Experience Jodhpur-The Blue City, like never before!

A land of rich culture and history, Rajasthan is the largest Indian state. There are many tourist destinations in Rajasthan with famous forts, palaces, and temples. Quite popular amongst tourists, Jodhpur is an interesting place to visit and remembered. Jodhpur offers a perfect sneak-peek of Rajasthani life and the blue houses. Also, it is home to the beautiful Mehrangarh Fort, Umaid Bhavan Palace, and beautiful Ranisar Lake.

Why Jodhpur is called “Blue City”?

Upon arrival in Jodhpur, you will figure out that this city is associated with one color i.e. blue. According to the local people, the Brahmins in Jodhpur have blue houses and the majority of the houses are blue. A good view of the blue city can be seen from the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort and also you can count the number of blue houses.

Tourist attractions to visit:

1.       Mehrangarh Fort:

A beautiful piece of architecture, Mehrangarh Fort is located in the center of the city at the top of the hill. The walls of the fort have a height of 118 feet and a width of 69 feet which makes it a massive fort. There are two ancient temples situated in the fort and a museum which houses ancient artifacts from the royal families of Rajasthan and Mughal Dynasty. You will find a great collection of paintings, carvings, sculptures, costumes in the Mehrangarh Fort Museum.

2.       Umaid Bhavan Palace:

Named after Maharaja Umaid Singh of Rathore Family, Umaid Bhavan Palace is now a heritage hotel situated in Jodhpur. The foundation of this Palace was laid in 1929 and was completed in 1943. The Umaid Bhavan Palace is part palace cum hotel and museum. There is a vintage car collection in the museum and the vintage car collection that cannot be missed. 

3.       Jaswant Thada:

This magnificent monument is made up of white marble and named after Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. There are memorials inside the monument which are decorated with artwork. The unique thing about this Palace is that the monument is built in Rajasthani traditional style while the domes are built in Mughal architecture style. The lakeside location of Jaswant Thada along with lush green lawns attracts a lot of visitors every year. 

4.       Clock Tower:

Popular as Ghanta Ghar, Clock Tower is a famous landmark in Jodhpur. It is a tall building with English style clock on the top which is still ticking. There is a Ghanta Ghar Market where you can go shopping and buy jewelry, paintings, puppets and much more.

5.       Ranisar Lake and Padmasar Lake:

These are two beautiful lakes built for the conservation of water around 500 years ago. You can watch the sunrise and sunset and relax near the lakes. 

6.       Mandore Gardens:

There are ancient temples, memorials in the abandoned Mandore Gardens that attracts a lot of tourists. There are cenotaphs of many Maharaja     s of Jodhpur that is preserved beautifully. They have intricate carvings and embellishments depicting the stories of past eras.

7.       Balsamand Lake:

A popular picnic spot in Jodhpur, Balsamand lake was built by the royalty of Rajasthan to cater the water needs of the area. You can relax here and enjoy the serene environment.

Best time to visit:

October to March is the best time to visit Jodhpur. The weather during these months is quite pleasant and many festivals are organized during this time.

Travel tips for Jodhpur:

·         Wear sunglasses and hats if visiting during the summer season

·         Wear comfortable shoes while going for the sightseeing

·         Carry a water bottle during the visiting the Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant Thada

·         Wear comfortable clothes that cover your body

·         Seek permission before clicking pictures of local people