My Visual Travel Experience: Jodhpur

I've visited Jodhpur several times on work during my sales days. I've also visited twice for sightseeing, once with my sister in 1998 and once with my wife in 2012. It's certainly one of India's most regal cities with a rich historical legacy of the maharajas.

Jodhpur has a population of over 1 million. It is the second largest city in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, after the capital Jaipur. Situated in the midst of the Thar Desert, Jodhpur is also known as the Blue City because of the colour of the buildings in the old city. Rao Jodha formed Jodhpur, then called Marwar, in 1459. He was the 15th Rathore ruler and moved the capital of the Rathores from Mandore to Jodhpur. Jodhpur was located on the road linking Delhi and Gujarat, and became an important trading town.

In 1581, Rao Chandrasen Rathore died and the kingdom was annexed by the Mughal Emperor, Akbar. It continued to have a fair amount of autonomy. The mother of Emperor Shah Jahan was from Jodhpur and the city benefited as a result of this. Maharaja Jaswant Singh of Jodhpur served as a general for the Mughals.

In 1679, Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb forcibly took over Jodhpur after the death of Maharaja Jaswant Singh, but Maharaja Ajit Singh was restored to the throne after Aurangzeb’s death. Jodhpur entered into an alliance with the British in 1818 and the state flourished under the British Raj. In 1947, India got its independence from the British, and Jodhpur merged into the Union of India, when Maharaja Hanwant Singh joined India, albeit reluctantly. In 1956, with the State Reorganisation Act, Jodhpur became a part of the State of Rajasthan.

Mehrangarh Fort was built in the 15th century AD by Rao Jodha. It is one of the largest forts in India. The fort has several gates, including Jai Pol built by Man Singh in 1806, to commemorate victories over Jaipur and Bikaner. The fort has a museum that has an impressive collection of palenquins, weapons, costumes and paintings. Though Rao Jodha built the fort, large parts of it were built during the reign of Jaswant Singh, who ruled from 1638 to 1678. Mehrangarh Fort has several impressive palaces inside, including Phool Mahal (Flower Palace), Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace) and Takhat Vilas.

Mehrangarh Fort

Mahadol, Mehrangarh Fort

Painting of Maharaja Ajit Singh, Mehrangarh Fort

Moti Mahal, Mehrangarh Fort

Phool Mahal, Mehrangarh Fort

Takhat Vilas, Mehrangarh Fort

Umaid Bhawan Palace was completed in 1943. It was built by Maharaja Umaid Singh to provide employment during a famine. The palace has over 300 rooms. A part of the hotel is the private residence of the descendants of the royal family of Jodhpur. A small part is a museum. The rest is a luxury hotel run by the Taj Group of Hotels. To enter Umaid Bhawan Palace, there is a steep meal cover charge that one has to pay, but it's well worth it for the sheer grandeur of the structure.

Umaid Bhawan Palace

Interior, Umaid Bhawan Palace

Stuffed Leopard, Umaid Bhawan Palace

Royal Dining Table, Umaid Bhawan Palace

Mosai, Umaid Bhawan Palace

Jaswant Thada is a cenotaph that serves as the cremation ground of the royal family. It was built by Maharaja Sardar Singh in 1899, as a memorial to his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. The impressive structure is made of white marble.

Jaswant Thada

Jaswant Thada

Interior, Jaswant Thada

The Clock Tower is locally known as Ghanta Ghar, and was built in the old city by Maharaja Sardar Singh, who ruled from 1880 to 1911.

Clock Tower

Mandore is situated barely 10 km from Jodhpur, and was the capital till Rao Jodha shifted it to Jodhour. Mandore Gardens have the royal cenotaphs of many of Jodhpur’s rulers. The cenotaph of Maharaja Ajit Singh, built in 1793, is the most impressive in the group.

Royal Cenotaphs, Mandore

Langoors at Mandore

Interior of Maharaja Ajit Singhji's Cenotaph, Mandore

Maharaja Suraj Singhji's Cenotaph, Mandore

Brahma at the Wall of Heroes, Mandore

Jodhpur is certainly well worth a visit and spending time there, one almost feels like one has traveled through time and gone to another era. The hotels there are particularly interesting, and many of them are old havelis converted into heritage hotels that give visitors a flavour of the days of the maharajas.