In the local dialect, "Apani Dhani" means "Our Hamlet", an affectionate name given to the place by Ramesh C. Jangid, founder of the ecolodge and a pioneer of a form of militant tourism in India, especially in Rajasthan and his own native region of Nawalgarh.  

Get off the beaten track in India with a stay at Apani Dhani Ecolodge

For a lot of travelers in India, New Delhi is the capital of everything that they need to get away from as quickly as possible. Nevertheless, the town has some wonderful secrets that I would like to share with you.

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Ajmer is a city in Rajasthan lying to the southwest of Jaipur. It is an important place of pilgrimage for Muslims and Jains.

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When you first see it, Ajmer appears to be a city just like some many others in India: crowds, noise, chaotic traffic and pollution are all present. But that's not all there is to it! Ajmer is a religiously important place and is therefore home to numerous temples, which are really worth visiting. The most famous temple is without doubt the Dargah Sharif, which houses the tomb of a Sufi saint highly venerated in India, Moinuddin Chishti. The temple is actually composed of a group of domed buildings in white marble, and these are visited by crowds of pilgrims each year. But my favorite thing in Ajmer is without doubt the Soniji Ki Nasiyan, which is also known as – more simply – the "Red Temple". This Jain temple is incredible, especially the main chamber, which houses the "City of Gold", the Swarna Nagari, and is full of gilded sculptures representing figures and events from the Jain religion. A visit here makes for an out-of-the-ordinary and unforgettable travel experience.

Take a trip to Ajmer, during your <a href="/india/">travels in India</a> and visit its Dargah, a town in a town that houses the tomb of a Muslim saint. This pilgrimage site draws followers from all over India and thousands of worshippers descend upon it each day. The old part of Ajmer is amazing, with its ancient palace, winding lanes, souks and street-side restaurants. I loved wandering around and found that the atmosphere differed from other Rajasthan towns. Due to the thousands of pilgrims who come to Ajmer, it can feel claustrophobic inside the town. I was glad that I stayed over at Jaipur and just visited Ajmer for the day.

Circled by the Aravalli mountain range, in the heart of Rajasthan, Ajmer is an Islamic holy town.

Although Ajmer may not be the most beautiful city in Rajasthan, it is undoubtedly worth a visit when you’re <a href="/india/">traveling in India</a>. It's an interesting stopover to discover another India, different from the usual Hindu way of life. I'll give you a guided tour. Ajmer is a center of Islam. It attracts huge numbers of pilgrims. Therefore, the hotels soon get filled up. The streets are seriously crowded. The same goes for the Dargah. It is the mausoleum and last resting place of Khwaja-Muin-ud-din-Chisti, a 12th century Sufi saint. The crowd and the jostling for space are quite oppressive, but the fervor is magical. This is not a relaxing place to visit, but it is pleasant, nevertheless. Let's follow the crowd to the Adhaï-din-ka-Jhonpra Mosque. The mosque is in ruins and the only prayer room which can still welcome the faithful is entirely open and without walls. The style of its facade is reminiscent of the Jain temple in Ranakpur. The sculptures here are also of great finesse and surgical precision. Like Adinath Temple, the columns are breathtakingly beautiful. Ajmer sits apart from the rest of India. I found it a breath of fresh air with a North African feel.

Just 12 km from Pushkar, Ajmer is an important place of pilgrimage. The city is actually a center for Islam in India.

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