JODHPUR CITY GUIDE
Jodhpur,
318 kms from Jaipur, is the second largest city in Rajasthan. The city has a
history of battles and royalty as is highly evident by the huge Meherangarh
fort overlooking the city. There are some old monuments to see here and you can
make a stop before heading to other places in Rajasthan. Did you know that the
famous baggy/tight riding trousers called Jodhpuris take their name from this
city?
The city which stands at the edge of the Thar desert, was founded by Rao Jodha,
a chief of the Rajput clan known as Rathores in 1459. The Rathore kingdom was
once known as Marwar, the ‘land of death’. The old city of Jodhpur is
surrounded by a 10 kms long wall which was built a century after the city was
founded. Jodhpur was on the important Delhi to Gujarat trade route and it
greatly benefited from the trade of silk, opium, sandalwood, copper and other
items.
MEHERANGARH
FORT
The Meherangarh Fort, situated on a 125 m high hill, is the most impressive
and formidable fort in Rajasthan. The construction of the fort was begun by
Maharaja Rao Jodha in 1459 and was completed by Maharaja Jaswant Singh (1638-78).
The fort originally had seven gates (pols). There is a first gate with spikes
to prevent attack from elephants. The other gates include the Jayapol, built
by Maharaja Man Singh in 1806, following his victory over the armies of Jaipur
and Bikaner. The Fatehpol or victory gate was erected by Maharaja Ajit Singh
in 1907 to commemorate his victory over the Mughals. The last gate is the Lohapol
or iron gate beside which there are 15 handprints, the “sati” marks of widows
of Maharaja Man Singh who threw themselves upon his funeral pyre in 1843.
The fort is still run by the Maharaja of Jodhpur. Inside the fort there are
a series of courtyards and palaces. Some of these house a collection of folk
music instruments, elephant howdahs, miniature paintings, furniture and costumes.
At the end of the fort is the Chamunda temple, dedicated to a form of Goddess
Durga.
JASWANT THADA
Jaswant Thada is a marble pillared memorial (cenotaph) built in 1899, dedicated
to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, by his wife after his death. People often compare
this memorial to the Taj Mahal, because both are symbolic of eternal love. You
can get a panoramic view of the city from this place.
UMAID BHAWAN PALACE
It is a huge marble and pink-yellow stone palace with 347 rooms. Designed
by H.C. Lanchester, the President of the Royal Institute of British Architects
in London, the Palace was built during the time of Maharaja Umaid Singh. The
Palace was constructed by over 3,000 people over a period of fourteen years.
The palace has eight dining rooms, an underground swimming pool and a scenic
garden. Half of the Palace is now converted into a luxury hotel.
The Umaid Gardens
Near the Tourist Bungalow is a beautiful garden, attached with a simple
zoo.
JUNI DHAN MANDI and TALAITI MAHAL are buildings made of carved
red sandstone.
BALSAMAND LAKE
The lake, which is actually an artificial lake, is about 3/4 km long and
50 m wide. There is a beautiful palace built in 1936 on the bank of the lake,
which was used by the royal family as a summer home.
PRATAP SAGAR AND KAILANA SAGAR
If you want to relax in sylvan surroundings, a trip to Pratap Sagar and
Kailana Sagar is really recommended. These are lakes in the west of Jodhpur
with gardens near them.