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.

LOCATION
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.

CLIMATE

The city of Jodhpur has a typical desert climate, dry and hot. Jodhpur receives 359.5 mm of rain every year, most of it during the monsoon (July/August). Maximum temperature in Jodhpur during the summers remains in the range of 40ºC while in the winters the minimum average temperature is 11ºC.

VISITING TIME

The ideal time to visit this place is the period between November and March.

THE PAST

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.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Mehrangarh Fort
Magnificent Mehrangarh, one of Rajasthan's finest forts, looks down protectively over the city, from the hilltop. The fort is situated at an altitude of about 125 metres and is spread over an area of 5 sq. km with seven gates. One could drive up or walk to the top of the small and not so steep hill. Driving or walking up, the sheer rock face from where emerges the tall and massive sandstone wall of Mehrangarh looks awesome indeed.

Jaswant Thada
Red sandstone stairs led up to the chessboard checked courtyard of the neat white marble cenotaph. Dedicated to Maharaja Jaswant, this memorial was built in 1899. It is a peaked structure from the outside with precise trelliswork and excellent carving.

Umaid Bhawan
A wonderful palace of beige sandstone built by Maharaja Umaid Singh in 1928 and designed by the President of the British Royal Institute of Architects. The Fort is a blend of several styles, merging pleasantly. Royal auditorium ballrooms, huge dinning-room, gilded royal furniture, majestic tiger and deerskins on the walls of a gloomy library of old books, crystal chandeliers, stained glass windows, liveried menservants and doormen, swimming pool in basement, various mementoes and old photographs. There is so much to see and discover.

Mandore
Before the foundation of Jodhpur was laid, Mandore was the established capital of the old Marwar Kingdom. Just nine kilometers away, Mandore is a fascinating complex of sprawling gardens, massive cenotaphs, temples, ruins and sculpture. Gods, goddesses, animals, lotuses, adorn the walls and pillars of old yellow sandstone. In a hall are relief sculptures of various deities and rulers, colored bright and mounted on horses. In little corners of temples are rows of beautiful old tiles, excellent ceramic art. Some depicting Lord Rama or Lord Krishna. Then of course, there amongst the temples, figurate, and landscaped vegetation, are the brightly dressed Rajasthani people.

Museum
The Jodhpur Museum exhibits a rich collection of armory, textiles, arts and crafts, miniature paintings, portraits, manuscripts, and images of Jain Tirthankaras.

SITES NEARBY

Mahamandir Temple
Two kilometers away on the Mandore Road, is this impressive temple with 84 pillars ornamented with detailed carvings of yogic postures.

Kailana Lake
A charming picnic spot around a lake, famous for a spectacular view of sunset this lake is located 11 kilometers from Jodhpur.

Sardar Samand Lake
A long drive 55 kilometers through the countryside leads to this shimmering lake.

Balsamand Lake and Palace
A summer palace on the embankments of a serene and calm lake, Balsamand Lake is located 7 kilometers away from Jodhpur.

Osian
Osian has the ruins of 16 Jain and Hindu temples built between the 8th and 11th centuries located 65 km away from Jodhpur.

Nagaur
Famous for an old fort and palace with beautiful murals of lores and legends, Nagaur is 135 kilometers away from Jodhpur. An annual cattle fair held here in January/February is rated as one of the best in Asia.

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

Jodhpur celebrates the Marwar festival with great fun and joy. It is a two-day program of fun, folk music, folk dance and folklore. Nagpanchami, the worship of the king of the serpents, is also celebrated with enthusiasm.

SHOPPING

One can find the usual handicrafts of Rajasthan in the local markets. Jodhpur markets are rich in antiques for which these markets have become the favorite hunt for the foreigners. Besides these, the market near the clock tower is the place for some good bargains. The traditional jewelry like the bajuband, bala, gajra and gokhru are some of the famous products of Jodhpur. Jodhpur riding breeches, colorful hand-printed cotton fabrics and traditional Rajasthani mojri slippers are also worth buying.

HOW TO REACH

The nearest airport of Jodhpur is Udaipur. The airport is well connected to Jodhpur by roadways.
Trains are available from Delhi and Mumbai to Jodhpur.
It is also well connected by the national highways and other small roadways.