Jodhpur

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Located on the foothill of a sandstone hillock, the city of Jodhpur seems like an oasis in the vast desert. Jodhpur is one of the favorite tourist destinations in Rajasthan. People from India as well as all over the world visit Jodhpur every year. There are a number of tourist attractions in Jodhpur, enchanting the tourists. Jodhpur tourist spots stand as a living proof of the splendor, traditions and culture of the Jodhpur. The glorious past of Jodhpur is personified through the various forts, palaces and other monuments of Jodhpur.

The main places to see in Jodhpur Rajasthan are:

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.

Umaid Bhavan Palace

One of the fascinating palaces of Jodhpur is the Umaid Bhavan palace. Maharaja Umaid Singh constructed it in 20th century. A part of the palace has now been converted into a hotel and a museum.

Jaswant Thada

Jaswant Thada lies to the left of the Mehrangarh fort complex. It is a royal cenotaph made up of white marble. It was built to commemorate Maharaja Jaswant Singh. Some rare portraits of the former rulers of Jodhpur are also displayed here.

History

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 paragraphs will tell you more about the past of Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

The Rathores were driven out of their original homeland, Kaunaj, by Afghans. They fled to Pali, near to the present day Jodhpur. Rathore Siahaji married the sister of a local prince. This helped the Rathores to establish and strengthen themselves in this region. In some time they ousted the Pratiharas of Mandore, just 9 km of today’s Jodhpur. Initially, Mandore served as their capital, but, by 1459, Rathores felt a need for a secure capital. This lead to the formation of Jodhpur, the Sun City, by Rao Jodha.

The Rathores enjoyed good relations with all the Mughals, except Aurangzeb. Maharaja Jaswant Singh even supported Shahjahan in his struggle for succession. After Aurangzeb’s death, Maharaja Ajit Singh drove out Mughals from Ajmer and added it to Marwar (now Jodhpur). Under the reign of Maharaja Umed Singh, Jodhpur grew into a fine modern city.

During the British Raj, the state of Jodhpur was the largest in Rajputana, by land area. Jodhpur prospered under the British Raj. Its merchants, the Marwaris, flourished endlessly. They came to occupy a dominant position in trade throughout India. In 1947 India became independent and the state merged into the union of India. Jodhpur became the second city of Rajasthan.

Excursions

It’s a sin to be in Rajasthan and just travel past the former capital of the Kingdom of Marwar, Jodhpur. For in its domain, the mighty forts and palaces, still stand as the epicenter of all that has grown around them over the centuries, silently watching over, unintimidated, across the barren backdrop of the Thar Desert that in itself is a powerful force able to consume one and all.

Yet, in all its regal history and the legacy of a present, and by blowing the bugle that emits unavoidable Rajputana vibes, Jodhpur continues to magnetise many a travellers from around the world. Increasing footfalls continue to leave indelible marks of different global identities on the land of Jodhpur, each saying “I too have been here, and mingled with the air of royalty…” Jodhpur, also known as “Sun City” for literally basking in the sun all year long, and “Blue City”, because of the bluepainted houses thriving around the Olympian Mehrangarh Fort, is however, a lot more than the forts, palaces, and desert.

Here, the history surpasses the boundaries of the Rajputana clan and meets from Moguls to the British Raj; the fairs and festivals are as vibrant as the land is arid, showcasing the zealous spirit of the locals; and the fusion of Rajputana and Mughal architecture that manifests in the many temples locks an unbreakable spell upon its viewers.

Verily, shunning away Jodhpur’s presence would be to forever remain in darkness, unknown of what life light might have introduced you to. But those who’ve experienced the beauty above have made today, the city of Jodhpur, located about 335 km from the state capital, Jaipur, one among the most favored tourist destinations, not just in Rajasthan, but in India and the world.

Apart from the regulars but in no way less in grandeur like the Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada Fort Complex, Umaid Bhawan Palace, Rai-ka- Bag Palace, Umed Garden, Government Museum, Siddhanath Shiva Temple, and Ganesh Temple, there are other sites to see and absorb in and around Jodhpur that are a must visit. So when in Jodhpur, make sure you get to see at least a few that make the city even more appealing.

Most of these Jodhpur excursions are related to the past of the city, revealing something new to one who has time to listen at the lore. Be it the Balsammand Palace, which was breathed life in by Maharaja Sur Singhji of Jodhpur as his summer pavilion, or the Hall of Heroes (shrine to 330 million gods and a royal cenotaph) located in Mandor; the remnants of the ancient city of Ossian, temples of which easily rival the best in the country- Sun Temple of Konark, or the Jaswant Sagar Dam and the Kalayana Lake spread over 84 sq. km.; Jodhpur will not disappoint.

It will, however, be every reason for a wonderful stay in the state of Rajasthan, with unforgettable memories to give you company till the very end, making you come back here, at least once.

Mandore

Mandore was the ancient capital of Marwar, before the formation of Jodhpur. It lies towards the north of Jodhpur, just 8 Kms from the main city. Historically, this place quite rich and holds importance. Besides that, there are a number of other things in this famous excursion of Jodhpur, Rajasthan that attract tourists.

The most known attractions of Mandore are:

Mandore Gardens:

The extensive Mandore gardens, with their high rocky terrace, are a popular local attraction.
The Hall of Heroes:
It is dedicated to various deities and fabled Rajput folk heroes. There are sixteen huge figures, carved out of a single rock and painted in bright colors.
The Shrine:
This is the shrine of 330 million Gods, filled with brightly colored images of various Hindu Gods and Folk Deities.
The Royal Cenotaphs:
The cenotaphs of Jodhpur’s former rulers are set in beautifully landscaped gardens of Mandore. Greenery of this place makes Mandore an oasis in the vast desert of Rajasthan. Balsammand Palace At some point of time in our life, we all want to stay at a place overlooking a water body, preferably a sea.

The Jodhpur Balsammand Palace in Mandore, Rajasthan offers you this kind of comfort.

This palace is built on a hillock facing Balsammand Lake. This popular excursion of Jodhpur, Rajasthan was constructed in 19th century and is made up of sandstone. Maharajah Sur Singh of Jodhpur, as a summer pavilion, built this palace encircled by hills. The Balsammand Palace of Jodhpur, Rajasthan is beautifully carved.

Allowing the cool breeze to blow into the palace are the latticed windows. The lakeside, in front of the palace, has domed structure that provides fabulous views of the lake.

The gardens get water from an artificial waterfall, bringing down water from the reservoir. The palace has now been converted into a heritage hotel.

While staying there, you will feel as if you are staying in a royal palace. To fully enjoy this place, you should roam around the place and take a walk through the trees. Also good for a walk are the rose beds, the pools covered with lilies and the groves of mango, plum, banana, pomegranate and lots of other trees.

You may also get to see the peacocks, blue bulls, jackals and hundreds of fruit bats in the trees. If you are looking for calm and peace, while on the trip to Jodhpur, this is the perfect place for you. The Balsammand Palace, along with the lake and gardens, is sure to win your heart.

Guda Bishnoi Village

If you want to get an experience of the tribal India, Jodhpur Guda Bishnoi Village is the place for you. It is approximately 25 kms from the main city of Jodhpur.

The Guda Bishnoi village of Jodhpur, Rajasthan is scenic beauty marked with Khejri trees and deer. Also in the village is the Guda Bishnoi Lake. It is an artificial lake, perfect as a picnic spot.

A person interested in exotic wild life & nature should definitely visit this village. The Bishnoi community inhabits the village. The villagers are staunch worshippers of nature in all its forms, specially the sanctity of plant and animal life.

They even pray to the green trees and animals that inhabit their land. In this world of exploitation everywhere, they make every effort to conserve the environment. Another fact about the Bishnoi tribals is that they worship Lord Vishnu and are vegetarians. Around the Guda Bishnoi Lake, you can see numerous migratory birds like domicile Cranes etc, blackbucks and chinkaras.

This pond is drinking point for antelopes black bucks of near by area. The Guda Bishnoi village in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India is a kind of desert oasis.

It is the perfect place to experience the traditions and customs of tribal life. It is a place caught in a delightful time warp, where life still goes on like the days of the past. 30 The Indian Panorama travel FRIDA

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