When you think of Jodhpur, the first image that comes in mind is of a sprawling desert colored majestic fort overlooking countless blue colored houses. Jodhpur is exactly that! But there is also so much more. The second largest city in Rajasthan is known by many names. Apart from the blue city it is also called the Sun City (the sun is too hot all year round) and Gateway to Thar (it just lies on the outskirts of the Thar desert). However, it remains a travellers must visit destination. So here’s a Complete Travel Guide to the Blue City of Jodhpur.
A Complete Guide to the Blue City of Jodhpur
Places To Visit in Jodhpur
Mehrangarh Fort
This is the largest fort in Rajasthan. It was built by Rao Jodha in 1458 to establish his new capital. This is the epicenter of Jodhpur, the town now spreads around it. Built on a hill 400 feet above the town this massive fort boasts of stunning views all around. Intricately carved thick walls surround this massive fort.
The fort houses several palaces, temples and gardens. The important places to visit in Mehrangarh fort are the Sheesh Mahal, Phool Mahal, Moti Mahal, Chamunda Devi Temple and Zenana Deodi. The several museums inside are intriguing too. Especially the Palanquin gallery and Turban gallery. Many cultural festivals and events are hosted inside Mehrangarh Fort. The added attraction is the folk music played by people wearing traditional gear. There is an entry fee and make you take an audio guide to know more about this amazing fort.
Pro Tip: At around 15:30 daily, some locals feed the kites from the top of the fort. This experience of seeing around 200 kites circling the sky is one of a kind.
Jaswant Thada Museum
Jaswant Thada is a memorial built for Maharaja Jaswant Singh in the 19th century. It is just walking distance from the Mehrangarh Fort. This beautiful memorial is built in marble and located next to a lake which gives it a very serene feel.
Mandore Gardens
Mandore was the capital of Mewar before Jodhpur and a visit here shows the grandeur of the l;ost kingdom. The lower garden consists carved temples, Chattris (cenotaphs) and a garden. The upper part is where the ruined fort is situated along with a museum. It is a great place to visit to get a feel of the bygone era.
Osian
Located at a distance of 65 kms from the city, Osian is an oasis in the Thar desert. It was initially the religious center of Mewar and hence you will find numerous Hindu and Jain temples dating back to the 8th century. Osian is visited for its 15 intricately sculpted temples. No two temples are alike and the most famous temple is the Surya temple.
Things to do in Jodhpur
Experience the Magic of Blue
Jodhpur is known as the blue city as many houses are colored blue here. According to legends, some believe only Brahmins colored their houses blue whereas some stories say indigo was easily available and keeps the houses cool so it was used. Whatever the reason the view of this blue is quite stunning from the fort which is hard to forget.
Try out the Rajasthani Thali
Rajsthani food is so famous that no trip to this state is complete without trying out the scrumptious Rajasthani Thali. There are many joints serving authentic thalis in Jodhpur. However, we chose to eat at Gypsy. It was the best thali we ever had. The place is always crowded but the prompt service makes up for it. The quantity of food is huge and with unlimited servings so make sure you come prepared for this feast.
Experience the Royal Lifestyle at Umaid Bhavan Palace
A part of this palace now operates as a luxurious hotel under the Taj Group, however it was originally built as a residence to Maharaja Gaj Singh. Completed in 1944, it is the last palace built in India. Though the hotel area is for guests only, a part of this palace is open for public. There is a museum which depicts the personal photographs and memorabilia of the Maharaja. It gives an insight of how the royalty lived in the gone era. The vintage car gallery is as added attraction here. The palace majestically shines in the skyline of Jodhpur.
Shop at Sadar Bazaar
Sadar Bazaar is famous for two things Ghanta Ghar and Shopping. The best part about travelling is shopping and this is the place to shop for traditional stuff in Jodhpur. Sadar Bazaar is a riot of colorful Rajasthani artwork. Right from Bandhej sarees and dress materials, colorful jootis, bangles to handicrafts and spices you can find everything here. However, be wary of the prices and make sure you bargain your way to a great deal.
Bishnoi Village Tour
Bishnoi is a community living in this part of Rajasthan. They are known as the environmental conservationist. They are dedicated to preserve the flora and fauna. They live in complete harmony with nature in-spite of the harsh Thar terrain. Take a tour to see and interact with these natural crusaders. Do not miss the number of black bucks roaming freely around the settlement.
How To Reach Jodhpur
By Road
The roads to Jodhpur are very well maintained hence its convenient to self drive or hire a taxi. It’s well-connected to all of Rajasthan by buses too.
By Rail
Jodhpur Railway Station is a major station in the North Western railway line and so is well-connected to all major cities of India. Luxurious trains like The Palace On Wheels also have Jodhpur on its itinerary.
By Air
The Jodhpur Airport is located just 5 kms from the city center. Air India has frequent flights from Delhi to Mumbai to Jodhpur.
Where To Stay
The Sun City of Jodhpur is known for its iconic hotels all over the world. Many royal forts and havelis are converted into heritage hotels that will surely make you feel like royalty. The most famous one being the Umaid Bhavan Palace. There are wide options to choose from that will satisfy your requirements. Some of the grandest properties are Welcome Hotel and Radisson Jodhpur.
Check out the prices of Hotels in Jodhpur here.
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I never heard of Jodhpur but now I want to check it out. The view overlooking the town and seeing all that blue is amazing. I have done the blue city of Chefchaouen in Morocco but all the buildings are painted light blue and its totally awesome. With all the tight alleyways, every corner turned there is a beautiful sight to see. This must be a photographers heaven to come here.
This was an area we missed when we went to India. That ceiling in the Mehrangarh Fort looks stunning. It would be amazing to see Mandore with its gardens. That view from above certainly shows why the city is known as the blue city. I can’t imagine what it would be like to stay in a luxurious hotel in the Umaid Bhavan Palace. Definitely lots of reasons to visit Jodhpur.
All the architecture looks absolutely alluring. The fort and the museum are breathtaking. I’d love to see a bit more of India and Jodhpur looks like a great place to have on the list. That food looks delicious too.
Your post is very helpful and detailed as it covers all major and beautiful attraction of Jodhpur. Though I have traveled to Rajasthan but never been to Jodhpur but now I have to plan for it as it has many architectural wonders. Mandore looks awesome and looks like hidden gem here as it has wonderful gardens and those chattris which are really photogenic. I love colorful shopping from Rajasthan, so shopping at Sardar Bazar would be my favorite thing to do here.
I managed to visit Rajasthan last winter and covered Jaipur and Udaipur but missed out on Jodhpur as I had limited time. I must agree this is a place which must be done and I will revisit it soon. Was not aware that this was the second largest city and also known as the Sun city. The architecture of the region just stands out with those colours but the indigo shade of Jodhpur is so unique. The music performance of the Bishnois would be a must on my list. This is a very helpful and insightful guide with the visuals complementing your post . Thanks for sharing Jodhpur.
Oh wow, the architecture around the Blue City is incredible and so ornate! And the Bishnoi village tour sounds like an amazing cultural experience. And so fascinating to learn how they’ve managed to preserve the living things around them in a desert.
Great post!! What an incredible and comprehensive post on Jodhpur. Quite frankly I didn’t know about Jodhpur before and it seems like a amazing place with rich culture and customs. I love how everything looks there the local attire, the architectures, and the whole city.
Jodhpur is definitely a gorgeous city with lots of culture and heritage to boast of. Every time I read a new post, I learn something new about the city. I have been there twice and I never get enough of it. I still have to do that Bishnoi village tour. Thanks for the post and lovely pictures, which brought back beautiful memories from Jodhpur.
At some stage, I have to return to Jodhpur. I’ve only been there as a child and despite the fact that my parents live in Delhi and I myself spent 8 years there, I never made it back to Rajasthan in my adulthood. Jodhpur looks amazing and especially Mehrangarh Fort, the architecture is amazing, both of the exterior and interior. I must visit again!
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