World Of Tourism

Umaid Bhavan Palace JodhpurJodhpur is the second largest city of Rajasthan, after Jaipur. Rao Jodha, a chief of Rathore clan, founded the city in 1459. Also known as the "Sun City", Jodhpur has quite a history attached to it. The Rathores, after being driven away from Kanauj by the Afghans, settled in the area around Pali city, near Jodhpur. Thereafter an alliance was arranged between Rathore Siahaji and the sister of a local prince. This helped the Rathores in establishing and strengthening themselves in this region. Their might grew by the day and they even drove out the Pratiharas of Mandore, 9 km from Jodhpur.

Read on this Jodhpur city guide further to know more about the history of the city:

As time passed, the Rathores felt the need to set up a more safe and secure capital. This need led to the foundation of Mehrangarh fort and thus, the city of Jodhpur in Rajasthan, India. Under the rule of maharaja Umed Singh, the city further prospered and developed into a fine modern city. During the time of the British, Jodhpur earned the designation of the largest state in Rajputana. The city, along with its dominant Marwari (the merchants) population flourished endlessly. When India gained independence in 1947, Jodhpur merged into the union of India.

The city now stands divided into two parts, the old city and the new city. Surrounded by a 10 km long wall, the old city has 8 gates leading out of it. Beyond the walled old city, lies the new city of Jodhpur. The main attraction of the city is the massive Mehrangarh fort, one of the largest forts in India. Housing numerous places, galleries, a temple and a museum inside it, the fort reflects the talent of the Jodhpuri artisans. Apart from that, various other attractions like a number of lakes, gardens, museums, temples, etc make Jodhpur travel and tourism a truly fulfilling experience.

Jodhpur is the second largest city in Rajasthan in India and is also known as the blue city because the color gives an indigo aura to it with blue colored houses surrounding the Mehrangarh Fort.Also known as the Sun City due to its perennial sunny weather, it receives sparse rainfall and is located in the Thar Desert. Jodhpur is a famous tourist destination in rajasthan and offers myriad places of interest that have significant historical importance. It is also famous for its well preserved forts that are adorned with exquisite intricate carvings and pieces of art. The city is teeming with bazaars and crowded with tourists and is comparatively more populated than other cities in Rajasthan The city was founded in the late 1400’s before which it was ruled by a completely different empire called the Gurjara-Pratihara Empire. However, it was overtaken by the Rajputs who took advantage of the trade route between Delhi and Gujarat, making the place a cornucopia of trade and wealth. The city became an integral part of the state called Marwar. The locals, also known as Marwaris, now flourish in almost every part of India and are renowned for their skill in running small businesses. This city saw the arrival of Mughals and became an important fiefdom; however the administration of the city still remained under the Rajputs. Consequently, Mughal influence in some parts of the city is apparent in the pieces of art, carvings, and architectural design.
Jodhpur is connected to almost every major city and town in India by air, railroads, and by roads. Flights can be boarded from Delhi, Mumbai, Agra, Jaipur, and Udaipur; Indian Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, and Jet Airways provide regular flights from many of these cities. The nearest airport is just three miles away from the city and is conveniently located to provide easy access to it. The city is also well connected by railways and can be reached from Delhi, Chennai, Banglore, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad. The approximate cost of an air conditioned coach from these cities can range from INR1000 to INR 2000. The city is also well connected by roads to Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, and Udaipur among many others. However road journeys are best avoided since major cities are located at long distances and it takes almost a day to get there from Mumbai and sixteen hours from Delhi.
The city offers so many attractions that it may take almost a week to absorb the beautiful monuments, forts, and museums that the city is dotted with. The labyrinths of alleyways in the old city are unique to the place and overwhelm a visitor with its bazaars that vend handicrafts, textiles, and other pieces of art. The old city is surrounded by a six mile long wall that has eight entrances and is a good place to wander around and take in the essence of the culture and architecture of this place.
This fort is one of the magnificent pieces of architecture in Rajasthan and offers a stunning view of the city from the top. This fort is located atop a humungous rock and has seven gates that are strategically located in order to make the fort impregnable to enemy attacks. The fort is very well preserved and is one of the ‘must-see’ places in India; the museum is one of the best in Rajasthan and has many costumes, arms, and artifacts on display. The national geological monument located inside the fort is the place where the last igneous activity took place around 4000 million years ago. This place has been declared a National Geological monument to increase Geotourism in India. Other attractions inside the fort include Moti mahal (palace of pearls), Sheesh mahal (palace of mirrors), and Phool Mahal (palace of flowers) which attract hundreds of tourists from India and around the world.