Akbari Masjid — Attraction in Ajmer

The Akbari Masjid as the name implies is a mosque built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The story goes that Akbar had the mosque built in gratitude for the birth of his son, Prince Salim. By the standards of mosques, the entrance is richly decorated in a gold background with arabic writing and floral themes, a style also found opposite the Dargah Sharif which is adjacent to the mosque complex. The rest of the mosque is built with mosque is built mostly of marble, but decorated in a bland green. It though it was okay. The place is very commercial because of the Dargah and there are many stalls inside the mosque complex selling stuff to worshippers wanting to pray...

According to the Ain-e-Akbari, emperor Akbar had to visit Ajmer for military purposes during 1561 to 1568 A.D. but in the year 1570, Akbar knowing the spiritual powers of Khwaja saheb, came to the Dargah and requested Khwaja saheb to fulfil his desire for a son. And as his desire was fulfilled, he got a son named Salim. Akbar came to Ajmer Dargah on foot from Agra to pay homage and to thank Khwaja saheb. The trek from Agra to Ajmer took him 15 days. Akbar had a beautiful mosque constructed in the same year. This mosque is today known as Akbari Mosque. Akbar built this mosque of red stones in 1570 A. D. Its central arch is...

Located at one side of the Dargah complex, the Akbari Masjid is a unique spot indeed. One has to climb up a few steep steps to reach a citadel upon which this mosque was commissioned by Mughal Emperor Akbar. Most people coming to the Dargah don't know about its existence and as a result it's almost always empty, I had a grand time exploring such a beautiful structure on my own and then sitting down in one corner and imagining how Akbar himself and later perhaps his sons and grandsons used to come and pray here too. Like all mosques, one has to dress modestly and wear a covering on the head for both...