Jodhpur India Travel Guide

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Jodhpur History

Jodhpur was founded in the year 1459 A.D. by Rao Jodha, who was part of the Rathore clan and is claimed to be a descendent of Lord Rama. He chose Mandore, a place nine kilometers away from the city, as the capital of Jodhpur. To strengthen his foothold he built a fortress to which additions were done by his successors over the centuries. Jodhpur has been ruled by a string of rulers from 15th century A.D. It was under the rule of Rao Gaj Singh from 1516-32, when he allied with Rana Sanga, the leader of the Rajput clans, and fought against the then reigning Mughal emperor Babar. Rana Sanga and Rao Gaj Singh were defeated by Babur, and the dawn of the Mughal Age in India began. Over the next half century, the rulers of Jodhpur joined hands with the Mughals and this relationship flourished. Until the reign of the Mughal prince Aurangzeb, that is. The Mughal prince tried to deceive the then king Maharaja Jaswant Singh by sending him to the frontiers and trying to seize his infant son, but the infant prince was saved by the Maharaja’s loyalist. The Jodhpur prince later formed an alliance with the rulers of Jaipur and Udaipur and eventually overthrew the Mughal and ended their rein over India.

Jodhpur Attractions and Things To Do

Jodhpur has actually gradually grown around the Fort of Mehrangarh, which was built by Rao Jodha. Mehrangarh fort is a majestic creation in stone and is one of the largest forts in India. It is spread in an area of five kilometers on a hill top and presents a bird’s eye view of the entire city. Jodhpur attractions also include the Umaid Bhawan palace, also known as the Cheetar palace. It was built under the famine relief project and it took sixteen years to complete. It is a beautiful piece of architecture in sandstone and is a must see. Umaid Bhawan palace is still the residence of the former rulers and a part of it is run as heritage hotel and museum. Apart, from these monuments, which are of great importance to the city, there are other places to see including Jaswant Thada, Girikot and Sardar Market and Mandore palace. Going to Jodhpur during festivals is an added pleasure as the city celebrates many festivals with great fervor. It is a delight to be in Jodhpur during Holi, which is the festival of colors. This is the most popular of the seasonal festival and falls normally in the month of March. It is celebrated by playing with colors both wet and dry. Other festivals of importance are Diwali, Nag Panchami and Navsati.

Jodhpur Excursions

One places which you can visit around Jodhpur is Osian, which is the largest center of Jain and Hindu temples in Rajasthan. It is about fifty kilometers from Jodhpur. Mahamandir is another place of interest near Jodhpur. It was built in 1812 and is a small walled town clustered around a one-hundred pillared Shiva temple. Another nearby excursion is to Balsamund Lake and palace, which is around seven kilometers from Jodhpur.

Jodhpur Climate

The climate of Jodhpur is characterized by extreme heat in summer and cold in winter, which is typical of a desert region. The temperature ranges from 50°C in summer to 1°C in winters. Rains are scarce, as the rainy period is limited to a maximum of a couple of weeks in the year. Jodhpur is also known for its huge sandstorms, which is somewhat of an attraction for people from other regions of the country and tourists in general.

Jodhpur Cuisine

Jodhpur cuisine is mouth watering and delicious, and there are many restaurants where you can try the fare. Jodhpur is especially famous for recipes like Dal, Bati, and Churma, kair-sangri and panchkuta. It is a must for visitors to at least taste Jodhpur food, or they would be missing something exquisite. Dal, Bati, and Churma is a combination of Dal, which is a mixture of 5 different pulses cooked together, and bati bread, which is kneaded flour baked and then soaked in ghee. Churma is a sweet ladoo, a desert and for sure a delicacy of the place. Jodhpur cuisine is also quite spicy; Mirchi vade and Pyaz Ki Kachori are other items which should not be missed by the foodies.

Jodhpur Getting There

Jodhpur is directly connected with all the major cities of the country via rail, road, and air transport. Indian airlines flights are available from Delhi, Mumbai, Udaipur and Jaipur.

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