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Best Food in Ajmer: A 2026 Guide
Begin your Ajmer food journey at the bustling Dargah Bazaar, where the lanes around the Ajmer Sharif Dargah are packed with vendors selling everything from kebabs to sweets. The… 🍽️ Where to Start
Begin your Ajmer food journey at the bustling Dargah Bazaar, where the lanes around the Ajmer Sharif Dargah are packed with vendors selling everything from kebabs to sweets. The area near the main gate, especially around Nizam Gate, is a great spot to sample local specialties like seekh kebabs and mutton samosas. Prices are very affordable, with most snacks costing between 20 and 50 rupees. Visit in the evening when the bazaar is most lively and the food is freshest.
🍢 Street Food Stalls
For iconic street food, head to the area around Delhi Gate, where you'll find stalls selling piping hot kachoris and samosas. One popular spot is the cluster of vendors near the Ajmer Railway Station, open from early morning until late night. Don't miss the chance to try dal kachori, a deep-fried pastry filled with spiced lentils, typically priced at 15 to 30 rupees. Another must-visit is the chaat stalls at Madar Gate, where you can enjoy tangy and spicy snacks for under 50 rupees.
🍛 Local Restaurants
For a sit-down meal, try the legendary Sanjay Restaurant near the Dargah, known for its rich mutton curries and biryani. A meal for two here costs around 500 to 800 rupees. Another favorite is Honeydew Restaurant on Ashok Marg, which serves North Indian and Chinese dishes in a comfortable setting, with mains ranging from 200 to 400 rupees. For vegetarians, the thali at Rasoi Restaurant on Station Road offers a generous platter for about 250 rupees.
🍮 Sweet Treats
Ajmer is famous for its sweets, especially the ghewar and mawa kachori. Head to the sweet shops in the Naya Bazaar area, such as Bikaner Sweets, where you can buy fresh ghewar for around 400 rupees per kilogram. Another classic is the mawa kachori at Jodhpur Sweets near Delhi Gate, a deep-fried pastry filled with sweetened khoya, priced at about 30 rupees per piece. These sweets are best enjoyed with a cup of hot masala chai from a nearby stall.
🍖 Non-Veg Delights
For meat lovers, the area around the Dargah is the go-to for succulent kebabs and curries. Try the mutton seekh kebabs at the stalls near the Dargah's Shahjahani Gate, where they are grilled fresh and cost around 20 rupees per skewer. For a more substantial meal, visit Mughal Restaurant on Kutchery Road, which serves aromatic mutton biryani and korma, with prices between 300 and 500 rupees. Most non-veg eateries are open from noon to midnight.
🥗 Vegetarian Options
Vegetarians will find plenty of choices, from simple dal baati to elaborate thalis. The area around the Ajmer Clock Tower has several vegetarian restaurants, including the popular Chotiwala, which serves a hearty Rajasthani thali for about 300 rupees. Another gem is the Annapurna Restaurant on Station Road, offering unlimited thalis for 250 rupees. For a quick bite, grab a plate of poha or upma from street vendors near the bus stand for just 20 rupees.
🕒 Best Times to Eat
The food scene in Ajmer changes throughout the day, so timing matters. For breakfast, head to the stalls near the railway station between 7 and 10 AM for fresh kachoris and jalebis. Lunch is best between 12 and 2 PM at local thali places, while dinner is most vibrant from 7 to 10 PM around the Dargah and Naya Bazaar. During Ramadan, the evening markets near the Dargah come alive with special iftar offerings.
💰 Budget Tips
Ajmer is very budget-friendly, with street food costing as little as 10 to 30 rupees per item. A filling meal at a local restaurant will set you back around 100 to 200 rupees, while a splurge at a nicer place might cost 500 rupees for two. Carry cash, as many small vendors don't accept cards or digital payments. Tipping is not mandatory but appreciated, and you can round up the bill to the nearest 10 rupees.
bookmarking this for my next trip back home. one thing nobody ever brings up is the food around Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra side, the little stalls doing sattu and chana jor garam in the lanes behind it are dirt cheap and mostly locals, not tourists. also fwiw the mutton samosas at Dargah bazaar are best around 6 to 7pm right when they fry the evening batch, if u go earlier theyre reheated from afternoon. solid effort on the guide tho, the timing section is genuinely useful
solid list but u missed the real breakfast move. skip the station kachori rush & go to the mawa kachori at Jodhpur Sweets near Delhi Gate around 8am, they come out hot & the khoya is still molten, 30rs a piece, two is enough til lunch. also the seekh kebab stalls at Shahjahani Gate? most pack up by 9pm so dont show up late expecting them
one thing on the sweets, ghewar at Bikaner Sweets in Naya Bazaar is more of a winter/ monsoon thing, if u go in may june they might not have it fresh so ask first
I've been going to Ajmer for years and the one thing I'd add is the food at the dargah during Urs, when the whole area turns into an open kitchen and you get stuff you won't find any other time of year. Also for anyone heading to Sanjay Restaurant, the biryani sells out fast so get there by 1pm or you're stuck with just the curries.
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3 Days in Ajmer: Itinerary 2026
Start your day early at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, which opens at 5:00 AM for prayers. The shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is the heart of Ajmer, and mornings are less cr… 🕌 Day 1 Morning: Dargah
Start your day early at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, which opens at 5:00 AM for prayers. The shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is the heart of Ajmer, and mornings are less crowded. Entry is free, but you'll need to cover your head and remove shoes. From Ajmer Junction railway station, take an auto-rickshaw for about 50 rupees; the ride takes 10 to 15 minutes. Allow two hours to explore the complex, including the main tomb and the surrounding bazaars.
🏰 Day 1 Afternoon: Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra
After lunch, head to Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra, a 12th-century mosque just a 10-minute walk from the Dargah. It's open from sunrise to sunset, and entry is free. The intricate arches and calligraphy are impressive, and you can explore in about 45 minutes. From there, walk to the nearby Ana Sagar Lake, about 20 minutes away, to catch the sunset.
🌅 Day 1 Evening: Ana Sagar Lake
Ana Sagar Lake is perfect for a relaxed evening. The lakefront promenade has food stalls selling snacks like kachoris and chai for around 20 to 50 rupees. You can also visit the Baradari monument, a marble pavilion built by Shah Jahan, open until 8:00 PM. Boating is available for 100 rupees per person for 30 minutes. From here, return to your hotel; autos are easily available until 10:00 PM.
🏛️ Day 2 Morning: Taragarh Fort
Dedicate your second morning to Taragarh Fort, a hilltop fortress with panoramic views of Ajmer. It's about 3 kilometers from the city center; take an auto-rickshaw for around 150 rupees, and the ride takes 20 minutes. The fort is open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and entry is free. Wear comfortable shoes as the climb involves steep paths. Allow two to three hours to explore the ruins and enjoy the scenery.
🕉️ Day 2 Afternoon: Nareli Jain Temple
After descending from Taragarh, visit the Nareli Jain Temple, a modern complex with intricate marble carvings. It's located on the outskirts, about 7 kilometers from the fort; an auto will cost around 200 rupees and take 25 minutes. The temple is open from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and entry is free. Spend an hour here before heading back to the city for a late lunch.
🛍️ Day 2 Evening: Shopping in Sadar Bazaar
Sadar Bazaar is Ajmer's main shopping street, ideal for picking up souvenirs like embroidered fabrics, silver jewelry, and spices. It's a 10-minute walk from Ajmer Junction. Most shops open from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, but the bazaar is liveliest after 6:00 PM. Bargain hard; prices can drop by 30 to 50 percent. Grab dinner at one of the many restaurants serving Rajasthani thalis for around 200 rupees.
🕌 Day 3 Morning: Pushkar Day Trip
On your final day, take a day trip to Pushkar, 15 kilometers from Ajmer. Buses run every 30 minutes from Ajmer bus stand, costing 20 rupees and taking 30 minutes. Alternatively, an auto-rickshaw will cost around 300 rupees one way. Start early to make the most of your day. In Pushkar, visit the Brahma Temple, open from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and the holy Pushkar Lake.
🐪 Day 3 Afternoon: Pushkar Markets and Return
After exploring the temples, wander through Pushkar's colorful markets for handicrafts and textiles. Have lunch at a rooftop cafe overlooking the lake; a meal costs about 250 rupees. In the afternoon, visit the Savitri Temple, reachable by a ropeway for 80 rupees round trip, offering great views. Return to Ajmer by 6:00 PM to catch your onward train or bus. Buses back run until 8:00 PM.
Solid plan overall, and the Dargah timing is spot on. One thing I'd add: the qawwali sessions at the Dargah run Thursday evenings after the last prayer and that's genuinely the highlight, so if your dates are flexible try to land a Thursday in Ajmer. Also, the guide mentions covering your head but doesn't say you'll want to leave your phone and shoes at the cloakroom near the main gate, since the inner courtyard gets very crowded and there are people who'll offer to "watch" your things for a fee. Just use the official counter.
For Sadar Bazaar, prices for silver jewelry vary wildly by shop. I've found the smaller stalls tucked in the lanes off the main road give better rates than the storefronts facing the street, and they're more open to bargaining.
One correction on the Pushkar bus, they leave from the Ajmer bus stand roughly every half hour but fill up fast on weekends, so getting there before 8 AM saves you a long wait.
I'd add one thing on the food side since the guide only really covers kachoris and thalis. Ajmer is famous for its sohan halwa and the best is at a couple of old shops near Naya Bazaar, close to the Dargah. It's a ghee-heavy sweet that travels well, so buy it on your last day rather than day one. A half-kilo box runs about 300 to 400 rupees and it makes a far better souvenir than the embroidered stuff in Sadar Bazaar.
Also, if you're doing the Pushkar day trip, check whether your visit falls on Kartik Purnima. The town is a completely different beast during the Pushkar fair, great if you want it, a nightmare for buses and hotels if you don't.
the itinerary is thorough, covers the big three properly. one thing nobody's mentioned yet: the day 1 plan has you doing Dargah, Jhonpra, and Ana Sagar back to back, which is doable but brutal in May-June. Ajmer hits 44 degrees by noon. i'd flip day 1 evening and day 2 evening, do Sadar Bazaar on day 1 instead since it's shaded lanes and mostly indoor-ish, and save the lake for day 2 when you're coming back from Nareli anyway.
also on the Dargah, the "opens at 5 AM" thing is for fajr prayers but the actual ziyarat (tomb viewing) for non-Muslim visitors usually starts a bit later, around 6 or so depending on the day. don't show up at 5 expecting to go straight in.
quick correction on Adhai Din ka Jhonpra, it's not a 10 min walk from the Dargah, more like 15-20 and you're crossing some busy road. auto will do it for 30-40 rupees if you don't want the walk in the heat.