Ajmer is the land of Pushkar, one of the most venerated sites of Hindus. The Padma Purana narrates the story of the sanctity of Pushkar, as the place where the Creator, Brahma, performed a sacred yagna.
The early history of Ajmer commences with the rule of the valiant Chahamanas/ Chauhans. A celebrated name in Chauhan chronicles is Ajaipal, founder of the fortress of Ajaymeru Durg. The first Turkish attack on Ajaymeru Durg took place in the reign of Durlabh Rai (Doola Rai). Till the 10th century, the Chauhans ruled as vassals of the imperial Pratiharas. When the Pratihara power declined, Chahamana ruler Simharaja assumed the title of Maharajadhiraja. In the time of Arnoraja, the invading Turkish forces reached as far as Ajmer. Arnoraja inflicted heavy losses on them, as recorded in a fragmentary Chauhan prasasti. The reign of Arnoraja's younger son, Visaldeva IV Vigraharaj, is a landmark in the history of Ajmer and India. He was the first Chauhan emperor of India, his nephew, Prithviraj III, being the last.
The first visible impact of Muhammad Ghori's invasions on the landscape of Ajmer was the transformation of the Sanskrit college built by Visaldeva IV Vigraharaj into the Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra. The Sufi, Moinuddin Chishti, also came with the troops of Muhammad Ghori. He located himself at Ajmer, where his dargah acquired great prominence under the Mughals.
