At a glance Jodhpur is the second largest city of the state of Rajasthan. Jodhpur has been drawing the attention of tourists from all over the world. Standing as the sentinel of the India's western border. Amongst the places to visit and see in Jodhpur are its magnificent forts and palaces.
About the city Jodhpur is situated at the edge of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan with Jaisalmer on its west, Barmar, Jalor and Pali on its south, Bikaner on its north, and Nagaur on the eastern side Events And Festivals Jodhpur celebrates the Marwar festival with great fun and joy. The two-day festival drenches everyone at Jodhpur in fun, folk music, folk dance and folklore. The festival of Nagpanchami, the worship of the king of the serpents, is also celebrated with enthusiasm at Jodhpur.
How to reach Air: Indian Airlines flights from Delhi, Mumbai Udaipur and Jaipur. Rail: Direct rail connection to many important cities of the country. Road: Jodhpur can also be reached through a dense network of road connections. Some important distances are: Agra - 570 kms. Delhi _ 636 kms., Mumbai - 1013 kms., Bi8kaner - 301 kms., Jaisalmer - 285 kms. And Udaipur - 318 kms.
Distances
Best Seasons One should plan the visit to Jodhpur during the best time to get rid of the uncomforting heat and dry spell of the summer season. One good quality moisturizer and some light woolens for the day and some extra woolen stuff for the winter nights is advisable. Jodhpur is situated at the edge of the Thar Desert. Jodhpur has a typical desert climate, dry and hot. The ideal time to visit Jodhpur is the period between November and March. Jodhpur is like an oasis in the vast desert, with a variety of thorny shrubs all over the area. Jodhpur also has some of the animal species that can survive in an arid and dry environment.
Places in and around Mehrangarh Fort jodhpur-mehrangar-fort Situated at an altitude of about 125 metres, the Mehrangarh Fort of Jodhpur is spread over an area of 5 sq. km in the heart of the city of Jodhpur. Besides being a landmark in Jodhpur Mehrangarh fort is a must visit for all the tourists. The fort has seven gates of which the noted ones are the Jayapol, built by Maharaja Man Singh in 1806; Fatehpol or the Victory Gate built by Maharaja Ajit Singh; and the Lohapol or the Iron Gate. Jaswant Thada Jaswant Thada in Jodhpur is a white marble memorial built in memory of Maharaja Jaswant II in 1899 A story goes that Maharaja Jaswant succumbed to injuries in this place while fighting the Mughal king Jahangir. This place is a must see while holidaying in Jodhpur Umaid Bhawan Made of marble and pink sandstone, the construction of the Umaid Bhawan of Jodhpur started in 1929 and it took 16 years to complete it. It is believed that the palace was constructed to give employment to the famine-struck population of Jodhpur. This majestic building is presently the residence of the former rulers with a part of it running as hotel and remaining part as a museum. Thus, Umaid Bhawan is not just a place to visit and a place to see in Jodhpur but a place to stay. Mandore Gardens About 8 km from Jodhpur is another place to visit Mandore. This ancient capital of Marwar has cenotaphs of the Jodhpur rulers. The beautiful gardens with high rock terraces make it a popular picnic spot with the tourists to Jodhpur. The garden has a gate known as the Ajitpol, which is decorated with paintings of the gods and goddesses of Indian mythology. Government Museum and Zoo The Sardar Government Museum, library and the zoo are located in the pleasant Umaid Gardens of Jodhpur. Museum is the place to visit to see stuffed animals, old weapons and sculptures. Old Fort Museum Another place to visit in Jodhpur is the old fort museum. Amongst the must see exhibits are palanquins, lavishly upholstered royal howdahs, a golden throne, shoes with pearls, paintings, mirrors, cribs weapons and a magnificently embroidered royal tent. Balsamand Lake and Gardens About 5 km from Jodhpur is the Balsamand Lake and Gardens, a splendid spot for excursion. This pretty lake of Jodhpur was built in AD 1159. The lake is a place to be seen in Jodhpur. The beautiful summer palace that stands by the side of the lake is another place worth visiting. jodhpur-fort Osian About 58 km from Jodhpur on the diversion off the main Jodhpur-Bikaner Highway, is the tourist place of Osian, an oasis in the desert. Fifteen beautifully sculptured Jain and Brahmanical temples dot the landscape of Osian. At Osian the places that must be seen and visited are the Surya or Sun Temple, Kali temple, Sachiya Mata Temple and the main Jain temple dedicated to Lord Mahavira. Dhawa Another place to visit for the animal and mature lovers around Jodhpur is the Dhawa wildlife sanctuary. The Dhawa wildlife sanctuary is situated at about 45 kilometres from Jodhpur. Tourists throng the sanctuary to see the Indian antelope. Nagaur After holidaying at Jodhpur another place to visit is Nagaur. Nagaur is a hundred and thirty-five kilometres from Jodhpur. The imposing fort with beautiful murals of Nagaur is a place to be seen when around Jodhpur. Every year in the month of January-February, a weeklong cattle fair is held at Nagaur. Rohet Fort Rohet Fort is another place around Jodhpur that is worth visiting. It lies around 40 km from Jodhpur. Rohet fort has now been converted into a heritage hotel, which makes it a place to stay besides a place to visit and see. It is in this village that Bruce Chatwin wrote The Songlines and William Dalrymple began The City of Djinns. Khimsar Another place to visit, see and stay at around Jodhpur is the Khimsar Fort, at a distance of around 92 km. The Khimsar fort dates back to 1523 and has been converted into a hotel. Luni Luni, a place near Jodhpur is famous for its fort. The Luni fort has now been converted into a heritage hotel and is worth visiting.