Jodhpur

Introduction

Hookah Smoker at Jodhpur Fort

© All Rights Reserved jacquiedro

Jodhpur is the second largest city in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is also known as the Gateway to Thar (due to its location on the edge of the Thar desert), Sun City (due to the many sunny days), or City of Blue Houses (due to the large number of blue houses).

Brief History

Jodhpur is a historic city and the origin dates to the year 1459 AD when it was founded by Rao Jodha, the Rajput chieftan of the Rathores. The Rathore kingdom was also known as the Marwar and was the largest in Rajputana.

The city was built as the new capital of the state of Marwar (now Rajasthan) to replace the ancient capital Mandore, the ruins of which can be seen near what is now the Mandore Gardens. The people of Jodhpur and surrounding areas are hence also commonly called as Marwaris. The forts and palaces, temples and havelis, culture and tradition, spices and fabrics, colour and texture, a booming handicrafts industry, all add up to make this historic city worth a visit.

Neighbourhoods

Sights and Activities

• Mehrangarh Fort dominates the city and is the largest fort in Rajasthan.
• Baba Ramdev Temple, Masuria Hills
• Ganesh Temple, Ratanada
• Santoshi Mata Temple, Lal Sagar
• Mahamandir Temple: One can see the neighbouring tourist destinations of Osiyan temples, Ranakpur Jain temples, Nathdwara temple, Bikaner and Deshnok, Ajmer and Pushkar, the desert city of Jaisalmer, the hill station Mount Abu, the city of lakes Udaipur or the pink city Jaipur
• Jaswant Thada, 1 kilometre downhill from Mehrangarh (easily walked). Royal cenotaphs built in marble, with a picturesque location next to a little lake. Entry Rs. 20, plus Rs. 25 for a camera.
• Mandore, 7 kilometres outside the city. The ancient capital of Marwar, before Jodhpur was built. Myth has it that Mandore is the birthplace of Princess Mandodri, the wife of King Ravana of Lanka in the epic Ramayana.
• Umaid Bhawan Palace: Clearly visible to the south of the city and completed only in 1944, this is the last great palace built in India. The Maharaja of Jodhpur lives here to this day, but half the building has been converted to a 5-star hotel (see Sleep) and there is also a small museum on grounds (Rs. 50, open 9:00am to 5:00pm). You'll have to take a rickshaw to get here, and it's best to ask them to wait: figure on Rs. 100 for a round-trip with an hour's waiting time.

Natural sites

• Balsamand Lake is now converted to a resort
• Kailana Lake is a picnic spot and a main drinking water source for the city

Further Afield

• Bishnoi Village safari Bishnois are a community that protects wildlife and environment. In safari the guide will take you around the Bishnoi villages in a jeep and there you will see deer, blackbuck and chinkara roaming around their huts and playing with their childres and village people feeding them. It is a 70-kilometre tour.
• Luni fort is located about 40 kilometres outside Jodhpur and has been converted into a heritage hotel
• Khejarla fort - located 80 kilometres outside Jodhpur on Jodhpur-Jaipur Highway and has been converted into a luxury heritage hotel.
• Osiyan is about 60 kilometres from Jodhpur and has Jain temples as well as Kali temples

Events and Festivals

Jodhpur fairs and festivals seem to express the rich culture and traditions Rajasthan. A number of festivals are celebrated in Jodhpur. However the most famous fairs and festivals in Jodhpur, Rajasthan are mentioned below.

Marwar Festival

The most popular Jodhpur festival is the Jodhpur Marwar Festival. It is held every year in memory of the heroes of Rajasthan. Marwar Festival of Jodhpur, Rajasthan was originally known as the Maand Festival. The festival is held in the month of Ashwin. Ashwin is a Hindu month between September and October. The Marwar festival in Jodhpur, India is celebrated during the full moon of Sharad Poornima. It goes on for two days.

The main attraction of this festival is the folk music centered on the romantic lifestyle of Rajasthan's rulers. The music and dance of the Marwar region is the main theme of this festival. The folk dancers and singers assemble at the festival and provide lively entertainment. These folk artists give others a peek into the days of yore, of battles and of the heroes who still live on through their songs.

Among other attractions at the festival, is the camel tattoo show and polo. The venue of this festival includes the famous Umaid Bhawan Palace, Mandore and Mehrangarh Fort.

Jodhpur International Desert Kite Festival

The International kite festival of Jodhpur, Rajasthan began only a few years. However, even in such a short span of time, it has become quite popular. In the Jodhpur International Desert Kite festival, the best kite flyers from India as well as rest of the world take part. The aim is to show of your kite flying skills. A lot of excitement surrounds this festival.

Generally, the date of this Kite Festival in India is 14th of January (Makar Sankranti). It is a three-day festival, held at the Polo Ground in Jodhpur. Air Force helicopters also release a large number of kites from above. Hundreds of schoolchildren also release balloons. During the kite festival, the sky gets filled up with kites of various designs and colors. There is a lot of enthusiasm among the people also regarding this festival. It reaches the highest point when a kite gets cut.

Nagaur Fair

The Jodhpur Nagaur Fair is the second biggest fair in India. The fair goes on for eight days. Nagaur Fair of Jodhpur, Rajasthan is held every year during the month of Jan-Feb.

It is popularly known as the Cattle fair of Nagaur. This is because the Nagaur Fair is mainly all about trading of animals. Approximately 70,000 bullocks, camels and horses are traded every year in this fair. The animals lavishly decorated and even their owners dress up wearing colorful turbans and long moustaches. Other trading in the Nagaur Fair in Jodhpur, India consists of sheep to Marwari horses to spices. Some other attractions include the Mirchi bazaar (largest red-chilly market of India), wooden items, iron-crafts and camel leather accessories.

Weather

Jodhpur experiences typical desert type climatic conditions with hot and dry summers and cool winters. The temperatures during the summer months(April-June) average around 40 degrees celsius while during the winters(November-February) the daytime temperatures average around 27 degrees Celsius. Rainfall is scanty with most of the precipitation being received during the July-September period. The city is bright and sunny throughout the year.
October to March is the best period to visit the city.

Getting There

Jodhpur is well connected by road, rail and air to many major cities and towns.

By Plane

Domestic flights are available from the Jodhpur airport (JDH) which is located around 5 kilometres from the city. Regular service carriers like Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, and Kingfisher Airlines operate flights from the airport to cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Udaipur and Jaipur.

By Train

Jodhpur is an important railway station of the North Western zone of the Indian Railways . It is well connected by direct trains from all metros and major cities in India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Lucknow, Kalka, Jammu, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. For example, the popular Mandor Express leaves Delhi at 8:45pm and arrives in Udaipur at 8:00am the next morning (Rs.1,000 in AC2). The taxi and auto-rickshaw stand are located near the exit of the railway station.

The advance reservation office is on Station Road, between the railway station and Sojati Gate. The office is open from Monday to Saturday from 8:00am to 8:00pm and on Sunday until 1:45pm IST. Foreign tourists can also buy Indrail passes in US$ and reserve tickets at the International Tourist Bureau, which is located at the advance reservation office. Tickets can also be booked online at IRCTC, the official railway booking site, from 5:00am to 11:30pm IST on all days.

Since February 2006, a train travels between Jodhpur and Karachi in Pakistan. It is the first international train travelling directly between the two countries since 1965. The Thar Express leaves Karachi at 11:00pm on Fridays, taking almost 24 hours before arriving in Jodhpur on Saturday evening. In the opposite direction, trains leave and arrive on approximately the same time on the same days taking 24 hours as well.

By Car

Approximate road distances to Jodhpur from various destinations are:

• Agra - 580 kilometres
• Ajmer - 200 kilometres
• Barmer - 220 kilometres
• Bikaner - 240 kilometres
• Jaipur - 345 kilometres
• Jaisalmer - 290 kilometres
• Mount Abu - 265 kilometres
• Mumbai - 1075 kilometres
• New Delhi - 590 kilometres
• Osiyan - 60 kilometres
• Ranakpur - 175 kilometres
• Udaipur - 275 kilometres

Various tour operators and travel agencies offer chauferred car-taxi services; these are charged on a per kilometre, per day basis. You can plan to take one to arrive into the city or take one for sightseeing in and around the city.

By Bus

Jodhpur can be reached by Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation buses which connect the city to other cities of Rajasthan. Private luxury buses are also available, which operate from all major towns and cities in Rajasthan as well as the cities of Ahmedabad and Delhi.

By Boat

Getting Around

By Car

By Public Transport

By Foot

By Bike

Eat

Omelette Man - Near the clocktower gate in the old city.
An extremely affordable option, the Omelette Man is Lonely Planet recognized and caters to tourists and locals alike. Try the masala omelette and make sure to read and sign his book of travelers' reviews.

Drink

Sleep

Property	Address	Type	Phone	Popularity
Amar Niwas Guesthouse	507,singh pole marg Navchowkiya	Guesthouse		80
Bishnoi Village Camp and Resort	Village-Guda Bishnoiyan,District-Jodhpur 1-kh-10, Bhagat ki kothi extention	Hotel		-
Cosy Guest House	navechokiya road, bhram puri,chuna ki choki	Guesthouse		79
Durag Niwas Guest House	1st Old Public Park Raika Bagh	Guesthouse		95
Durag Villas Guest House	House no 1 Near K N College Rai Ka Bagh	Guesthouse		70
Fort Khejarla	Village Khejarla Via Bilara,District Jodhpur	Hotel		94
Hare Krishna Guesthouse	Mehron ka chowk naya bas killikhana,Jodhpur,Raj	Guesthouse		72
Hotel Haveli	Makrana Mohalla Opp. Tuvar Ji Ka Jhalara	Hotel		85
Haveli Inn Pal	Opposite gulab sagar Near clock tower	Hotel		97
Heaven Guest House	Behind Mehta Market Manak Chowk Road	Guesthouse		90
Hotel Suncity International	Hotel Suncity International Panchbatti Circle, Airport Road	Hotel		-
Kalinga Hotel	Near Railway Station	Hotel		-
Krishna Prakash Heritage Haveli	Nayabas, Killikhana	Hotel		92
Mandore Guesthouse	Near Mandore Garden Dadavari Lane,Mandore	Guesthouse		97
Saji Sanwri (Guest - House)	Gandhi Street, Near City Police Station,	Guesthouse		84
The Blue House Guest House	Sumer-Bhawan Moti Chowk	Guesthouse		83
Veggi Guesthouse	293, Singhvion ka Mohalla Ramdeo Chowk Navchowkia	Guesthouse		68
Yogi Guest House	Raj Purohitji ki Haveli Naya Bas Manak Chowk	Guesthouse		89
Heritage Kuchaman Haveli	Inside Merti Gate	Hotel	0091 291 2547787	-
Jee Ri Haveli	Near Rajmahal Sr. Hr. Sec. School	Hotel		100
Shahi Guest House	City Police Gandhi Street Opp. Narsingh Temple	Guesthouse		86
Govind Hotel	OPP. MAIN G.P.O STATION ROAD	Hotel		79
Megh Niwas Hotel	30, Umed Club Road	Guesthouse		80
Madho Niwas	New Airport Road Ratanada	Hostel		-
AJIT MANSION	Near Panch Batti Circle Residency Road	Guesthouse		-
Maru Garh	Chopasni Village Pal Link Road Jaisalmer by-pass	Hotel		-
Hotel Rajputana Palace	Panch Batti Circle Airport Road Rajasthan	Hotel		-
Shiva Guest House	4, Kuchaman House, Near Panch Batti Circle	Guesthouse		-
Chhotaram Prajapat's Homestay	Kumharon ki dhani , Near Gosala v/p-Salawas	Hotel		77
Hotel Megh Niwas	30 Umed Club Road, NH-65	Hotel		60
Ganpati G.H.	Makrana Mohalla	Guesthouse		78
Hotel Apex International	689, 9th 'C' Road	Hotel		-
The Kothi Heritage	Bachraj Ji Ka Bagh 9th Chopasni Road Sardarpura	Guesthouse		-
Ganesham Guest House	Sector-4, Defence lab road, ratanada Near Ratanada Petrol Pump Circle	Guesthouse		-
Shivam Paying Guest House	Makrana Mohalla	Guesthouse		78
Hotel Megh Niwas	30 Umed Club Near Circut House	Hotel		-
Anil Sunrise Guest House	Near The Clock Tower Manak Chowk Road	Guesthouse		86
Hem Guest House	Near Jain Temple, Daftariyon Ka Mohalla, Moti Chowk	Guesthouse		100
Royal Rai's Guest House	190,Umaid Heritage, ath the foot hills of Umaid Bh	Guesthouse		-
Sarvar Guest House	manak chowk clock tower Road	Guesthouse		70
Baba Haveli Guest House	A Heritage Home of Jaipur 66 A, Sanjay Colony RPA Road Nerhu Nagar	Apartment		100
Haveli Guest House	Makrana Mohalla Rajasthan	Guesthouse		-
Khaas Bagh Heritage Hotel	Khaas Bagh, Opp. Police Lines Ratanada	Hotel		-
The Kothi Heritage	Pal Road	Guesthouse		-
Juna Mahal Boutique Home Stay	Ada Bazar, Daga Street	HOTEL		-
Kalbeliya Gypsy Home	Choopasni Nathdwra Temple	Guesthouse		-

Work

Learn

• Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur
• Jodhpur National University
• National Law University Jodhpur

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

Post

India Post is the national postal service of India, and on their website you find details about prices to send postcards, letters and parcels, both domestically and internationally. For most postcards to send internationally, it is better to visit the post office before writing on the card as you may need quite a few stamps. Parcels must be taken to a tailor, he will then sew it up in white linen. Make sure he seals it with red wax, otherwise the post office may refuse to send it or try to get you to pay them to do it. Sewing up a parcel should only cost 50rs to 200rs. In general, post offices are open from 10:00am to 1:00pm and 1:30pm to 4:30pm in most bigger towns and cities, though there are regional variations and some might keep longer hours or be open during (part of) the weekend as well. Ask around.