Battle of Ajmer

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Battle of Ajmer
Part of Chahmana–Ghaznavid wars
Date circa 1135–1150 CE Location Ajmer, Rajasthan 26°28′41″N 74°37′22″E / 26.4781°N 74.6228°E / 26.4781; 74.6228 Result Chahamana victory[1]
Belligerents
Chahamana Dynasty	Ghazanavid Empire
Commanders and leaders
Arnoraja Chauhan	Bahram Shah of Ghazni
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
class=notpageimage| Location of the Battle of Anasagara

The Battle of Ajmer^[2] took place somewhere between 1135 and 1150 CE between the invading forces of the Ghaznavid Sultan Bahram Shah and the forces of the Chauhan Dynasty under Arnoraja Chauhan. The battle took place near Ajmer, Rajasthan which led to a devastating defeat for the Muslim commander overwhelmed by the Rajput assault, forcing the Muslims to flee the battleground. In the harsh desert conditions, the Muslims faced exhaustion and thirst, resorting to extreme measures like drinking horse blood, while the weight of heavy armor exacerbated the toll, resulting in significant casualties and transforming the battleground into a crimson landscape due to the bloodshed of Muslim soldiers on the battlefield.

The conflict compelled the Muslim intruders to abstain from Rajput Territories for over two decades. The aftermath of the conflict depicted a somber scene, highlighting the impact of the harsh desert conditions. Local villagers, averse to the unpleasant odor emanating from the deceased Muslim invaders, found it necessary to burn their remains, which lay in considerable numbers along the path.

Following this significant triumph, King Arnoraja seeking to cleanse the crimson landscape resulting from the Muslim soldiers slaughter, initiated the construction of the Anasagara lake to purify the battleground and memorialize the victory. Filled with waters from the river Chandra, sourced in the Pushkara forest, the lake symbolized the Chahamana triumph and played a role in purifying the contested land.