh (famous for its marble industry and the Kishangarh school of miniature painting) before reaching Ajmer.
Private Car
₹2,000–2,500 return. The most comfortable option. Driver waits while you explore. Can easily add Pushkar to the itinerary for ₹500 extra. Book through your hotel or a reputed travel app.
Train
₹80–250 depending on class. Ajmer Shatabdi is the fastest (2 hrs). Multiple daily trains from Jaipur Junction. Ajmer station is walkable to the Dargah. Trains are reliable but book AC Chair Car for comfort.
Bus
₹200–300 (AC Volvo). Frequent departures from Sindhi Camp. Takes 2.5–3 hours. The budget option — but if you're combining with Pushkar, a private car is worth the upgrade.
Dargah Sharif — The Heart of Ajmer
The Ajmer Sharif Dargah is the tomb of Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti, who arrived in Ajmer in 1192 CE. It's one of the most important Sufi shrines in South Asia — and one of the most spiritually intense places you'll ever visit. Even the Mughal emperors, from Akbar to Shah Jahan, made pilgrimages here on foot from Agra.
The approach to the Dargah is through a bustling bazaar of narrow lanes — flower sellers, chador (cloth offering) shops, incense stalls, and food vendors crowd every inch. The lane narrows as you approach, and then suddenly you're through the Nizam Gate into a vast marble courtyard. The main tomb is inside, covered in ornate silver railings and surrounded by devotees offering prayers, flowers, and chadars.
The atmosphere is extraordinary. Qawwali singers perform in the evening (especially on Thursday nights and during Urs). People of every faith sit together, and there's a tangible sense of peace despite the crowds. Whatever your beliefs, this place will move you.
What to Wear
Dress modestly — cover shoulders, arms, and legs. Both men and women must cover their heads. Free scarves/caps are available at the entrance, or buy a beautiful embroidered cap from the bazaar for ₹50–100 as a souvenir.
What to Bring
Many visitors buy a chadar (₹100–500) and flowers (₹50) to offer at the shrine. This is optional — you can visit without offerings. Leave bags at your car or hotel; the lanes are too narrow for backpacks. Carry small cash for donations.
Timing
Open dawn to 9 PM. Early morning (before 8 AM) is quietest. Thursday evenings have special qawwali sessions. During Urs festival (six days in the Islamic month of Rajab), expect massive crowds — hundreds of thousands visit. Beautiful but overwhelming.
The Degh (Giant Cauldrons)
Two enormous cauldrons (degh) sit in the courtyard. Devotees donate food that's cooked in them and distributed as tabarruk (blessed food). The larger degh can cook for 5,000 people. Receiving tabarruk is considered auspicious. Don't miss this.
Ana Sagar Lake
Built in the 12th century by Maharaja Anaji Chauhan (Prithviraj Chauhan's grandfather), Ana Sagar is a massive artificial lake that stretches across the heart of Ajmer. Emperor Jahangir added the Daulat Bagh gardens on the lake's edge, and Shah Jahan built five marble pavilions (baradaris) that still stand today.
The lake is at its best in the early evening. The Aravalli hills frame the background, marble pavilions glow in the golden light, and local families stroll the promenade. It's a welcome contrast to the intensity of the Dargah — peaceful, open, and striking. Allow 45 minutes to an hour for a leisurely walk along the embankment.
Nearby: Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra
This 12th-century mosque — its name means "shed of two-and-a-half days" — is one of the oldest mosques in India and an architectural marvel. Originally a Sanskrit college, it was converted into a mosque by Qutbuddin Aibak. The arched screen wall with its intricate calligraphy and geometric patterns is extraordinary. It's a 10-minute walk from the Dargah. Most tourists miss it. Don't be most tourists.
Combining Ajmer with Pushkar
The Perfect Day Trip Itinerary
Leave Jaipur by private car. Chai stop on the highway.
Arrive Ajmer. Visit Dargah Sharif (1.5 hours).
Walk to Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra (30 min visit).
Quick stop at Ana Sagar Lake.
Drive to Pushkar (30 min). Lunch at a lakeside cafe.
Visit Brahma Temple, walk around Pushkar Lake.
Browse the bazaar, try the famous makhania lassi.
Head back to Jaipur. Arrive by 7 PM.
Ajmer and Pushkar are only 14 km apart — separated by the Nag Pahar (Snake Mountain) range. The drive between them takes 30 minutes through a winding mountain road with excellent views. Combining them is the smartest way to use a day trip from Jaipur. Two completely different experiences — Sufi spirituality and Hindu devotion — separated by a beautiful half-hour drive.
Farmaan from the Locals
Navigate the Dargah lanes. The narrow bazaar leading to the Dargah has persistent touts offering to be your "guide." You don't need one — the path is straightforward. A firm "no thank you" works. If someone puts a thread on your wrist and demands payment, politely decline and keep walking.
Try the Ajmer food. Before heading to Pushkar, eat in Ajmer. The food near the Dargah is excellent — try the sohan halwa (a dense, saffron-flavoured sweet that Ajmer is famous for) and the kebabs at Mango Masala or local eateries near Naya Bazaar. Unlike vegetarian Pushkar, Ajmer does meat brilliantly.
Avoid Urs unless prepared. The annual Urs festival commemorating Moinuddin Chishti's death anniversary draws hundreds of thousands. It's a powerful experience but the crowds are intense. If you're not comfortable in extreme density, visit on a normal day instead.
Photography at the Dargah. You can photograph the exterior courtyards and architecture freely. Inside the main tomb area, photography is generally not allowed and would be disrespectful. Put your camera away, be present, and absorb the atmosphere. Some moments are better experienced than captured.
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Written by
Priya Sharma
Jaipur-born travel writer and licensed guide. Has spent 10+ years walking these forts, eating at these stalls, and arguing with auto drivers about fares — so you don't have to.
Real Talk from a Pink City Local
Do I need to be Muslim to visit Dargah Sharif?
Absolutely not. Dargah Sharif welcomes visitors of all faiths — that's one of the most beautiful things about it. Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, and people of every background visit to pay respects. The shrine's philosophy is universal devotion. Just dress modestly, cover your head (scarves available at the entrance for free or a small donation), and remove your shoes. Behave respectfully and you'll be welcomed warmly.
Can I combine Ajmer and Pushkar in one day trip from Jaipur?
Yes, and you absolutely should. Ajmer and Pushkar are only 14 km apart (about 30 minutes by car). Leave Jaipur by 7 AM, visit Dargah Sharif and Ana Sagar Lake in the morning, drive to Pushkar for lunch and the Brahma Temple in the afternoon, and head back to Jaipur by 5 PM. It's a full day but very doable with a private car. By bus, it's harder to time well.
Is Ajmer safe? I've heard it gets crowded.
Ajmer is safe but it is crowded — especially the narrow lanes leading to the Dargah. During Urs (the annual festival), the crowds are intense. On regular days, it's manageable. Keep your valuables close in the bazaar lanes, be prepared for persistent flower sellers and 'guides' near the Dargah entrance, and politely decline anything you don't want. A firm 'nahi chahiye' (I don't need it) works well.
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