Jodhpur
is the second largest city of the state of Rajasthan. It has been
drawing the attention of tourists from all over the world. Standing as the
sentinel of the country's western border, Jodhpur is famous for its
magnificent forts and palaces.
The Rajput chief Rao Jodha founded
the city of Jodhpur in 1459. Earlier, it was the capital of the
Marwar state of Rajasthan. A 10-km-long wall made of stone surrounds the
city. Eight doors stand all through the wall leading to different places of
Jodhpur. The city has about 100 towers most of which are surrounded by
defensive battlements. The guards' chambers, constructed high up above the
ground and fitted with iron spikes on top, could be seen alongside these
walls.
Jodhpur is situated at the edge of the Thar Desert with
Jaisalmer on its west, Barmar, Jalor and Pali on its south, Bikaner on its
north, and Nagaur on the eastern side. It has a typical desert climate, dry
and hot. The ideal time to visit this place is the period between November
and March. The city is like an oasis in the vast desert, with a variety of
thorny shrubs all over the area. It also has some of the animal species that
can survive in an arid and dry environment.
Jodhpur is situated at
the edge of the Thar Desert with Jaisalmer on its west, Barmar, Jalor and
Pali on its south, Bikaner on its north, and Nagaur on the eastern side. It
has a typical desert climate, dry and hot. The ideal time to visit this
place is the period between November and March.
The city is like an
oasis in the vast desert, with a variety of thorny shrubs all over the area.
It also has some of the animal species that can survive in an arid and dry
environment. There is much to do in town and for shoppers, it is a
delightful treasure trove of goodies. Amongst other things, Jodhpur is
famous for its tie-dye fabrics and leather goods.
| » Major
Attractions of Jodhpur |
Mehrangarh Fort : One of the largest forts in
India, it is unsurpassed in beauty and grandeur. Innumerable palaces in the
fort, interspersed with sprawling courtyards, are intricately carved.
Various folk musicians and bands gather here on important occasions and
perform against the magical backdrop of the fort – reviving the regal
splendour of a bygone era. A unique feature of this palace is the fact that
the hand chiseled sandstone blocks have been put together in a special
system of interlocking, there is not mortar binding.
A portion of
the palace has been converted into a hotel, the other remains on view to
visitors in form of excellent museum which houses model airplanes, weapons,
antique clocks and bob watches, priceless crockery, and hunting trophies.
Both sections retain the ambience of royal splendor .
Umaid
Bhawan Palace : Built by Maharaja Umaid Singh (1929 -1942) and named
after him, this exquisite palace is also known as Chittar Palace because of
the local chittar sandstone used. It is a splendid example, of Indo-colonial
and art deco style of the 30s.
Sardar Samand Lake & Palace : As you go up to the
shimmering lake and palace, a meandering and interesting drive will keep you
entraced. The countryside with its lively villages and smiling, gay village
folk of Jhalamand and Goora, will make you stop by and taste a bit of their
hospitality. Photographers and adventurists can have day packed with
enthralling excitement. Freely roaming herds of Chinkaras and Black Bucks
can be seen here in large numbers.
Maha Mandir
Temple : Leterally, the great temple, a place where sacred glory reigns
in a peaceful tranquility. Situated on Mandore road, the temple is an
architectural splendor, supported by 84 pillars and ornamented with detailed
designs and figures depicting various postures of Yoga. The entire structure
is marked by a unique and original style.
Jaswant
Thada : A cluster of royal cenotaphs in white marble built in 1899 A.D.
in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Within the main cenotaph are the
portraits of various Jodhpur rulers.
Government
Museum : Nestling in the middle of the Umaid Public Garden, this museum
houses a rich collection of exhibits - armoury, textiles, local arts and
crafts, miniature paintings. Portraits of rulers, manuscripts and images of
Jain Tirthankars. Umaid Public Garden houses a zoo also. Timing : 1000 to
1630 hrs (Friday closed).
| » Places to
Stay in Jodhpur |
The variety of hotels and guest houses in Jodhpur makes one feel at
home. Accommodation here is available to suit tourists of every budget.
Hotel Karni Bhawan, Ajit Bhawan are heritage hotels. The Rajasthan Tourism
Department has the Ghoomar Hotel. The palace hotels options include theUmaid
Bhawan Palace, Ratanada Polo Palace, Rajputana Palace. Raj Basera also
provides good accommodation facilities. There are low budget accommodations
avaialable too.
Jodhpur has extreme type of climate with temperature range variation
being very high. Average rainfall is 32 cm annually. The best season to
visit the city is between October and March.
The Sadar Market near the Clock Tower gives immense shopping
pleasure to the locals as well as the visitors. The colourful but hectic
bazaar consists of many narrow lanes, lined with tiny shops. Look for the
tie & dye textiles, embroidered leather shoes, lacquerware, antiques,
carpets and puppets. Here, one can buy exquisite Rajasthani textiles, clay
figurines, miniature camels and elephants, marble inlay work and classic
silver jewellery.
The
Marwar festival is held in the month of
September to October on the full moon day. The festival conforms to the
culture of the Marwah community. It transforms them to a mood of dance and
festivity with lively performance by the artists on folk music. Visitors
often go to the place to view the festival in its full blossom.
Air : Indian Airlines connect Jodhpur with
Jaipur, Delhi, Udaipur and Bombay.
Rail : Jodhpur
is connected by rail with Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Jaipur, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Abu
Road, Bombay via Ahmedabad Barmer and Udaipur via Marwar.
Road : The state transport has bus services from other
cities of the state and some services are interstate too.
Jodhpur
Tours
