Experience the best of Ajmer

Ajmer lies in a hollow of the Aravalli hills in central Rajasthan, beside the Ana Sagar lake. The Dargah Sharif, the tomb of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, who died in 1236, is one of India's most visited shrines, drawing Muslims, Hindus and others who come to offer rose petals and cloth. Nearby, the Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra, a mosque of the late twelfth century built from the remains of earlier buildings, has a screen of carved arches.

Ana Sagar, built in the twelfth century, is edged by marble pavilions from Shah Jahan's time in the Daulat Bagh gardens. The Soniji ki Nasiyan Jain temple holds a hall covered in gold leaf, Taragarh Fort stands on the hill above, and Akbar's palace now holds a museum. Pushkar, with its sacred lake and Brahma temple, lies some 14 kilometres to the north-west.

Sohan halwa, a dense, buttery sweet, is Ajmer's speciality, and kadhi-kachori is a favourite snack. The dargah's langar is cooked in giant cauldrons. The annual Urs, marking the saint's death, brings great crowds. Summers are scorching, so the cooler months from November to February suit the climb up to Taragarh.