Jodhpur, India
Founded by Rao Jodha of Mandore in 1459, Jodhpur is the second largest city of the royal state of Rajasthan. The city was previously the seat of a princely state of the same name. During the British rule, the state of Jodhpur was having the larger area of land than any other in Rajputana. The city flourished with peace and stability and these characters were the hallmark of this era. At present, Jodhpur is a popular tourist destination of India, featuring a number of palaces, forts, temples and gardens. The city is visited by huge number of tourists, who come here to explore the beauty and royalty of this gorgeous city.
With diverse shopping options and a great dinning opportunity, Jodhpur city has everything that one desires during their trip. Jodhpur is fondly recognized as the "Sun City" of India due to enjoying a bright and sunny weather all through the year. It is also called as the ‘Blue City’ because of the bright blue colored buildings around the Mehrangarh Fort. Jodhpur is divided into two parts, including old city and new city. The old city surrounds the fort and is encircled by a wall with numerous gates. The new city has expanded outside the wall and provides a convenient base for visiting Jodhpur.
Visit in Jodhpur
Tourist attractions in Jodhpur mainly comprised of various religious places. However, there are some other great places to visit in and around the Jodhpur city. Explore in detail about some of the most popular places to see in Jodhpur:
Mehrangarh Fort is one of the largest forts in India and the pride of the royal city of Jodhpur. It is situated 120 meters above the city and was founded by Rao Jodha in 1459. The fort is spread over an area of 4.5 km over a perpendicular hill. It enjoys the panoramic view of the city from this height. There are many beautiful attractions inside fort, including beautiful palaces, monuments and temples. Phool Mahal, Moti Mahal and Sheesh Mahal, National Geological Monument and Chamunda Mata Mandir are some popular things to visit in Mehrangarh Fort.
Situated 2 km away from Jodhpur city on the top of a hill, Umaid Bhawan Palace is another famous place to visit in Jodhpur. The palace was built by Maharaja Umaid Singh in 20th century and now has been converted into a hotel and a museum. The third part of the palace is used by royal families for residence. The palace was actually constructed with the purpose to provide employment to the people of Jodhpur during a long drawn starvation. There are many attractions inside this palace.
Built in 1899 by Maharaja Sardar Singh of Jodhpur State, Jaswant Thada is an architectural marvel of the city. It was constructed in the memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, father of Sardar Singh. It is situated to the left of the Mehrangarh Fort. This is basically a royal cenotaph, which is entirety constructed using intricately carved sheets of marble. Due these marble, the monument appears really amazing. You can enjoy some gorgeous views from the terrace of the cenotaph.
Located in the outskirts of Jodhpur, about 8 km away on Mandore Road, Mandore Gardens is a wonderful heritage site. The garden has high rock terraces, which is the biggest attraction of it. In the gardens, you can find a number of cenotaphs of different rulers of Jodhpur are dotted. It holds a special place among sightseeing places in Jodhpur.
Located on the west of the Jodhpur city, this is an artificial lake. The lake was constructed by Pratap Singh in the year 1872. This is one of the most frequently visited lakes in Rajasthan. The lake is a birdwatchers’ paradise. You can enjoy boating on this lake and click some amazing photographs to create memories. The view of sunset from this lake is really breathtaking.
Government Museum is located inside Umaid Bhawan and comprised of a range of stone sculptures, miniature paintings, terracotta, metallic objects, inscriptions, arms, coins, miscellaneous objects. This museum is called as Sardar Government Museum, which is one of the must visit attraction in Jodhpur.
Spread over an area of 82 acres, Umed Garden of Jodhpur was developed by Maharaja Umed Singh. It is one of the most beautiful gardens in Jodhpur. The garden features five separate gates to make entry easy from different directions. Its lush green lawns are enriched with beautiful roses and other seasoned flowers. There are many things to visit inside this garden.
Balsamand Lake is one of the most popular picnic spots in Jodhpur, which is located about 8 km away from the main city. Surrounded by the hills, this artificial lake was built in 1159 as a reservoir to supply water in the Mandore region. There is a charming garden close to the lake that enhances its beauty. In garden, you can see rose flowers and orchards of various fruits like guava, mango and pomegranate. The entire region becomes more appealing with the cascading waterfall built in the garden.
Takhat Sagar Lake is also among the beautiful lakes in Jodhpur, which is located close to the Takhat Sagar Hills. This is the key tourist attraction, which is renowned for its calm environs and marvelous surroundings. Amidst the hills, there is a shrine called Siddhnath Shiv Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Raj Ranchhodji Temple is a must visit shrine in Jodhpur. The temple was built by Rani Jadechi Rajkanwar in the reminiscence of her husband Maharaja Jaswant Singh in year 1905. Inside this holy place, there is a beautiful statue of Lord Krishna made of black marble. This temple is built using red sandstone and adorned with incredible filigree work on its walls.
Located at the end of the Mehrangarh Fort, the famous Chamunda Devi Temple is devoted to Goddess Durga. It is a well-known tourist attraction.
Machiya Safari Park is an interesting tourist attraction, which is home to a number of wild animals. Nature and wildlife lovers can spot here a number of wildlife animals. There is a bird point in the park that makes it a perfect destination for birdwatchers. There is a fort in the premises of the park offering a scenic view of the sunset.
Also identified as Ghanta Ghar, it is a key landmark of the old city of Jodhpur. This splendid clock tower is built by mighty ruler Maharaja Sardar Singh close to the popular Sadar Bazar. This tower is brilliantly lightened in the evening to enhance its overall appeal.
Jodhpur, India
Mid-March to June, Warm and scorching
Temperature:36°C – 45°C
July to October
Annual rainfall -32 cm annually
Last November to February, Cool and Pleasant
Temperature:15°C – 27°C
Sights of Jodhpur
