This is one of the most neglected monuments ever seen by me. It is just sheer ignorance, apathy and indolence of Archaeological department and the local public. Just like a piece of meat is thrown in front of a dog, in the same way an arrow has been thrown at the foot of fate of this great heritage ‘Dhai Din Ka Jhopra’. Unwanted entries on pretext of Mosque inside is spoiling the glory and beauty of its ancientness.
Though it took seven years for building in 1192 AD yet popularly it started being called as “Dhai din ka jhopra- 2.5 days shed”. The reason could be that this name is given by locals as in olden time, 2.5 days Jain religious activity took place here or there was 2.5 days fair during Islamic prayers or that ONE of the structures took 2.5 days to build.
Location
This monument is located in Ajmer, an ancient city of state Rajasthan in India. In summer the temperature may go as high as 44°C and winter may be very harsh. It is well connected by road and trains to entire India. Kishangarh airport is 25 KM from here. Jaipur is 135 KM from Ajmer.
Where to stay
We stayed in Hotel Khadim of Rajasthan State Tourism (RTDC). It is an average hotel with big compound, peacocks and average but spacious restaurant. It is in heart of city. I recommend to stay here.
Hotel booking – Hotel Khadim
Our itinerary in Ajmer
Dhai Din ka Jhopra is just about less than a KM from Ajmer Sharif Dargah. We just walked as streets were very narrow and autos usually avoid going.
Present state of monument
It pains seeing this awing monument – so many sky-high screen walls, amazing carvings and in front moaning beggars lying in tattered old clothes and rags inside and outside for shelter and no security around. The monument is abandoned as orphan? This heritage is more threatened as people assume that there is a mosque here and which avows anyone to enter here. The walls and its inside are smeared and scratched by public.
This 1000 year old structure is is just in vicinity of 1 KM from Ajmer Dargah Sharif, I pass through the traditional shops in narrow and dirty streets with smell of mounds of Biryani, traditional food items and butchers shops. On reaching here and climbing about 20 steps I see a marble inscription kept at foot of main entrance gate. People have showered the spit of beetle on this inscription. On pretext of 5 times Namaz there is entry to ‘unwanted’ locals here who have made it their shelter. Austere steps are required to save this monument now. It is still not so late.
I was dismayed to see that though it is called Jhopra, it is a massive group of huge screen walls, gates and prayer place. I wonder why the local public and leaders not act to save this place?
About this monument
This was commissioned by Qutb-ud-Din-Aibak in 1192 AD (took 7 years in building) and is typically architectural mix of Hindu, Jain and Islam. The original Hindu-Jain building was partially destroyed and converted into a mosque by Qutb-ud-Din-Aibak of Delhi in the late 12th century. It is probably the oldest Mosque in India.
Aibek ordered to build the mosque within 60 hours (that is, 2+1⁄2 days). It was built by Hindu masons under supervision of Afghan architect team. The artisans could not build a complete mosque in 60 hours time, but constructed a brick screen wall where Aibek could offer prayers. By the end of the century, a complete mosque was enhanced to completion by Iltutmish in 1199.
So in brief we can say this monument was founded by Aibak and completed by Iltutmish. Since this monument is in vicinity of Ajmer Sharif Dargah, it is worth mentioning that Moinuddin Chishti had come to India during Iltutmish period and earned reputation during end of his life. So Dhai din ka jhopra and Dargah have no connection.
Till 1947 it was used as full fledged mosque but after that it came under ASI.
The historians are not unanimous about the origin of this structure. Some say it was constructed from the bricks of demolished Hindu temple or it was a Hindu-Jain temple and a Sanskrit school.
The mosque is example of Indo-Islamic architecture. It was designed by Abu Bakr of Herat, an architect who accompanied by Muhammad Ghori. Out of 344 pillars now only 70 pillars are remaining. We can imagine the damage done to this building in past.
Some excavations were done on this site by British teams and some copper and stone inscriptions (now kept in Akbar fort museum in Ajmer) were found.
We can see that how neglected are the vast premises which could be actually converted in garden, fountain and secured with boundary.
“But in the gorgeous prodigality of ornament, in the beautiful richness of tracery, and an endless variety of detail, in delicate sharpness of finish, and the laborious accuracy of workmanship, all of which are due to the Hindu masons, I think that these two grand Indian mosques may justly vie with the noblest buildings which the world has yet produced walk.” – Alexander Cunningham in praise of this monument
Historically according to Jain tradition here was a Jain shrine built by Seth Viram Dev Kala in 660 AD and it also had Jain Sanskrit school which was started by Vigraharaja IV of Shakambari Rajput king. Some copper inscriptions tablets were found here which are extract of Sanskrit drama Lalita-Vigraharaja Nataka and few more about Chauhan ruler Vigraharaja IV stating that they were descendent of Sun. All these inscriptions are now kept in Akbar Fort museum, Ajmer.
Epilogue
I loved, really loved to see this monument and it was my wish to see this monument. I did not know that Ajmer has so many beautiful and historical attractions like Akbar fort, Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Anna Sagar lake, two famous Jain temple, Pushkar but in ancient, Dhai Din ka Jhopra stands unique and gigantic.
ASI department must immediately act austerely to save this monument and draw a boundary wall and till the entry fee is not charged, people will not recognize and respect the importance this great monument.
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