Jodhpur
City Information
Nestling within the depths of the
Thar Desert, is the stronghold of the Rathore
clan - Jodhpur, once the capital of the former
princely state of Marwar, the second largest
city of Rajasthan, after Jaipur . The town
was once known as Marwar, which means 'Land
of Death', probably, referring to the harsh
desert climate. It is an island of marble
palaces, cordoned off from the desert by an
immense wall, with eight gates facing different
directions.
Flanked on its western side by the Mehrangarh
fort, and on the eastern side by the stately
sandstone Palace of Umaid Bhawan, the monuments,
temples and gardens of Jodhpur depict a multi-faceted
grandeur.
Founded in 1459 AD., by the Suryavanshi Rao
Jodha, Jodhpur gradually grew around the towering
Mehrangarh fort. A flourishing trading centre
in the 16th century, Jodhpur is still one
of the leading centres of wool, cattle, camels
and salt . It showcases some very fine mementoes
of its glorious past - palaces, temples and
other elegant monuments of architectural and
historical value.
Main
Sightseeing of Jodhpur
Mehrangarh Fort : Situated
at an altitude of about 125m, the Mehrangarh
Fort of Jodhpur is spread over an area of
5 sq. km in the heart of the city of Jodhpur.
Besides being a landmark in Jodhpur, Mehrangarh
fort is a must visit for all visitors to
the city. To enter the fort, seven gates
have to be crossed. Some of these gates
still bear marks of numerous sieges which
this fort withstood. Within the fort are
some magnificent palaces with marvellously
carved panels, latticed windows and evocative
names. Noteworthy of these are the Moti
Mahal, the Phool Mahal,
the Sheesh Mahal, the
Sileh Khana and the Daulat
Khana. These palaces house a fabulous
collection of trappings of Indian royalty
including a superb collection of palanquins,
elephant howdahs, and miniature paintings
of various schools, musical instruments,
costumes and furniture. Open daily 9am to
1pm and 2 -5pm
Jaswant Thada : Close
to the fort complex lies this white marble
cenotaph, built in 1899, in commemoration
of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Rare portraits
of Jodhpur's rulers are, also, to be seen
at Jaswant Thada.
Clock Tower and Sardar Market :
A prime attraction of the city,
is the Clock Tower and the colourful Sardar
Market near it. Narrow alleys lead to quaint
bazaars selling textiles, antiques, silverware
and handicrafts.
Umaid Bhavan Palace : The
20th century Umaid Bhavan Palace, (also
known as Chhittar Palace because of the
Chhittar sandstone used in building it)
was built in a time of peace, and is quite
Western in its design. It was built, as
a famine relief project, which gave employment
to people, for 16 years. Under a dome, the
like of which no other palace in Rajasthan
can boast of, the Palace contains over 300
rooms. It has its own theatre, eight dining
rooms, and a banquet hall which seats three
hundred people. A Ball Room had been built,
catering to the Westernised royal lifestyle.
Much of the interior of the palace is in
the art deco style. In fact, it is said
to be one of the finest surviving examples
of art deco in the world. Deep within the
palace is an indoor swimming pool, with
a mosaic of zodiac symbols. The palace now
runs as a hotel, though, a part of it has
been retained as a museum and part as royal
residence..
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Excursions
from Jodhpur
Kaylana Lake Kailana : Lake
Located 8 km west of Jodhpur, Kaylana lake
was constructed in 1872 by Pratap Singh. It
is spread over an 84 sq. km area. Earlier
this area was home to beautiful palaces and
gardens made by two rulers of Jodhpur, Bhim
Singh and Takhat Singh. These were however
destroyed to make Kaylana Lake. It is an ideal
picnic spot where you can relax, enjoy bird
watching or picnic and if you stay late, is
reputed to have spectacular sunsets. Warning:
This famous picnic spot has taken the lives
of many youngsters trying to swim across this
deep lake, so don’t attempt a swim unless
you are confident but better not to go in
at all.
Bishnoi Villages :
At a distance of 25km from Jodphur
are inhabited by the Bishnoi tribe who are
staunch believers in the sanctity of plant
and animal life. The villages are marked by
khejri trees and deer which thrive there.
The villages are located along and off the
Pali Road to the south-east of Jodhpur. The
cult was established in the last 15th century
by Guru Jambhoji, who outlined 29 conservation
principles. The Bishnois hold all animal life
as sacred and the rare blackbuck thrives in
their region. At Guda Bishnoi, along the small
artificial lake, migratory birds, blackbucks
and chinkaras can be seen.
Sardar Samand Lake
and Palace : An artificial lake and
wildlife centre is 55 km from Jodhpur on the
road to Barmer. The tranquil waters of the
Sardar Samand Lake attract countless varieties
of migratory birds and animals. Blackbuck,
neelgai and chinkara are some of the animals
that can be easily spotted near here. The
route to the lake and palace pass through
the Bishnoi villages, a community renowned
for their abiding concern and practice of
environmental conservation. Near the lake
stands the stylish art-deco summer palace
of Maharaja Umaid Singh, the Sardar Samand
Lake Resort, being operated as a heritage
hotel. This superb art-deco hunting lodge
was built here by Maharaja Umaid Singh in
1933. All the original features have been
retained and its expansive grounds and gardens
offer delightful walks.
Khimsar : Is
located at 80 km away from Jodhpur, Khimsar
houses the 16th century fort built by Rao
Karamsiji. He was the 8th son of the founder
of Jodhpur, Rao Jodha, who moved to this region
and founded the Khimsar dynasty. The construction
of the fort began in 1523 AD and its battle-scarred
walls and turrets are a telltale reminder
of Khimsar’s glorious past. In mid 18th
century, the royal family moved in and a new
zenana (ladies’ wing) was built with
finely carved windows in stone grills to provide
‘purdah’ or veil for ladies-in-waiting.
Subsequently, Thakur Onkar Singh built a regal
wing for himself. The fort has now been converted
into a hotel, though a section still remains
residence of the royal family of Khimsar.
Nagaur : Situated
around 135 kms of Jodhpur it is on midway
between Jodhpur and Bikaner. The city of Nagaur
dates back to the 4th century AD and was at
the centre of Muslim invasions from Central
Asia. The massive protective walls of the
historic Nagaur Fort encompass an ancient
complex of richly painted palaces, mosques,
temples, intricate baolis (reservoirs), water
systems, fountains, open terraces and pleasure
gardens dating back to the Mughal times. Delicate
paintings adorn many of the walls and ceilings
of the palaces. The old city also contains
several mosques, including one commissioned
by Akbar. Every year in the month of January-February,
a weeklong cattle fair is held in the town
that is both colourful and interesting to
anyone passing through the area and worth
stopping for which is also renowned for its
puppeteers so if you are visiting with children
in tow, is a must do activity..
How
to reach Jodhpur ?
By Air : Wellconnected by
major domestic flights
By Rail : Well connected
by railway network with major cities in Rajasthan.
By Road : Good road connection
for all over Rajasthan.
