The dargah (shrine) of Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti, Gharib Nawaz, holds the tomb of the 12th-13th century Sufi saint who brought the Chishti order to India, and is one of the most important Sufi shrines in South Asia. Zaireen (pilgrims) of every faith come to offer chadar and flowers at the mazar and ask for the saint's blessing. The complex includes the Nizam Gate and Buland Darwaza, the Akbari Masjid, the Mehfil Khana where qawwali is sung, and two great degs (cauldrons) gifted by Akbar and Jahangir in which vegetarian tabarruk is still cooked. It is managed by the Dargah Committee, a statutory body under the Dargah Khwaja Saheb Act, 1955.
Step 2 of 8Next: Visiting rules↓Visiting rules
Visiting with respect
- Offer chadar or flowers at the mazar, then step back; do not turn your back to the tomb while close to it, and keep the line moving.
- Khadims (hereditary custodians) will offer to lead your ziyarat and say a dua for you; any nazrana (offering) is voluntary, so decide what you will give beforehand.
- Sit quietly at the qawwali and do not stand in front of the qawwals; women pray in the separate area set aside for them.
Hours and rules can change for festivals and services. Check the official site on the day.
Step 3 of 8Next: Getting there↓The route, stop by stop
The whole route first. Tap any stop and the map zooms to just that place.
Route
Stops
Dargah Bazaar and Nizam Gate → The mazar of Khwaja Gharib Nawaz → The degs and the Mehfil Khana (qawwali) → Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra · Directions in Google Maps ↗
- 1About 2 km from Ajmer Junction, roughly 15 minutes on foot; vehicles cannot enter the bazaar, so walk or take a cycle-rickshaw for the last stretch Map ↗
- 2Through Nizam Gate and Buland Darwaza; shoes are left at a shoe stall outside, and you cover your head before entering Map ↗
- 3Inside the complex, in the courtyard near Buland Darwaza; qawwali is sung after the evening prayers Map ↗
- 4About 5 minutes' walk uphill behind the dargah; an ASI-protected 12th-century mosque, free entry Map ↗
What it costs
Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Page updated 18 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book.
A do-it-yourself budget for the visit: local transport and any entry fee. Donations and guided tours are extra.
What to book ahead
Where to stay and eat
Stay
Dargah Bazaar and the lanes around it are packed with simple guest houses aimed at zaireen, and Ajmer has budget hotels near the station; we could not confirm current rates, so compare booking sites for your dates. The Dargah Committee runs guest houses for devotees. During the Urs every room in the old city is taken weeks ahead, and Pushkar, 15 km away, is an alternative base.
Food
The Dargah Committee runs a free langar twice a day, and tabarruk from the degs, a sweet rice dish of rice, sugar, ghee and dry fruit, is distributed to pilgrims. Only vegetarian food is cooked in the dargah itself. Outside, the bazaar lanes are famous for non-vegetarian Mughlai food, kebabs and biryani, as well as sohan halwa sweets.
Photos
Questions people ask
How many days do you need for Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti?
1 day, starting from Ajmer (Ajmer Junction station, about 2 km from the dargah; nearest airport Kishangarh, KQH, about 27 km).
What is the best time for Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti?
October to March for mild weather; Ajmer summers are very hot. The Urs, the anniversary of Khwaja Sahib's passing, runs over the first days of the Islamic month of Rajab, ending on 6 Rajab (Chhati Sharif), and brings lakhs of zaireen: the 814th Urs began on 17 December 2025 (All India Radio). The 815th Urs falls about 11 days earlier in December 2026, but the exact dates depend on the moon sighting, so check the Dargah Committee's announcement. Thursdays and Fridays are busier than other days; early morning is quietest.
How much does Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti cost?
From about ₹300 per person doing it yourself, with the travel legs adding up to roughly ₹0.
What needs to be booked in advance?
No ticket or booking: Entry to the dargah is free and there is no booking system. Chadar, flowers and other offerings are optional and are sold in Dargah Bazaar. Cover your head, remove shoes (must book): Everyone covers their head inside the dargah (caps and scarves are sold in the bazaar) and leaves shoes outside. Dress modestly. Leave bags at a cloakroom: Visitors report that large bags must be left at cloakrooms outside the entrance, for a small fee. Carry little; security checks are strict, especially during the Urs. Khidmat closure in the afternoon: The mazar is closed for about an hour each afternoon for khidmat (the cleaning and service of the tomb), around 15:00, a little earlier on Thursdays. Times vary by source, so plan your visit for the morning or evening.
Where do pilgrims stay?
Dargah Bazaar and the lanes around it are packed with simple guest houses aimed at zaireen, and Ajmer has budget hotels near the station; we could not confirm current rates, so compare booking sites for your dates. The Dargah Committee runs guest houses for devotees. During the Urs every room in the old city is taken weeks ahead, and Pushkar, 15 km away, is an alternative base.
What about food?
The Dargah Committee runs a free langar twice a day, and tabarruk from the degs, a sweet rice dish of rice, sugar, ghee and dry fruit, is distributed to pilgrims. Only vegetarian food is cooked in the dargah itself. Outside, the bazaar lanes are famous for non-vegetarian Mughlai food, kebabs and biryani, as well as sohan halwa sweets.
Sources and last check
Checked 11 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- newsonair.gov.in Official814th Urs held December 2025; chadar offered on 22 Dec 2025
- newsonair.gov.in OfficialAnnual Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti begins in Ajmer (Jan 2025 report)
- gharibnawaz.minorityaffairs.gov.in OfficialAkbar's and Jahangir's degs, capacities, rice dish cooked in them (search excerpt; site unreachable on direct fetch)
- gov.uk OfficialNo FCDO advisory covering Ajmer (updated 7 Oct 2026)
- en.wikipedia.orgDargah Committee constituted under the Dargah Khwaja Saheb Act, 1955; runs guest houses, free langar twice a day, Urs arrangements; licenses khadims; official website gharibnawaz.minorityaffairs.gov.in
- en.wikipedia.orgUrs held in the first days of Rajab, main day 6 Rajab; flag hoisting tradition
- khaleejtimes.comDegs still in use; tabarruk of rice, sugar, ghee and dry fruit; only vegetarian food cooked in the dargah
- etvbharat.comJannati Darwaza opens only on special occasions such as Eid and the Urs
- holidify.comSeasonal hours and afternoon khidmat closure (about 14:50-16:00, Thursdays 14:20-15:30)
- rajasthandriver.comOpen about 4:00-23:00, visitors inside until 21:00 winter / 22:00 summer; Dua-e-Roshni at sunset and qawwali after evening prayers
- en.wikivoyage.orgDargah Bazaar about 15 minutes' walk from the railway station; vehicles not allowed in the bazaar
- ixigo.comKishangarh airport about 27 km from Ajmer
More sacred places and routes
Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and every booking link goes straight to the provider. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 18 October 2026 · Photo: Alinawazchishty · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Pinakpani · CC BY 4.0 · source · Photo: Saswat swarup mishra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: VrMUSLIM · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Rameezm raza · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
