Merwara - Marwar Circuit, Rajsathan
Covers Ajmer, Pushkar, Baghera, Foy Sagar, Kishangarh, Todgarh, Kurki, Rupangarh, Merta, Nagaur...

Established in 7th or 8th century, Ajmer is situated 130 kms. south-west of Jaipur. An important pilgrimage centre, it was once ruled by the Chauhan Rajputs. Subsequently, The Mughals, Marathas and the British all reigned here and left their mark. The great Prithviraj Chauhan was the most famous of all rulers who reigned over Ajmer. It is well known for its educational institutions, colonial bungalows and fine resting places.

Pushkar is an important Hindu pilgrimage centre and is located 11 kms west of Ajmer. It is believed to have been created by Lord Brahma, the Creator of the Universe in the Hindu religion, whose temple is also situated here. There are around 400 other temples and a holy lake surrounded by 52 ghats. Pushkar also hosts one of the largest and most colourful cattle fairs of the world.

Merta is an ancient town. Its old name was 'Medantakpur'. It was a flourishing town during the Pratihar period. Merta was ruled by Rao Dooda son of Rao Jodha in the 15th century. This little township is associated with the medieval mystic poetess, Meera Bai, who sang songs of adoration for Lord Krishna - She is known to have prayed at the Charbhuja Temple. Nagaur, ideally suited for a visit during the fairs in February and August, is signified by its fort. The fort shows a distinct influence of Mughal / Muslim architecture.

AJMER

HOW TO GET TO AJMER:
Air: Jaipur 132 kms. is the nearest airport.
Rail: Regular train services join Ajmer with important cities including the 'Shatabdi' from Delhi via Jaipur.
Road: An efficient network of bus services operate from Ajmer to important destinations all around. It is situated on National Highway No. 8.

LESSER KNOWN DESTINATIONS AROUND AJMER

BAGHERA

LOCATION: Baghera is situated in the Kekri sub-division of Ajmer district. It is about 107 kms. south-east of Ajmer.

HISTORY: The village is known for its treasure-trove of archaeological and antiquarian relics. It's old name was Vyagreraka as has been recorded in the Bijolia rock inscription during the reign of the Chauhan Emperor, Someswara, dated v.s. 1226. Baghera attracted the attention of archaeologist A.C.L. Carllyle who examined its relics in 1871-72.

MAIN ATTRACTIONS: Baghera is well known for its archaeological sites. The most renowned of them all is the temple of Varaha Avtar (incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the form of a boar). It is presently enshrined in a comparatively modern building on the southern side of a big sacred tank known as Varaha Sagar.

On the western side of the Varaha Sagar are the ruins of an ancient temple dating back to 10th-11th century A.D.

There is also a magnificent Torana close to the outer wall of the garh (residence) of the Thakur of Baghera.

Naginabagh offers a rare sight of low lying mounds having traces of ancient buildings buried underneath.

On the outskirts of Baghera there is a rocky area named Mataji Dungar. Here one can behold a mystifying sight of Jain images jutting out of land. These images mark the site of a famous Jain temple referred to in the inscriptions of the medieval period.

FOY SAGAR

Named after the engineer who built it, Foy Sagar is a picturesque artificial lake at Ajmer. It was the result of a famine relief project and has enhanced the beauty of the area.

KISHANGARH

Situated on the National Highway No. 8, linking Jaipur and Ajmer, this small town was the capital of a princely state ruled by the Rathores. Today, it is a treasure house of art and craft. It nurtured one of the finest schools of miniature painting in the 18th century. This is best known for the popular Bani Thani painting Nihal Chand was the master artist of this school who, under the royal patronage of Raja Sawant Singh (Nagridas), did a great service to the art. His paintings mostly depict Radha and Krishna. This region is also very rich in marble deposits and thus this small town is also very famous for its marble products.

TODGARH

Todgarh, is a picturesque place situated in the Aravallis, the oldest mountain range of the world. Todgarh is 3281 feet above sea level and has the potential of attaining the status of a hill resort, next only to Mount Abu.

Captain Tod built the fort of Todgarh which is about 70 kms. from Beawar. It is 120 kms. south of Ajmer, and only 13 kms. Bhim on National Highway No. 8.

Its original name is Boraswara. In early times, nomadic tribes like the Banjaras and Gurjars inhabited this area. Todgarh formed a part of Merwara.

KURKI

Kurki is a small village in the Nagaur district. It is the birth place of the famous princess and poetess Meera Bai.

RUPANGARH

This small town is situated 25 kms. from Kishangarh. It is founded by Roop Singh Rathore of Kishangarh and has one of the most magnificent palaces of the region.

MERTA

Earlier known as Medantakpur, this town was also known as Mednipur in ancient times. It flourished during the Pratihar period and was in possession of Rao Duda in the 15th century. Later, Rao Maldeo built a fortress "Malkot", which is in ruins now. This small town is also associated with the poetess-princess Meera Bai.

NAGAUR

Nagaur is a desert town of historical significance. It is the chief town of the district of the same name in Jodhpur division. It was known as Ahichhatrapur. It was the capital of Jangaldesh. Nagas originally ruled over this place and about 7th century onwards the Chauhans became the overlords of Nagaur and it was included in Sapadalaksha. Later on Nagaur remained under the control of the muslim Sultans and Rathore rulers of Jodhpur. Nagaur was granted to the famous warrior Amar Singh Rathore by emperor Shahjahan. Nagaur fort was considered to be the best example of Bhumi Durg (land fort) in Rajputana. It is defended by strong gates and massive ramparts. The fort contains many royal apartments such as Moti Mahal, Badal Mahal and Hawa Mahal. The Baradari is painted with beautiful murals. The cenotaph of Amar Singh Rathore and Jama Masjid are famous for their architecture.