Tag: Jodhpur

In the heart of Rajasthan, where the golden sands of the Thar shimmer under the relentless desert sun, rises a city draped in shades of indigo and soaked in royal heritage -Jodhpur, the Blue City. A place where time lingers in the lanes of the old town, where every corner whispers tales of valor, artistry, and desert mystique.
Jodhpur serves as the gateway to the Thar Desert, connecting travelers to destinations like Jaisalmer, Osian, and Barmer. For the adventurous, desert safaris, jeep rides, and camping under the starlit sky bring the rugged romance of Rajasthan to life.
Jodhpur marks its origin back to the year of 1459 AD. The history of this prosperous city revolves around the Rathore clan. Rao Jodha, the chief of Rathore Clan is credited with the origin of Jodhpur in India. The city is known to be built in place of the ancient capital, Mandore of the state of Manwar. Hence, the people of Jodhpur and surrounding areas are commonly known as Marwaris. Also, it is believed that the relics of Mandore can still be witnessed in the Mandore Gardens.
MEHRANGARH FORT
Rising perpendicular and impregnable from a hill which is 125 metres above Jodhpur’s skyline is the Mehrangarh Fort. This historic fort is one of the most famous in India and is packed with history and legends. Mehrangarh Fort still bears the imprints of cannonball attacks courtesy the armies of Jaipur on its second gate. Chiselled and sturdy, the fort is known for its exquisite latticed windows, carved panels, intricately decorated windows and walls of Moti Mahal, Phool Mahal and Sheesh Mahal.
KHEJARLA FORT
Located 85 kilometres from the main city, the 400-year old Khejarla Fort is situated in a rural setting. The stunning red sandstone monument, now a hotel, is an example of Rajput architecture. Visitors will be mesmerised by the fort’s picturesque settings, latticework friezes and intricate Jharokas.
UMAID BHAWAN PALACE
Umaid Bhawan Palace was built by Maharaja Umaid Singh in 1929 to counter a famine which had hit the state at the time. It was also known as the Chittar Palace while being constructed thanks to the use of stones drawn from the Chittar hill. The palace was designed by HV Lanchester, a renowned British architect, and was completed in 16 years. Built with sandstone and marble, the architecture of the palace is described as a blend of lndo-Saracenic, Classical Revival and Western Art Deco styles. It is recognised as one of the largest private homes in the world and also one of the more spectacular buildings. It is the only palace built in the 20th century.
MOTI MAHAL
Moti Mahal, as the name suggests, is the Pearl Hall where the royal families held their audience. The hall is known to have glass windows and five nooks that enabled the queens to listen to the proceedings taking place in the Sringar Chowki, The Royal Throne of Jodhpur.
SHEESH MAHAL
Situated within the compound of Mehrangarh Fort is the glass palace of Jodhpur, popularly known as Sheesh Mahal. This magnificent piece of architecture is adorned with walls of mirror work that stretch across ceilings and to the floors. It is superimposed by the mirror work of brightly painted religious figures cast in plaster.
PHOOL MAHAL
Going by the name, the Phool Mahal or Flower Hall is the most exorbitant of all the halls in the palace. This beautiful chamber is said to be the pleasure dome for the Maharajas. The gold used for constructing the Mahal came from Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
CHAMUNDA MATAJI TEMPLE
Chamunda Mataji was Rao Jodha’s favourite goddess and so her idol was bought to the Mehrangarh Fort. Thus, the fort became a place of worship and was turned into a temple. Since then, locals have followed the culture of worshipping Chamunda Mata. In fact, till date, the goddess remains the Isht Devi (the adopted goddess) of Maharajas and the royal family.
RANISAR PADAMSAR
Located near the Fateh Pole in Mehrangarh, the Ranisar and Padmasar are adjacent lakes that were constructed in the year 1459. Ranisar Lake was built on orders of Queen Jasmade Hadi, Rao Jodha’s wife while Padmasar Lake was ordered by Queen Padmini of Rao Ganga, daughter of Rana Sanga of Mewar.
JASWANT THADA
This milky white memorial built towards the end of the 19th century as a tribute to the leader Jaswant Singh is a huge tourist attraction. Jaswant Singh, who ruled Jodhpur, invested well in his state. He made attempts to bring down the level of crime, subdue dacoits, built railways and broadly worked on raising the economy of Marwar. Jaswant Thada is managed and looked after by the Mehrangarh Museum Trust (MMT) and is open to public.
The Trust is operating a Museum in Jaswant Thada displaying portraits of Marwar rulers along with informative didactics – the information serves as orientation space to understand the history of Marwar through the Portraits. Its grounds serve as a serene venue for morning concerts during music festivals such as the Rajasthan International Folk Festival and the World Sacred Spirit Festival.

A popular travel destination in Rajasthan, Jodhpur is a sunny city set against the bright blue sky and is called the ‘Blue city since a number of houses and walls of the city are painted blue in color. The city of Jodhpur was founded in the year 1459 by Rao Jodha, the chief of the Rathore clan at the time.
After being driven out by the Afghans from their homeland in Kannauj, The Rathore clan fled to Pali, where they established marital ties with the local kingdom which increased their strength. Following which they drove out the Pratiharas from Mandore and established the town as their capital. Later as the need for a more secure capital arose, the Rathores decided to settle in the beautiful city of Jodhpur.
Jodhpur’s sublime architecture is what catches the eyes of the tourists while sightseeing. Jodhpur offers its visitors an unbeatable blend of modern and ancient that divides the city neatly into two parts, Old and New.
The Old Jodhpur is crammed with the famous blue painted houses, consistently mushrooming hotels catering to hippie culture, and those interested in witnessing the rustic side of this one of the favorite getaways in Rajasthan. On the other side, the New Jodhpur area teems with malls, high end accommodations, amusement parks, cafes and lounges.
However, one cannot overlook the gorgeous suburb of Jodhpur that is adorned with lakes like Kaylana, and the places nearby such as the Osian village, dotted with beautiful ancient Hindu and Jain temples with a desert area for camel safari. Indeed, Jodhpur is an enriching and fulfilling experience for family vacations, honeymoon, history lovers, students, and for that matter, even for solo travelers.
Apart from Mehrangarh and Umaid Bhawan Palace, the top places to visit in Jodhpur include the white marbled Jaswant Thada, Mandore Garden, and the Masuria Hills, popular for offering panoramic views of the city. There are also a large number of Hindu temples in Jodhpur, beckoning an ideal destination for pilgrimage tours. Another must see place is the Sardar Government Museum that displays ancient inscriptions, coins, sculptures, etc.
While Jodhpur is famous for its palaces and architecture, it is equally known for its Pyaaz Kachori, Mirchi Bada and Mawa Kachori, among other delicacies.
Read along to find out the top tourist destinations in Jodhpur as we bring to you a travel guide on Jodhpur tourism.
Forts and Palaces
Perched on top of a hill at a height of 410 feet above the city of Jodhpur is the most beautiful structure of the city, the Mehrangarh Fort. Built in the year 1459 by Rao Jodha of the Rathore clan, the fort is an architectural marvel and is steeped in history.
The fort has 7 huge gates which were built by different rulers at different points of time and were made as a reminder of their victory in battles. The fort houses a number of magnificent palaces namely,the Phool Mahal, Moti Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Jhanki Mahal, Takhat Vilas and Zenana Mahal, and now functions as a museum.
The Phool Mahal is the most elaborate palace in the fort. As the name suggests, Phool Mahal was designed to look like the most beautiful flower, and it does. The palace was made by Maharaja Abhaya SIngh and was intended to be a pleasure chamber for the King
The interior of the palace is laden with gold, uses a colorful palette, and is adorned with paintings and intricate carvings on its walls and ceilings. The built and design of the palace are a fine testament to the extravagant taste of the royals.
Moti Mahal translates to ‘Palace of pearls’ is considered to be the biggest palace at Mehrangarh and was made by Raja Sur Singh as a darbar or the court where he would listen to the concerns of his subjects.
The palace earns the name due to its surface being covered with a mixture of finely crushed seashells and lime plaster which gives it a shiny look. The intricacies of its interior with the beautiful mirror work, religious paintings and stained glass windows make the palace a sight to behold
The Sheesh Mahal or the Palace of Mirrors is another exquisite palace in Mehrangarh Fort. The palace is known for the marvelous interior with its walls and ceilings covered in mirrors of different sizes and the walls adorning painted panels of various Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Sheesh Mahal was built by Maharaja Ajit Singh and was one of his private chambers.
Built by Maharaja Takhat Singh, the Takhat Vilas served as his residence during his reign and displays a blend of Rajput and British architecture. The walls and ceiling of the palace are decorated with paintings which showcase stories from Hindu mythology.
The Jhanki Mahal was built for the women of the royal family to observe the royal ceremonies since they were barred from coming into public view, and so they observed the ceremonies through the windows of the palace.
This palace at Mehrangarh Fort called the Zenana Mahal was built for the royal women and was kept separated from the men’s quarters. The royal women lived at the palace and spent a lot of their time here. The noticeable architecture of the palace includes structures made of sandstones and intricate carvings.
Another marvel at Jodhpur by the Rathore dynasty is the Umaid Bhawan Palace. Built by Maharaja Umaid Singh, it is another place for tourists to explore. The Palace is divided into three parts, a luxury stay hotel, museum and the private residence of the royal family of Jodhpur.
Temples of Jodhpur- Carved for the Gods
Apart from the majestic palaces and forts, Jodhpur also has some mesmerizing temples as well. Take a look at them while on your trip to the city.
The Chamunda Mata Temple was built by Rao Jodha of the Rathore dynasty, and is situated at the Mehrangarh Fort.
The Rathore King brought the deity of Goddess Chamunda from the previous capital of Mandore to Jodhpur and established it at the temple. The story of the temple revolves around the making of the Mehrangarh Fort.
Apparently before the King decided to build his capital at this hilltop, it used to be a residing place of a certain Sage, who did not wish to move even after multiple requests by the King. As a result, he was forced to leave the hilltop by the King’s troop. He left, but cursed the kingdom will forever face water scarcity and drought. To avert this curse, the Chamunda Mata Temple was set up. Another marvelous temple at Jodhpur is the Mahamandir Temple. The beautiful temple is a Shaivite temple and is supported by 84 intricately carved pillars. The temple is a popular site for tourists when they visit Jodhpur due to its exquisite architecture and is a place you must visit on your trip to the city.