Ajmer is a city in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan. South of the city’s artificial Ana Sagar Lake is Ajmer Sharif Dargah, the domed shrine of the Muslim Sufi saint Garib Nawaz. Nearby, a 16th-century palace built by the Mughal emperor Akbar now houses the Ajmer Government Museum, displaying armor and stone sculptures. A museum at the Indo-Saracenic–style Mayo College exhibits art and taxidermied birds.
When to visit : Ajmer has a hot, semi-arid climate. The busiest period is between fall and spring (Oct–May), when it’s dry and sunny. Temperatures are very high Apr–Jun. The monsoon season (Jul–Sep) is cooler. The Urs Festival at Dargah Sharif, commemorating the death anniversary of Garib Nawaz (7th month of the Islamic calendar, usually May/Jun), sees several nights of Qawwali devotional music.
