Set on the edge of the Thar Desert, Jodhpur was founded by Rao Jodha in 1459. Seeing the rise and might of Mughals, Rao Udai Singh decided to marry his sister Jodha Bai in marriage to Akbar and his daughter to his son Jehangir. Thus, he and his kingdom prospered in peace. The extreme hostile living conditions of the region did not stop the Rathore clan of Rajputs from expanding their state of Marwar over time and becoming one of the biggest and strongest kingdoms of Rajasthan.
The colossal Mehrangarh Fort built by the founder of the city dominates it to this day. The defense features of the fort are noteworthy. The steep slopes and sudden twists and turns of the fort were designed to make it inaccessible for enemy elephants. The majestic views of indigo house of Brahmins from the fort have earned Jodhpur the title of the Blue city.
Places to See
Once the capital of Marwar that belonged to Rathore clan of Rajputs (who claim to be direct descendants of Lord Rama), Jodhpur has following tourist attractions that you must visit:
- Mehrangarh Fort
- Jaswant Thada
- Umaid Bhawan Palace
- Girdikot & Sardar Market
- Museum
- Balsamand Lakes & Gardens
- Mandore
- Mahamandir Temple
- Kailana Lake
- Osian
- Luni Fort
- The Dhawa
Shopping
Antiques, genuine and fake, are most coveted buy-outs at Jodhpur. Doorways, windows, pillar, carved balconies and furniture are some of the items that you can find in the treasure troves of Chhattar Hill shops. Besides these, tourists often buy tie and dye fabrics, footwear, handicrafts, silver jewellery and other curios as gifts and souvenirs from Jodhpur.
Where to Stay
Ranging from impressive luxury heritage hotels to cheap budget hotels, Jodhpur offers accommodation options to suit all budgets and tastes. We recommend:
- Taj Hari Mahal
- Umaid Bhawan Palace
- Ummed Hotel
- Hotel Abhay Days
- Hotel Ratanada Polo Palace
- Karni Bhawan
- Ajit Bhawan Resort
- Hotel Jhalamand Garh
- Hotel Balsamand Lake Palace
- Maharani Bagh Orchard Retreat
How to Reach Jodhpur
Jodhpur is well connected by road, rail and airways to major Indian cities.
By Road: The main highway running between Jodhpur and Jaisalmer connects the former to Agoli, Pokharan, Agra, Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Delhi, Jaipur, and Udaipur. Frequent bus services on these routes are available.
By Rail: Besides the luxurious Palace On Wheels, Jodhpur has daily trains to and from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.
By Air: 6 km from the city center, the Jodhpur Airport has regular flight services connecting it to other major cities and tourist attractions in and around Rajasthan. Daily flights are available to and from Delhi, Mumbai, Udaipur and Jaipur.
