Jodhpur is set at the edge of the Thar Desert. It is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It has been declared as the 2nd ‘Metropolitan City’ of Rajasthan when its population crossed a million.
This royal city reflects the saga of ancient times & the loneliness of the desert. In Earlier times, Jodhpur was the capital of the Marwar, established in 1459 A.D. by Rao Jodha who was the chief of the Rathores of Rajput’s. A high wall -10 km long with 8 gates and innumerable fortress encloses the city. Jodhpur is now the second largest city of Rajasthan. But check out best places to stay in Udaipur before moving forward we have listed some awesome places.
There are 3 Ways to Reach this Beautiful Place
By Air: The Jodhpur Airport is about 5 km from the city. There are regular flight services which connects the city with other major cities in and around Rajasthan.
By Train: Trains to Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata are easily available.
By Road: Another mode other than these for transportation to Jodhpur is by road. There is main highway between Jodhpur & Jaisalmer from Agoli and Pokhran. This highway is well connected with Agra, Ajmer, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Delhi and Udaipur by bus.
Local Transport: Various means of transport in Jodhpur include Taxis, Tonga’s & Auto-rickshaws. Taxi stand is near the main railway station. You can also explore Jodhpur by riding a bicycle.
Regarding Jodhpur culture , people here are amongst the most hospitable people of India. They have a special Marwari accent. The folks here wear lovely multi-coloured costumes. The traditional women folk wear wide gathered skirts and a hip length jacket. Women also love to wear jewellery on many parts of their body. They wear specific type of jewellery like those which are worn on the feet, forehead, head, ear, nose, neck, arms, wrist, fingers, waist, etc. The main languages spoken here are Hindi, Rajasthani & Marwari.
The graceful palaces, temples and forts scattered throughout the city bring alive the historic glory of this city. The romantic aura imprinted on Jodhpur are its charming handicrafts, folk music & folk dances, and the brightly dressed people. The desert people are quite pleasant & they win the hearts of the tourists with their sweet smiles and warm hospitality. There are bazaars in Jodhpur which have a range of items from embroidered leather shoes, lacquer ware, tie & dye textiles, puppets, carpets and antiques to the unique clay figurines, Rajasthani textiles, miniature camels & elephants, classic silver jewellery & marble work.
Jodhpur is one of the most favourite tourist destinations in Rajasthan. Thousands of People from India as well as all over the world use to visit Jodhpur every year. The main places enchanting the tourists in Jodhpur are:
The city is also known as the “Sun City” for the bright & sunny weather it enjoys throughout the year.
(1) Mehran Garh Fort
Mehran Garh Fort is one of the largest, most beautiful and impressive forts of India which is established 400 feet i.e. 122 meter above Jodhpur .The foundation of the fort took place on May 12, 1459 by founder of Jodhpur, Rao Jodha. It is confined by grand walls & is situated on top of a hill, looking at the Blue City. The look from the ramparts of the fort is astonishing as the Blue City of Jodhpur laid in front of you. The fortified Fort rises above the city & beauty of this fort is as impressive as the upholding traditional structure. A wriggly road is there to reach the city and to return. Inside these boundary walls there are various palaces famous for their complex designing that will make you say “What a beautiful construction!”. Several and decorated & brilliantly crafted palaces are found inside the Fort such as Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace),Daulat Khana, Phool Mahal (Flower Palace), Sileh Khana & Sheesha Mahal (Mirror Palace) .While walking through the Fort, one will wonder how the architects did it. Truly magnificent! The traces & imprints of bullets and cannonball strike by Jaipur army men can be seen on the second gate. You can experience the royalty of the Rajput’s of Jodhpur. There are lots of things to explore in this beautiful Fort. One of the best features at this place is the Museum from Mughal period which imprints an attractive resemblance of fine and applied arts. Even it has the authorized museum shop in India.
This Fort has a great collection of Royal Palanquins, Infant cradles & Elephant Howdahs. There is a Flying Fox zip lining from the fort which looks great. It has strongest, large, extra high walls. The rocks of the mountain are huge and stupendous. This Fort has been managed with modern facilities like audio tour, museum shop, lift etc. You can go through a lift to the top but I would rather suggest you to walk up. Walking is much more interesting. There is a restaurant& a cafe inside the fort walls. You need these things to go inside- a bottle of water, Easy shoes and time as this is not the place you can see in one hour, it is much more beautiful for that. You can use audio guide or take a guide with you ( but just don’t those who are just standing at the entrance).The Mahal’s, canons and the buildings on the top of the fort… these all make for the best photos you would have been clicking in a while.
You will be really impressed by the maintenance & cleanliness of the fort, which is unlike any other historical monuments in various parts of India as it is taken care nicely by the trustees. The 500-year-old fort is a famous site for shooting & filming. It was used as filming locations for the movie “The Dark Knight Rises” which released in June 2012. One can spend couples of hours here and still won’t mind loosing himself in the beautiful, fierce and majestic world. If you’re going to check something new in India, and you’re a castle/fort person, surely do this!
Located: The main entrance is at the northeast gate Jaipur, Above the Old City.
Entry Cost: For foreigners-400 rupees and for Indians -60 rupees (For students and senior citizens there is special discount), additional 100 rupees for still camera and for a video camera it is 200 rupees.(as per current rate)
Opening Hours: Daily from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. It would take around 4 to 5 hours to go around. The best time to visit is to come early in day and the view is simply wow!
(2) Jodhpur Flying Fox
Adventure lovers can’t pass by without enjoying the unique opportunity to go zip-lining with Mehrangarh Fort. You can’t see this side of the fort when you are taking a tour of just the fort. The circuit has six zip lines & takes around 1.5 hours to complete it. There are groups of up to 12 people which departs at appointed times. The views are amazing, location is really great and so is the security measures .A training session of 10 minutes is given before going to main zip lines.
Location: North side of the Mehrangarh Fort.
Entry Cost: Rs. 1599 (adult), Rs. 1099 (child), Rs. 1299 (student)
Opening Hours: Mid July until the end of May. Starts daily at 9.30am, 10.30am, 4.30pm, 5.00pm
(3) Jaswant Thada
The Jaswant Thada is an architectural landmark situated in Jodhpur. It is a royal white monument built with brilliant marble works by Maharaja Sardar Singh of Jodhpur State in 1899 in memory of his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh. The entire monument is built out of complex carved sheets of marble. These stones are extremely thin and polished so that they emit a glow when the sun’s rays fall across their surface. The Jaswant Thada is a traditional cremation ground of great Jodhpur rulers. The grounds also include elegantly carved gazebos; a beautiful mulch-tiered garden with a small lake. The carving shows the genius of the sculptors. There is also beautiful marble jali work on the cenotaph & you can have some nice views from the terrace in front of the cenotaph. To visit the Thada you have to go through the rocky hills which lends a mystic aura to the whole tour. If you are looking for a peaceful, serene and soothing place, visit Jaswant Thada. The views are amazing; you see the fort at a different angle. You need to cover your shoulder & knees, just to be respectful.
(4) Rao Jodha Desert Park
Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park was created in 2006 to restore the natural ecology of a large & rocky wasteland next to Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur. You will have an incredible hike with a very knowledgeable guide. Great for the late afternoon. Take this walk, the guide is free, the entrance fee is small. You will learn a lot and have a relaxing time despite the hike. A lot of work has been done in the creation of this tranquil and unique desert park. It has been imagined well & built with great effort. The park is full of little birds and plant life unique to the region. All in all, it’s a delightful and unique experience.
Location: at the foot of Mehrangarh Fort. 800 meters from the Fort’s main gate.
Entry Cost: 30 rupees for adults & 10 rupees for students.
Opening Hours: Daily 9.00 a.m. to 5.25 p.m.
(5) Clock Tower and Old City Markets
In whole of Rajasthan this is the best market you will find. If you want to buy something for yourself then you get fresh spices, saris, handicrafts, fabric, textiles and many other things here. It is chaotic, colourful and beautiful when lit up at night. It is the Old City’s famous landmark which stands at the heart of it. And Next to it there is Saddar Market which retains a traditional village bazaar feel.
(6) Umaid Bhawan Palace
The magnificent Umaid Bhawan Palace was founded in 1944, was on the greatest palaces to be built in India. Most of the remainder has been converted into a luxurious palace hotel. The museum displays old photos of the Maharaja and his family. There is classic watch and car collection as well.
Location: Airport Road, Jodhpur.
Entry Cost: Museum entry fee 50 rupees (free for hotel guests) & Camera fee 30 rupees.
Opening Hours: Daily 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
(7) Mandore and Mandore Gardens
Mandore was the capital of the Marwar before Jodhpur .It has an old fort, as well as a huge collection of temples and cenotaphs, and a small museum in the Mandore Gardens. It is known for the amazing architecture and history of an old era. There are several rock carvings, large scale tombs and a small temple, which is used for hosting weddings sometimes. The ruins of the Former palace can be seen around Mandore Gardens. If you love monkeys, you’ll find plenty out there! The park is free for entry and is fairly well maintained. The best time to go is during the week, when it’s quietest
It provides a calm and quiet place to wander after the hectic hubbub. Mandore garden is a beautiful place located on a distance of approximately 8 km north to the Jodhpur which is spread in over 82 acres of land. The place was honoured as the capital of Rathod dynasty and remained the same till 1458 AD. At the entrance, you will find the “hall of Heroes”, a nice en-carving on a single marble where number of Hindu deities are well uncarved. Inside, atmosphere is quite peaceful. In the campus, Ekthamba Minar is worth seeing. Temple inside the campus is very attractive for its style and carvings on it. Mandore gardens in fact were burial ground of the kings of Rathod Dynasty. A little walk can take you to a hillock where you can see ruins of Vishnu and Shiva temple damaged by some fanatic Mughal ruler.
Location: 8 kilometres north of Jodhpur.
Entry Cost: Gardens are free. Museum 50 rupees.
Opening Hours: Gardens, daily from sunrise to sunset. Museum, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday to Thursday.
(8) Jain Mahavira Temple
This temple has a splendid architecture and for sure you will be amazed with the magnificent carvings on the temple pillars. This wonderful temple is located in hills having peaceful location. It was so serene to be at this place and look at the beautiful carvings, and sure words are not enough to describe the beauty of this place.
This place is amazing. It is six hundred years old and has been in continuous use as a temple for all that time. Consequently the marble carvings which cover all pillars and surfaces of the temple are amazingly intact. We were lucky enough to be shown over by the High Priest of the Temple who explained all the mythology and culturally significant attributes.
(9) Spice Paradise
This place is run by a friendly family who teaches not only how to cook delicious Indian food but also educates you in their Ayurveda medicinal properties. They conduct Indian cooking classes which are hugely popular with foreigners in their humble kitchen. Along with delicious recipes, you will get to meet a lovely family and gain valuable insight into Indian culture.
If you are a foreigner then this place is not to be missed.
Location: behind the Clock, Tower, Amar Chowk, and Jodhpur.
Cost: 1,000 rupees per person for a three course meal.
Classes are around 3-4 hours long.
(10) Shri Ganesh Temple
It is a divine temple of lord Ganesh, located on the top of hill, where you can have a great view of the town and palace. On one side there is Umaid Bhawan palace and on the other there is the whole city. Visit in evening time for best view. Its local name is pahadi Ganesh. It has about 60-80 steps and is extremely quiet place which is famous for chitchatting or having a peaceful time. Right behind temple is a small cliff, to sit and relax for a while. Don’t take alcohol with you as it’s a temple.
