Jodhpur is my hometown; yes born and bought up in Jodhpur. Jodhpur has its charm and charisma to attract tourists without putting any extra effort into falsity.
I spent 23 years in Jodhpur, but whenever I enter the city, it always surprises me with its freshness and authenticity. Be it food or clothes, music or a tradition; Jodhpur will turn you spellbound.
Celebrities like Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar tied the knots in Jodhpur which gave a hint of Bollywood/Hollywood touch to this beautiful city.
Not only for the celebrity weddings, but Jodhpur is also famous for its various tourist attractions that will leave you aww with this city.
Let me take you through one by one the description of various places in Jodhpur
Mehrangarh Fort
You can not leave Jodhpur without visiting strong and masculine Mehrangarh fort of Jodhpur. Mehrangarh fort is one of the most beautiful and spectacular fort in India. Mehrangarh is spread in an area of 1,200 acres in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. It was constructed around 1459 by Rajput ruler Rao Jodha on the rocky hills around 122 meters above the surrounding plain. The current royal family of Jodhpur still manages the fort. This fort has 7 Gigantic gates, including Jai Pol, Fattehpol, Gopal Pol, Dedh Kangra pol, Amruti pol, Loha Pol, and Suraj Pol.
Mehrangarh Fort has been built and declared a National Geological Monument by the Geological Survey of India to encourage Geo Tourism in the country.
Timings: Sunday – Saturday (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM). The entry fee for Mehrangarh Fort is International Guests – 600 Rs. Including camera, Domestic Guests – 400 Rs.
Umaid Bhawan Palace
Umaid Bhawan Palace is one of the world’s largest private residential hotels located in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. The property’s present owner is Maharaja Gaj Singh, who is the grandson of Maharaja Umaid Singh. This property is divided into two parts one is a hotel managed by the Taj group, and the other is a museum.
Timings: Umaid Bhawan museum is open for all days of the week, 10 AM to 4:30 PM. The entry ticket is Rs. 30 for Indians and Rs. 100 for foreign tourists.
Jaswant Thada
Maharaja Sardar Singh of Jodhpur State built the Jaswant Thada in 1899 in memory of his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. It is popularly known as the “Taj Mahal of Marwar” and is built out of intricately carved marble sheets.
Timings: It is open on all days from 9 am to 6 pm. Entrance fees: For Indians – Rs. 10, Foreigners – Rs. 20
Mandore Garden
The main attraction of Mandore garden is the Royal Chhatris or cenotaphs. The Royal Cenotaphs of Marwar Kings are made of complete Red stone. The Mandore garden is a collection of monuments and temples of the Marwar dynasty. The ‘Mandore gardens’, with its beautiful collection of temples, memorials, and high rock terraces, is another major attraction. The gardens house the Chhatris (cenotaphs) of many rulers of the Jodhpur state. Prominent among them is the chhatri of Maharaja Ajit Singh, built-in 1793.
Timings: It is open all days and anytime. There is no entry fee for Mandore Gardens. But one must pay INR 50/- per person to visit the museum.
Kaylana Lake
Kaylana Lake is located 8 km west of Jodhpur. It is an artificial lake built by Pratap Singh in 1872. The lake spreads over 0.84 km2 (0.32 sq mi). It receives its water from Hathi Nehar (translation: elephant canal), further connected to the Indra Gandhi canal. The natural vegetation here mainly consists of Babool trees, and various migratory birds such as Siberian cranes are seen here in the winter. Birdwatching enthusiasts are in for a treat as the sedge of Siberian Cranes stops over the lake in the winter season. Kaylana Lake is the sole source of water consumption for the city of Jodhpur and neighboring areas.
Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park
Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park in Jodhpur near Mehrangarh Fort spreads over 72 hectares. The park was created in 2006 to try and fix the natural ecology of a large, rocky area adjoining and below the fort. It was opened to the public in February 2011. The site in and around the park contains distinctive volcanic rock and sandstone formations.
Timing: It opens from Monday to Sunday, 7 AM – 6 PM. Tickets: For adults 100 INR and entry free for school Students and for naturalist it costs 200 INR for a guided walk.
Clock Tower
The clock tower or Ghanta ghar is a famous landmark in Jodhpur, situated in the old city. Maharaja Sardar Singh constructed it between 1880 and 1911. The vibrant Sardar Market is close to the Clock tower, and narrow alleys lead from here to a bazaar selling vegetables, spices, Indian sweets, textiles, silver, and handicrafts. There are over 7000 shops, and you can have a great shopping experience here.
Jodhpur is also known as the ‘Sun City’ and the ‘Blue City. It is a perfect place for your winter holidays with family and kids. You can plan loads of shopping and food lists for this visit as you may get numerous options to explore here in Jodhpur. Next time you plan your holiday, consider this post for reference. Also, please read my other posts on the various travel destinations in the world.
wow, this is amazing blog. Helped me a lot. Thank you.
Would love to visit jodhpur once. Lovely clicks.
Jodhpur definitely looks like an interesting place to visit and your post highlights all important places around
Jodhpur has been on my travel bucket list for so long. Umaid Bhavan is known by everybody but I did not know about Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park. Thank you for providing such a detailed guide. Do you think the crafts that are sold in Jodhpur now are authentic or are those machine made replicas?
Jodhpur is always very special to me as I have done my first solo trip here and really loved that part of my life. Everything I find in Jodhpur is beyond of my expectations, like people, food, places ..all are very close to my heart. Nice post for sure