Jodhpur

The Sun City
Among Rajasthan's many princely states, Jodhpur is one of the most distinguished. This 500 year old settlement was the headquarters of the Rathore clans celebrated for their tales of bravery. This princely state is also referred as "The Blue city". One of the amazing Indian cities, the land of royalty is a glittering jewel fixed in the golden sands of barren desert land & now the city is a major export centre of handicraft items.


Mehrangarh Fort
'Mehrangarh', meaning the Majestic Fort is one of the largest forts in India. Located at the centre of the city the fort spreads over 5km atop a 125m high hill. The magnificent fort was originally started by Rao Jodha in 1459, but most of the fort which stands today dates from the period of Jaswant Singh (1638 to 1678). Moti Mahal, Phool Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Sileh Khana and Daulat Khana are some of the important palaces and apartments within the complex.

Jaswant Thada
A collection of royal crematorium including that of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, in white marble, is situated near to Mehrangarh fort. Built in 1899, the cenotaph also houses the portraits of the rulers of Jodhpur. There is some beautiful marble lattice work.

Umaid Bhavan Palace & Museum
Built by Maharaja Umaid Singh in 1929 and completed in 1943, this exquisite palace also known as Chhittar Palace is a splendid example of Indo-Colonial art deco style

Not to Overlook - Excursions
Mahamandir
The temple located 2km north-east of the city on the Mandore Road, is an architectural splendour built in 1812, supported by 84 carved pillars ornamented with detailed designs.

Balsamund Lake and Palace
Located 7kms from Jodhpur is the Balsamund Lake surrounded by garden built in 1159. A European style palace constructed in 1936, looms over the lake. The lake a popular excursion spot has been converted into a public park and bird sanctuary. The Balsamund Palace offers comfortable accommodation in a peaceful surrounding.

Mandore Gardens
Mandore, the ancient capital of Marwar lies 8 kms north of Jodhpur. It houses the royal cenotaphs of the Maharajas, of which the temple shaped memorial of Maharaja Ajit Singh is the largest and the finest. The sculptures from 5th to 9th century, ivory and lacquer work are displayed here. The Shrine of 33 Crore Gods painted with figures of gods, spirits and divinities is also worth seeing. The museum opens from 1000 to 1600, Saturday to Thursday and Friday is a holiday


Location : in the state of Rajasthan
Language : Rajasthani, Hindi, Considerable % of people speaks English.
Best time to vist : November to march
Getting There
By Air : The airport is 5km from town centre. The Indian Airlines Office is south of the Centre on Airport Road and is open daily from 10 am to 1pm and 2 pm to 4.30 pm. It has flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Udaipur and Jaipur.
By Rail : The city is well connected by the railway lines and trains are available from all major cities in the country for here. The booking office is on Station Road, between the railway station and Sojati Gate. The office is open Monday to Saturday from 8 am to s pm and only until 1.45 pm on Sunday.
By Road : RSTC buses and private luxury buses connectJodhpur with a bunch of places around Rajasthan.

Related Storie(s)
Rajasthan- The Royal State Of Rajasthan- By Shahnawaj Ahmed Ansari