Jodhpur Tourism

Jodhpur Tourism The historical and ancient city of Jodhpur is situated in the Thar Desert, in the northwest Indian state of Rajasthan. This is a 15th Century city built around the majestic Mehrangarh Fort. This city is also known as the “Blue City” due to the uniformly painted houses in light blue colour. The city of Jodhpur is popular for its rugged natural beauty. Its rocky landscape and desert plantations along with ancient ruins of the historical forts and palaces create an adventurous and a mesmerising ambience for visitors. The city looks magical at night, with the forts lighting up the horizon and performers adding to the cultural vibrance of the city.

History
Jodhpur was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha, a Rajput Chief of to the Rathore clan. Rao Jodha succeeded in conquering the surrounding territory and thus founded a state which came to be known as Marwar. As Rao Jodha hailed from the nearby town of Mandore, that town initially served as the capital of this state; however, Jodhpur soon took over that role, even during the lifetime of Rao Jodha. This enabled it to profit from a flourishing trade in copper, silk, sandals, date palms and coffee.

It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, it is the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar. Jodhpur is a popular tourist destination, featuring many palaces, forts and temples, set in the stark landscape of the Thar desert.

The city is known as the Sun City for the bright, sunny weather it enjoys all year. It is also referred as the Blue City due to the indigo tinge of the whitewashed houses around the Mehrangarh Fort. Jodhpur lies near the geographic center of Rajasthan state, which makes it a convenient base for travel in a region much frequented by tourists. The old city of Jodhpur is surrounded by a thick stone wall.

About
Jodhpur is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, it was the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar. Jodhpur is a popular tourist destination, featuring many palaces , forts and temples , set in the stark landscape of the Thar desert Jodhpur history revolves around the Rathore Clan. Rao Jodha, the chief of the Rathore clan, is credited with the origin of Jodhpur in India. He founded Jodhpur in 1459. The city is named after him only. It was previously known as Marwar.

The following are the main attractions of Jodhpur:

Mehrangarh Fort
The most magnificent fort in Jodhpur is the Mehrangarh Fort. It is situated on a 150m high hill. Rao Jodha, the then chief of Rathore clan, constructed it in 1459. There are a number of attractions within the fort like several palaces, galleries, a museum, temples and so on. The magnificent Mehrangarh Fort is the most majestic and one of the largest forts in India. The museum in the Mehrangarh fort is one of the finest museums in Rajasthan and certainly the best laid out. In the palanquin section of the fort museum, you can see an interesting collection of old royal palanquins including the elaborate domed gilt Mahadol palanquin, which was won in a battle from the Governor of Gujarat in 1730. The Chamunda Mataji was Rao Jodha's favorite goddess, he brought her idol from the old capital of Mandore in 1460 and installed her in Mehrangarh (Maa Chamunda was the kul devi of Parihar rulers of Mandore).

Jaswant Thada
The Jaswant Thada, located half way up the interminably long road that climbs onwards to the fort, is the traditional cremation ground of the rulers of Jodhpur. Taking pride of place amongst the ornamental gardens and chattris is the fabulous white marble memorial to Jaswant Singh II, built in 1899. The cenotaphs of other rulers , in the same neighborhood , are relatively simpler. Within this cenotaph, there are also two more tombs. The Jaswant Thada is a traditional cremation ground of Jodhpur rulers. The grounds also include exquisitely carved gazebos, a beautiful multi-tiered garden, and a small lake.

Mandore
It was founded in the 6th century, and passed to the Rathore Rajputs in 1381 after a marriage alliance between a princess of the original founders, the Pratiharas, and the Rathode Raja, Rao Chandor. The historic town boasts several important monuments. The now ruined Mandore fort, with its thick walls and substantial size, was built in several stages and was once a fine piece of architecture. A huge, now ruined temple is a highlight of the fort. The outer wall of the temple depicts finely carved botanical designs, birds, animals and planets.

Things to Do
There are several places of interest to visit in Jodphur.

The Mehrangarh Fort is situated on the exterior of the city of Jodhpur. The fort lies on a hilltop which is about 125 m high.
The Mehrangarh is also famous by the name Jodhpur-Ka-Kila. The Mehrangarh Fort ranks to be one of the most precious forts to the nation.
The fort also includes a museum which is famous for the different musical instruments. It also displays a variety of traditional cultural costumes.
The Umaid Bhavan Palace is a monument of great architectural importance. The Chittar sandstone one of the unique kinds of sandstone was used for building the palace.
The palace depicts the rich cultural heritage of India. The palace also houses a museum and a hotel. Overall the Umaid Bhavan is a must see for the visitors.
In Rajasthan the “Kaman art gallery” is one of its kind. The paintings in the gallery are worth a glance.

How to Reach

By Air The Jodhpur Airport is 5 km from the city center. Regular flight services connect the city with other major cities in and around Rajasthan. There are daily flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Udaipur and Jaipur.

By Train Jodhpur is well connected by railway lines. Trains to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata are easily available. The 'Palace on Wheels' also visits this city of royal splendor.

By Road Another convenient mode of transportation to Jodhpur is by road. The main highway between Jodhpur and Jaisalmer is via Agoli and Pokaran. The highway is well connected with Agra, Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Delhi, Jaipur, Jaisalmer and Udaipur by bus.

Local Transport Means of transport in Jodhpur include Taxis, Auto-rickshaws and Tongas. Taxi stand is near the main railway station. Auto-rickshaws are best suited for the narrow lanes of the old city.You can also explore Jodhpur with a bicycle.