JODHPUR |
Jodhpur history revolves around the Rathore Clan. Rao Jodha, the chief of the Rathore clan, is credited with the origin of Jodhpur in India. He founded Jodhpur in 1459. The city is named after him only. It was previously known as Marwar. The city is known as the Sun City for the bright, sunny weather it enjoys all year. It is also referred to as the Blue City due to the indigo tinge of the whitewashed houses around the Mehrangarh Fort. Jodhpur lies near the geographic centre of Rajasthan state, which makes it a convenient base for travel in a region much frequented by tourists. The old city of Jodhpur is surrounded by a thick stone wall. |
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PLACES OF ATTRACTION: |
UMAID BHAWAN PALACE: |
The Umaid Bhawan Palace is not only one of India's most imposing palaces but also among its most recent. This lavish art deco monument to royal living had an improbable conception: it was built as a public relief and employment project during a long period of drought. Over one million square feet (90,000 m²) of the finest marble was used in the construction of the palace. A special type of sandstone, called Chittar sandstone, has been used in constructing the palace and this gives it a special effect. In 1977, the palace was segmented into the royal residence, the Heritage Hotel and a museum. It has total 347 rooms.It is the biggest private residence in the world, out of which 98 air-conditioned rooms are elegantly decorated with antique furniture as well as all the other amenities for a five star hotel. |
MEHRANGARH FORT: |
The Mehrangarh Fort lies at the outskirts of Jodhpur city and is located atop a 125 m high hill. The magnificent Mehrangarh Fort (Jodhpur ka kila) is the most majestic and one of the largest forts in India. It was originally started (c.1459) by Rao Jodha, founder of Jodhpur. However, most of the extant fort dates from the period of Jaswant Singh (1638-78). The walls of the fort are up to 36 m high and 21 m wide; they enclose some exquisite structures. The fort museum houses an exquisite collection of palanquins, howdahs, royal cradles, miniatures, musical instruments, costumes and furniture. The ramparts of Mehrangarh Fort provide not only excellently preserved cannons but also a breath-taking view of the city. |
JASWANT THADA: |
The Jaswant Thada is architectural landmark found in Jodhpur. It is a white marble memorial built in 1899 in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. The monument, in its entirety, is built out of intricately carved sheets of marble. These stones are extremely thin and polished so that they emit a warm glow when the sun's rays dance across their surface. Within this cenotaph, there are also two more tombs. |
OSIYAN TEMPLES: |
The Osiyan city near Jodhpur, Rajasthan is an ancient city lying in ruins. It is approximately 65 Kms from Jodhpur. The main attractions of this city are its temples that have gracefully stood the test of time. They are beautifully designed and constructed. The main ones of the Osiyan Temples in Jodhpur are Jain Temples, The Sachiya Mata Temple, Surya Temple, Harihara Temple, Pippala Devi Temple, Shiv Temple and Vishnu Temple. |
BALSAMAND LAKE AND GARDENS: |
A pretty lake built in 1159 A.D. A splendid summer Palace stands by the lake side surrounded by beautiful gardens. |
MANDORE (8 KM): |
The ancient capital of Marwar has cenotaphs of the Jodhpur rulers. The Hall of heroes has fifteen figures carved out of the rock on the wall which represent Hindu deities. Its beautiful gardens with high rock terraces make it a popular picnic spot. |
MAHAMANDIR TEMPLE (9 km): |
Built in 1812 A.D. it is noteworthy temple with 84 carved pillars. |
GIRDIKOT & SARDAR MARKET: |
Tiny shops line both sides of the narrow lanes in these markets. One can find textiles, silver, handicrafts, aromatic spices, vegetables and colorful Indian sweets in these shops.
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EXCURSION: |
LUNI FORT: Fort Chanwa of Luni is an exceptional example of Elegance and Symmetry in Indian architecture of the last century. The entire fortress is carved out of the famous red sandstone of Jodhpur and with its ornately carved lattice work friezes and intricate Jherokas it exquisitely captures the romance and grace of a bygone age. The Fort is composed of a lyrical complex of courtyards, towers, water-wheels, stables, passages and unexpected stairways to secret pavilions and panoramic roof tops spanning the village below and the Thar horizon beyond. The traditional paintings on the walls harmoniously reflect the skill of the master craftsmen and the bygone days. The village of Luni nestles in the shadow of the Fort walls and is a hub of activity with its many artisans fashioning metal, clay or wood into intricate forms and demonstrating the skills passed down over the centuries by their ancestors.
ROHET FORT: It is also an important place to visit around Jodhpur. The place is located at a distance of 40 km from Jodhpur. This place has many notable incident linked to it. The famous author Bruce Chatwin wrote The Songlines and The City of Djinns was also written here by William Dalrymple. Rohet fort is an important tourist attraction in Rohet.
KHIMSAR FORT: It is an interesting place to visit while on an excursion from Jodhpur. The Khimsar Fort is situated at a distance of 92 km. This fort was built in 1523 and presently has been converted into a heritage hotel.
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