Jodhpur | Meherangarh Fort | Rajasthan

jodhpur

A lively establishment in the barren region of Thar Desert, Jodhpur is the second largest city in Rajasthan. Situated at the centre of the state, Jodhpur is famous for some of the most impressive historical monuments, celebrated not just in the state but in the country. Painted mostly in blue, Jodhpur is certainly one of the highlights of the state.

As you arrive at Jodhpur, the grand view of Mehrangarh Fort looking upon the town from a high hill is hard to miss. This mega structure not only radiates strength but also the beauty that it was built with. The magnificent view of the imposing Mehrangarh fort standing in the middle of a teeming, widespread city painted in blue highlights is nothing short of the imaginary setting for a movie. In fact, this same locality of Jodhpur had been shot to attain the rich effect of a fairytale in the fantasy film, The Fall.

Mehrangarh Fort is the major tourist attraction of Jodhpur. One of the largest forts in the country, its construction was initiated by Rao Jodha in 1959, along with the founding of Jodhpur itself. Perched atop a 125 meter hill, Mehrangarh Fort is surrounded by a wall 36 meters high and 21 meters wide. Walking into the premises of this gigantic fort could be overwhelming, as your presence is easily belittled by the gigantic walls that soar from the sides of your passage. Mehrangarh Fort has seven high gates that reflect strength and grandeur. However, cocooned inside these burly structures are some beautiful palaces built with a rich aesthetic sense. Holi Chowk, Phool Mahal, Moti Mahal and Sukh Mahal are some of the highlights.

A visit to Mehrangarh Fort can be a dip in the pool of nostalgia. Where the exquisite regal palaces stir the feeling of happy, peaceful days, the dents of cannonballs on the walls and the handprints of the Satis at the Lohapol gate, the widows that jumped in the burning funeral pyres of their martyred husbands evoke a deeply moving sadness.

In a fashion after most of the royal monuments of the state, the rooms and chambers inside the palaces of Meherangarh Fort have been turned into the museums or royal items and weapons. Rajasthani folk singers and performance artists are staged at frequent points to make your visit interesting and memorable. An elevator is available for those who wish to climb up with ease and visit the parts of the fort on their way down.

Slightly off the way to Mehrangarh Fort is Jaswant Thada, a striking cenotaph built to commemorate Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Built entirely in Marble, Jaswant Thada rests on the verge of a beautiful pond in a hilly area. This remarkable architectural wonder of Jodhpur, fashioned in the way of a temple, exhibits marvelous craftsmanship through its delicate latticework. The spacious terrace in front of the entrance to the cenotaph offers a grand view of Mehrangarh Fort, the landscape view of Jodhpur city and the distant, silhouette view of Umaid Bhavan Palace. During the tourist season, in winters, the atmosphere at Jaswant Thada is quite enjoyable. You can club the visit to Jaswant Thada with your visit to Mehrangarh Fort.

Next attraction in Jodhpur is Umaid Bhavan Palace, an imposing structure that is rich in its imperial appearance and young in age. Built in an exclusive type of sandstone called Chittar, which also gives the palace another name – Chittar Palace, this edifice is unique in its external textural effect. Umaid Bhavan Palace was built by Maharaja Umaid Singh, a connoisseur of architectural aesthetics, who was also the president of the British Royal Institute of Architects. Built in 1943, Umaid Bhavan Palace of Jodhpur is one of the finest palaces in India. This massive building with 343 rooms was converted into a heritage hotel in 1977. Today, the most of Umaid Bhavan Palace is inaccessible to the common tourist, save a museum on its backside and a coffee house where entry is allowed upon a deposit of 800 rupees. Those willing to spend, however, can enjoy a stay at the palace as hotel guests.

An important settlement in Rajasthan, Jodhpur is a must-see. To enjoy Jodhpur, it is recommended that you keep at least two to three days at hand.

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Quick Reference

Jodhpur is the second largest city of Rajasthan. It has sunny weather throughout the year. Jodhpur’s major tourist attraction is Mehrangarh Fort, which is internally divided into several palaces, galleries, museums and temples. Jaswant Thada, lies to the left of Mehrangarh Fort Complex, is a royal cenotaph built in white marble. Another interesting place is Umaid Bhavan Palace, part of which is converted into a hotel and a museum. Osiyan, an ancient Jain temple lies at a distance of about an hour which was built in several distinct phases.

Destination Grade:	A (What is this?)
Rating:	8/10
Population:	1006652
5 Star Hotels:	Ajit Bhawan,Devi Bhwan
Luxury Hotels:	The Gateway Hotel,Park Plaza,Taj Hari Mahal
Airport:	Jodhpur Airport (4 km away), Jaipur Airport (284 km away)
Railway Station:	Jodhpur
Nearest Major City(s):	Bikaner, Nagaur, Pali, Jaisalmer
How to reach:	Good road connectivity. Can be reached from Delhi via Jaipur, Gurgaon, Ajmer, Pali and Beawar
Major Tourist Attraction:	Mehrangarh Fort,Umaid Bhawan Palace,Jaswant Thada
Speciality(Famous for):	Historical Monuments, Wooden furniture, Thar Desert.
Food speciality:	Laddoos

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An Exciting Jodhpur Trip - by Nihar Bhargava Dated : 2011-03-14

My trip to Jodhpur was not very well planned. I had gone there with my relative because she wanted to visit her in laws. We reached Jodhpur early in the morning and as I had expected the city looked blue. My first day in Jodhpur was spent at home of my relative’s in laws. I had great time eating delicious dishes and I was really happy to come to Jodhpur.

Jodhpur is called the blue city because the parts of houses that face the Meherangarh fort are painted blue. On my second day in Jodhpur, my relative’s brother in law took me around the town. I immediately noticed the strong presence of the Meherangarh fort over the town. It is situated on the top of a hill; you can see it from anywhere. It is gigantic and magnificent.

We went over to the Meherangarh fort and I was absolutely bowled over by the way it has been built. The view of the entire city of Jodhpur from atop the hill was breath taking. We had a great time exploring the fort; since the guy was a local he knew many things about the fort. I took loads of pictures of the fort and was very excited to see the rest of Jodhpur. I had had a great start from the Meherangarh fort. The palaces built inside this strong looking fort have delicate beauty. Some of the best were the Moti Mahal and Phool Mahal. The Meherangarh fort is the main tourist attraction of Jodhpur, a visit to this place can be very pleasurable.

The very next day I went to see Jaswant Thada, it looked to me like some temple. We were exploring the place by walk, it was a great experience. It is a royal cenotaph and has great architecture. During the evenings the atmosphere around this place is very exciting, the garden and the small lake add up to this place’s beauty.

Last but not the least is the Umaid Bhavan Palace. It is also one of the main tourist attractions of Jodhpur. This building is entirely made in red sandstone and as the name suggests was built by Raja Umaid Singh. However, most of this palace is not accessible to the tourists and now it has been converted into a heritage hotel having more than 300 rooms.

Being in Jodhpur was so much fun; I enjoyed every moment of exploring the city and had a great time. If visiting Rajasthan, you cannot skip this place from your tour plans.

Jodhpur - A Royal City - by Naman Shaw Dated : 2011-03-08

I had much of an incident onm y first day in Jodhpur. I was walking through a crowded lane when I almost ran into a cow! Yes indeed I ran into a cow. When I moved to the left of the road she moved to the right, to dodge her I moved left she moved right. In the end she was too close to me and almost head butted me in the stomach when a guy from around came over and shooed her away from me.

It was a funny start. Really it was! I was on my way to the Meherangarh Fort, the heart of the city of Jodhpur. When I looked at the fort I could see how powerful it was. It looked at the entire city with its imposing eyes and pumped the city into life daily. Yes, the Jodhpur city lives and breathes around the Meherangarh fort.

I took so many photos of the fort but did not feel satisfied. It was just so attractive. The fort has many palaces, museums and galleries enclosed into itself that help you to understand its history and look at the beautiful past that it has lived through.

You are likely to notice the weird looking auto rickshwas in Jodhpur. They have piggish look. Very funny looking rickshwas! Also the parts of the houses of the ity that face the fort are painted in blue. So this city is called as the blue city.

I also visited the Umaid Bhavan Palace. It is a very nice palace. But unfortunately you are not allowed to visit most of the parts of the palace. It is made of sandstone. It is now converted into a heritage hotel and has as many as 343 rooms.

Another must visit part of Jodhpur is the Jaswant Thada. It is the royal cremation ground. It looks like a temple and is made entirely of marble. It was built in the memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh by his son Sardar Singh. There is lake and beautiful garden here that you must visit. Jodhpur is a great tourist destination.

Jodhpur - A Great City - by Priyan Mehta Dated : 2011-03-08

My most favorite tourist spot in Jodhpur was the Meherangarh Fort. I took so many photographs there. The fort is very beautiful and majestic. The whole city of Jodhpur is situated around the Meherangarh fort. The Jodhpur city is very crowded and the houses are painted blue. Hence Jodhpur is also called as the blue city.

When I went inside the fort, I found that the fort encloses many palaces, museums and galleries inside itself. I was amazed after I saw it from inside. I wonder how so many constructions were done so perfectly in those olden times. You need almost a day to visit the entire fort and it may tire you. So i better suggest that you reserve one whole day for this fort to enjoy it completely.

The next day I visited the Umaid Bhavan Palace. Now it is a heritage hotel also. Very few parts of the fort are accessible to the tourists. The architecture and royal feel of the palace is hard to forget. I enjoyed the time there. There were many foreign tourists also who had come to visit the palace.

My next stop was the Jaswant Thada. It looked like a temple to me at first sight. It is made from thin sheets of marble and is a cremation ground of the royals of Rajasthan. It was built by Sardar Singh in the memory of his father Jaswant Singh II. There is lake and a garden near Jaswant Thada. I had a great time Jodhpur.

Jodhpur - an Enthralling Experience - by Pankaj Dated : 2011-03-06

My visit to Jodhpur was indeed an enthralling experience and I couldn’t wait to pen down my thoughts about the city. The eatables and monuments in the city are the most interesting things in the city. As I enjoy food and trying out different cuisines, the lovely Rajasthani cuisine was a major attraction for me when I went to Jodhpur.

The best place in Jodhpur, where we can try out the yummy Rajasthani cuisine is Janta Mishtan bhandar. The various dishes we get there are pyaj kachori, khaman, mawa kachori and mirchiwads.

Jaswant Thada was the cremation ground for the royal families of Jodhpur. It was built by Maharaja Sardar Singh in the 19th century. It was built in the memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, by his son, Maharaja Sardar Singh. Jaswant Thada includes terrace gardens, beautifully carved gazebos and a small lake. The monument was built out of thin sheets of marble. The marbles sheets were polished till they became thin and translucent. When the sun rays fall on these marble sheets, it seems as if the monument is glowing from within. Jaswant Thada is definitely one of the most beautiful monuments that I have seen.

The Umaid bhavan palace is one of the most spectacular monuments of all times. Some of the most attractive features of the palace are the Throne room, which have murals of the Ramayana. The palace has now been converted into a five star hotel. The other interesting features of Umaid bhavan palace are a wood panelled library, a billiards room, tennis courts and squash courts, which are all a part of the Throne room.

Jodhpur - an Enchanting City - by Rahul Dated : 2011-03-05

Before visiting Jodhpur, I called up a friend of mine who had already visited the city. She told me that if I wanted to visit Jodhpur, I should not miss out on one of the 3 landmarks in Jodhpur- Meherangarh fort, Umaid bhavan palace and Jaswant Thada.

I had asked my friend to tell me about all the minute details of Jodhpur. I hired a private taxi, on my first day in Jodhpur, which cost me Rs.1200 for about a 7 to 8 hour tour. This included pick up and drop to the hotel and sightseeing. The private taxis have a yellow number plate. The best way to move around Meherangarh fort and Umaid bhavan palace is to move around in a cab. When I set out, I wasn’t sure whether I can cover these 2 places on the same day, as there is a lot to see there. These private taxis and other taxis are found waiting outside the railway station.

I hired a registered guide when I reached Umaid bhavan palace. He told me that this palace was built to offer employment to the people during a period of drought. Umaid bhavan palace was built between 1929 and 1944. The guide also told me that this palace was built by Maharaja Umaid Singh and it was one of the last palaces built in India. Maharaja Umaid Singh hired an Edwardian architect, Henry Vaughan Lanchester, to design and build this palace.

A Marvellous City - by Aahana Dated : 2011-03-04

I had always heard that Jodhpur is a shopper’s paradise, but it was only after I reached there that I realized how true it is. Once I entered the shopping lanes and by-lanes in Jodhpur, I went crazy shopping for the different items there. It indeed is maddening. Another major attraction about Jodhpur is the majestic Meherangarh fort.

As Jodhpur enjoys an extreme weather, it is advisable to go about the city in the early mornings, during summers. As I visited Jodhpur during summers, I set out of the hotel in the early morning. I took a rickshaw from my hotel to the Meherangarh fort. After reaching there I paid for an audio guide device, which is a machine used instead of a registered guide. I bought the audio guide device at the entrance of the fort. The Meherangarh fort is still under control of the previous rulers of Jodhpur and since it is under private control, it is in very good shape.

The shopping experience is frenzied. Being a shopaholic, I realized a lot of things about shopping in Jodhpur. The shops on the main road have expensive items. It is in the by-lanes that we get articles at a low price. The various articles present in these shops are handicrafts, jewelery, antiques, traditional Rajasthani bed covers, bed sheets and pillow covers. The best thing about the shopping experience in the by-lanes is that we get small number of articles at wholesale prices. So just let your hair down and enjoy the wonderful experience that is Jodhpur.

A Magnificient City - by Geeta Rampal Dated : 2011-03-04

A tourist guide is a must for any person going to Jodhpur, as it is a place which is a major tourist destination for not only Indian tourists, but also foreign tourists. I would suggest a tourist guide because there are too many places which one would like to visit in Jodhpur. Whether an Indian or a foreigner, one need not worry about anything wrong happening to them, while on tour because the people of Jodhpur are warm and affable. The Jodhpuri people realize that the tourists who visit the city give them a means of livelihood and also generate a lot of revenue for the Indian government.

Jodhpur lies at the edge of the Thar Desert. I had heard that Jodhpur can be really hot during days, the reason why it is also called the Sun City. However, during winters, when I went there, the weather and the temperature was just perfect for spending an enjoyable day outside. I reached Jodhpur at 9am and spent the major part of the day lazing around in the hotel. At around 3pm, I felt like stepping out of the hotel. I had read about the camel safari in my tourist guide. I asked the hotel staff about the camel safari and they suggested that it was good. The camel safari is not the only option one can go in for in the majestic Thar Desert. The jeep safari is also a major attraction. I went in for the jeep safari, and although it didn’t make me go up and down, like when on a camel, it was a lot of fun.

As the day came to an end, it presented us with a golden sunset that looked gorgeous, giving the jeep safari a wonderful climax.

A Beautiful City - by Dipti Savant Dated : 2011-03-03

Jodhpur is the second largest city in Rajasthan and thus, as a tourist it was a major attraction for me. I was quite taken aback by the historic significance Jodhpur. Jodhpur is connected by air to most of the major cities in India. Jodhpur is located in the golden Thar Desert and thus offers camel safaris which again are a temptation for all the tourists.

As I was visiting a desert for the first time in my life, the first thing I visited was the camel safari. I would suggest that the best time to go for the safari is early evening, so that we can watch the golden sunset in the vast Thar desert.

Before reaching Jodhpur, I had read a lot about the place so that I don’t miss out on any of the magnificent monuments, the city has to offer. The Meharangarh fort is one such monument. I got up at 7 am, got ready and left on my excursion to this fort. I decided to leave early because Jodhpur is a sunny city and has an extreme climate. It enjoys a sunny weather for most part of the year. The Meherangarh fort is one of the largest forts in India. It is enclosed in thick, impermeable walls and thus conquering this fort, in the past, was almost impossible. When I entered the fort, I realized that there are several palaces within the fort. I was quick to realize that a lot of effort has been taken in the making of these palaces, as there were intricate carvings on the walls of these palaces. I had hired a guide, while in the fort, because that’s the best way to know about the history of the fort.

I also want to say that, we should always hire a registered guide, so that we get authentic information from them.

MountAbu-Jodhpur - by Mukta Godbole Dated : 2011-02-08

I recently visited Jodhpur. Jodhpur is a good tourist destination of Rajasthan. There is a lot of crowd there but the people are very warm and wear colorful dresses. The Meherangarh Fort in Jodhpur is a magnificent building. The Meherangarh Fort is has great architecture and it is a really huge fort. The Meherangarh Fort is surrounded by walls that no one can ever climb. There are museums inside the Meherangarh Fort that exhibit ancient royal items. I was totally impressed by the Umaid Bhavan Palace. The Palace is an amazing structure. Now a heritage hotel, it has 343 rooms. Jaswant Thada looks like a temple but is a cremation ground of the royals of Rajasthan. It is built entirely in marble and looks extremely beautiful.

Jodhpur - A Great City - by Apurva Pathak Dated : 2011-01-24

Walking through crowded alleys of markets and narrow roads stuffed with traffic, the second largest city of Rajasthan can catch you by surprise. Magnificienty carved like a sand sculpture rising above the desert, the city of Jodhpur orbits around the huge Meherangarh Fort. Its gigantic form in a way exhibits its protective and powerful presence over the city. Built by Rao Jodha, the fort attracts the lens of your camera at the instant you spot it towering over the city gracefully. Being a major tourist attraction it is divided into palaces, museums and galleries internally to bring into life the stories of the its past.

Life in Jodhpur with bright sunny days is simple yet bewitching. Houses, not so tall, not very modern are painted in blue, it is aptly described as the blue city. Camels and vehicles rush through same narrow roads, weird looking rickshaws hustle through the traffic that you cant fail to notice.

Jaswant Thada, a traditional cremation ground of the royals, is another architectural landmark that is a must see. Built in white marble by Sardar Singh in 1899 in loving memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh, it looks like a temple. It has a beautiful garden and a small lake in vicinity. A sense of foreboding is sure to take over you the moment you set foot here.

The Umaid Bhavan palace is where you must stop by. It is a sandstone marvel and is also called the Chittar palace. Most of the interior is not accessible to tourists. It is an epitome of architectural beauty with an amazing exterior. Built by Maharaja Umaid Singh in 1943 it is one of the finest palaces in India. It was converted into a heritage hotel in 1977 and boasts of 343 rooms. A stay at the Umaid Bhavan palace can be enjoyable. Jodhpur aptly compliments a visit to Rajasthan.

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