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THE CITY
Jodhpur is the second largest city of the state of
Rajasthan. It has been drawing the attention of tourists from all over
the world. Standing as the sentinel of the country's western border,
Jodhpur is famous for its magnificent forts and palaces.
LOCATION
Jodhpur is situated at the edge of the Thar
Desert with Jaisalmer on its west, Barmar,
Jalor and Pali on its south, Bikaner on its north, and Nagaur on the
eastern side and Nagaur on the
eastern side. The ideal time to visit this place is the period between
November and March. The city is like an oasis in the vast desert, with a
variety of thorny shrubs all over the area. It also has some of the
animal species that can survive in an arid and dry environment.
THE PAST
The Rajput chief Rao Jodha founded the city of Jodhpur in 1459. Earlier,
it was the capital of the Marwar state of Rajasthan. A 10-km-long wall
made of stone surrounds the city. Eight doors stand all through the wall
leading to different places of Jodhpur. The city has about 100 towers
most of which are surrounded by defensive battlements. The guards'
chambers, constructed high up above the ground and fitted with iron
spikes on top, could be seen alongside these walls.
PLACES TO VISIT
There are a number of
places to visit in and around Jodhpur.
- Situated in the middle of the city,
the Mehrangarh Fort is a living testimony of the military might of the
Rajputs. With the strategically located cannons on the walls, the fort
is spread over an area of 5 km at an altitude of about 125 meters.
Thousands of tourists visit this fort every year to have a glimpse of
the artillery system of the Rajput warriors. A bird's eye view of the
city from above the fort is fascinating.
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Umaid Bhawan, the
only 20th-century-built palace, was constructed to give employment to
the famine-struck population of Jodhpur. Made of sandstone, it took 16
years to complete. 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.
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Another example of
Rajput glory is the Jaswant Thade, which is a shrine 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.
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Mandar Garden was the
ashram of Rishi Mandu. This garden has a gate known as the Ajit pole.
It is decorated with paintings of the gods and goddesses of Indian
mythology.
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Giridkot and Sardar
Market, located in the heart of the city, are popular for a wide range
of handicrafts.
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About 4 miles away
from the Jodhpur lay the Balsamand Lake and Garden. It is an
artificial lake built in AD 1159. It is an ideal place for picnics and
excursions.
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The Mahamandir Temple
(9 km) is another site to visit. The architecture and the cutwork on
the stone are amazing. Built in 1812, it has 84 carved pillars.
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Kailana Lake, 11 km
from Jodhpur, is an idyllic picnic spot.
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Situated on the
Jodhpur-Bikaner highway diversion, Osian (58 km) is an oasis in the
desert area of Rajasthan. The Osian sunset point is famous for its
panoramic view of the setting sun over the golden sands.
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There is also a
wildlife sanctuary at Dhawa (45 km). It has the largest number of
cheetal and sambhar.
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The Nagaur Fort is
situated 135 km from Jodhpur. The Badal Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, and Hadi
Rani Mahal are beautiful specimens of Rajput architecture.
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Luni Fort and its
environs (20 km) are also worth visiting. The fort has now been
converted into a heritage hotel
LOCAL HUES AND COLORS
Jodhpur celebrates the
Marwar festival with great fun and joy. It is a two-day program of fun,
folk music, folk dance and folklore. Nagpanchami, the worship of the
king of the serpents, is also celebrated with enthusiasm.
Small eateries and
restaurants are also available in the main area of Jodhpur.
GETTING THERE
The nearest airport of
Jodhpur is Udaipur. The airport is well connected to Jodhpur by
roadways.
Trains are available
from Delhi and Mumbai to Jodhpur.
It is also well
connected by the national highways and other small roadways.
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