Arriving in Jodhpur during a trip to Rajasthan is always spectacular. The Mehrangarh, a majestic and imposing fort, seems to have watched over the city since forever. At the base of this architectural masterpiece comes alive the old city repainted in an intense blue color, that of the Brahmin caste. The heart of the old city is a chaotic labyrinth of medieval alleys where it is good to get lost. The smells of jasmine, fried food, tobacco, incense and sewers hit all our senses … and we want more! From the fort, the spectacle is fascinating, the blue of the houses captivates the eye while the noises of the city seem distant. Jodhpur, the second largest city in Rajasthan, will dazzle you. Do not hesitate to take the time to discover it. Create your own trip to Jodhpur, we can theme your visits according to your desires!
This city, full of history and culture, has many nicknames. Some call Jodhpur the ‘City of Sunshine’ because the days there are sunny all year round. Some consider it the ‘Gateway to the Thar Desert’, while others simply call it ‘the Blue City’ because of the abundance of blue mansions in its historic heart.
What to see in Jodhpur ?
Known as the Blue City of India, Jodhpur is, along with Jaipur, Jaisalemer and Udaipur, another of the most visited cities in the Rajasthan region. So if you are planning a route through this part of the country, in this article we will show you the best places to see in Jodhpur.
Founded in the mid-15th century, Jodhpur, located at the foot of its imposing fortress, is currently the second largest and most populated city in Rajasthan, with more than 1 million inhabitants. It is not only known as the Blue City, but is also known as the City of the Sun, as it is one of the sunniest cities in India and where it rains the least throughout the year. Here is this list of things to see and do in Jodhpur in two days, which although it does not have as many attractions as, for example, Jaipur, will surely surprise you, not only for its striking color, but also for the incessant commercial activity that takes place in the city center.
One of the best ways to get to know the city is with this free tour where you will learn the interesting history of the most important places to see in Jodhpur, and lots of information and curiosities about the city.
Now, let’s start with the best attractions to visit in Jodhpur.
Mehrangarh Fort
The imposing Mehrangarh Fort is the most important and outstanding attraction to see in Jodhpur. Located at about 125 meters high and visible from any point in the city, the Mehrangarh Fort was built in 1459 by Rao Jodha, founder of the city, and was the residence of the maharajas until the beginning of the 20th century. It is not only one of the most impressive forts in the Rajasthan region, but also one of the largest in India.
The different halls and royal quarters currently house a museum where you can see different collections of pieces, objects, weapons, palanquins, elephant saddles, musical instruments, royal costumes, etc. The entrance includes an audio guide in Spanish so you can follow the entire visit and learn about the history of the fort over the years. It took us a whole morning to visit the fort, but it is undoubtedly the most important visit to make in Jodhpur.
Another essential reason to climb Mehrangarh Fort is to take in the spectacular views from the walls of the entire Blue City of Jodhpur. To get to the fort you can walk from the city centre, which we definitely recommend to explore the narrow streets of the old city, or you can also take a rickshaw that will drop you off at the main entrance. If you just want to see the views from the fort walls without visiting the inside of the palace, admission is free.
Jodhpur Clock Tower
The square where the beautiful Clock Tower is located is the nerve center and the most lively place in the city of Jodhpur. The tower, known as Ghanta Ghar, was built by order of Maharaja Sardar Singh at the beginning of the 20th century, and since then it has become an iconic monument of the city. This is the ideal place to start your tour of the old city of Jodhpur.
Sadar Bazar
In the square that opens around the Clock Tower there are several markets, the most popular and crowded being the Sardar Bazar where they sell clothes, fabrics, bracelets, accessories, food and more. In the same square there are also other markets, such as the Vegetable Market Ghante Ghar, where they sell fruits and vegetables, and many other small shops where you can buy spices.
We took the opportunity to buy some samosas from the famous Shahi Samosa restaurant, and sit in the shade watching the coming and going of people, motorbikes and cows, a real spectacle that never stops all day long, and a good way to immerse yourself in the local people and their daily life.
By the way, if you are wondering where to eat in Jodhpur, we are going to recommend a very “Indian street style” stall. It is called Omelette Shop, and what it does is as simple as how amazing it is. The guy only has sliced bread and eggs, and with that he makes several types of omelette, even potato ones!
I am sure that at first you won’t trust the place, but just seeing the people queuing up to take bags of these omelette sandwiches home, you will be forced to try it. We can assure you from our own experience that you will come back. In fact, it appears in the Lonely Planet guides, and here you can see its reviews on Tripadvisor, and its address, which is right at one of the entrances to the Sardar Market.
Old City of Jodhpur
One of the must-do things in Jodhpur is to walk around the old city and get lost in its labyrinth of narrow streets with blue houses. This characteristic that makes the city so different has its explanation. According to the story, in ancient times the Hindu priests known as Brahmins and considered a higher caste, painted their houses blue to differentiate themselves from the rest, although over time the other buildings were painted. Another reason is that the blue color serves to keep mosquitoes away and to make the houses fresh.
Honestly, the narrow streets of the old city of Jodhpur seemed much quieter than we imagined, and we even came across more dogs and cows than people.
Jaswant Thada
Located 1 kilometre from Merangarh Fort is the Jaswant Thada monument, a mausoleum built in 1899 by Sardar Singh for his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, who reigned from 1878 to 1895. This maharaja remains much loved by all the people of Jodhpur, who still visit the monument to this day to pray and make offerings.
Here you can see the temple with striking architecture and several royal cenotaphs built in white marble. Cenotaphs are empty funerary monuments that are dedicated to people buried elsewhere, in this case former rulers and members of the later royal families of Jodhpur. Today it is used as a crematorium for the royal family of Marwar.
Indians call this beautiful monument the Taj Mahal of Jodhpur, and although the differences are obvious, it is another of the important places to visit in Jodhpur.
Umaid Bhawan Palace
Another of the great buildings to see in Jodhpur, and which can also be seen from almost any point in the city, is the Umaid Bhawan Palace.
Built in marble and sandstone, and with an architecture that mixes Rajput, Jainist and art deco styles, its towers and large dome stand out. Today it is a luxury hotel of the famous Taj hotel chain, although part of the palace is still used as the residence of the royal family of Jodhpur, and another space is occupied by a museum open to the public, where various pieces of art, weapons and furniture are exhibited.
What to see around Jodhpur
Mandore Gardens
Mandore Garden around 9 kilometres from the centre of Jodhpur, the former capital of Manwar until the 15th century. The great attraction of this city is its beautiful gardens with cenotaphs of the first governors of Jodhpur built in red sandstone.
To get to the Mandore gardens you can do so by local buses that leave from the Clock Tower square itself or by rickshaw.
How to get to Jodhpur
Jodhpur is very well connected by trains from many other cities, especially Rajasthan. We arrived by train from Delhi after a night trip of about 6 or 7 hours, and each ticket cost us €10.70 in ac IInd Class Sleeper.
Another option is to move between cities by bus, but we really don’t recommend it since in India they drive like crazy people, without laws and without regulations. We tell you this from experience after having made some bus trips around the country.
Jodhpur is well connectedby by flight from Delhi, Mumbaie and another cities of India.
How many days to stay in Jodhpur
The advantage is that it is not a very big city, so there are not as many places to visit as for example Jaipur or other cities in Rajasthan. We recommend that you see the most important things to see in Jodhpur in two days to enjoy the city without rushing, but if you have little time and make the most of the day, you can visit Jodhpur in one day.
Accommodation in Jodhpur
In Jodhpur you can find easily budget hotel, homesay & luxury hotels. All the accommodation depend on your budget.
Here you can see more accommodations in Jodhpur and book the one you like the most at the best price taking advantage of .
Internet in Jodhpur (Rajasthan)
In India in general and especially in a state like Rajasthan, we recommend having an Internet connection 24 hours a day, since at any time you may need to contact someone or look for any type of information, and depending on which city or hotel you are in, the Wifi does not always work as we would like, especially during monsoon season, when even the power goes out in many places.
In this article we leave you all the information on how to have an Indian SIM card and have Internet at all times. Another alternative, especially if you do not understand English very well and do not want to waste a lot of time comparing companies and prices, is to buy this Indian SIM card, with the advantage that they send it directly to your home and you can put it in your mobile without complications as soon as you land in India.
