12 must visit places in Jodhpur
Jodhpur, the ‘Blue’ city is really blue! It is the second-largest city in the state of Rajasthan where the houses have vibrant shades of blue and the sun is first visible here every morning, so it is also called the Sun City. The combination of these colors creates a magnificent view every morning. This city gets a sight of cultural heritage because of its royal forts, palaces, lakes, and other architectural fascinations.
Visiting Jodhpur can get many experiences – sightseeing of royal architecture, shopping from local markets, desert safaris, and unique food experiences. There are many famous places to visit in Jodhpur that have a distinct cultural identity. Jodhpur is famous for its historic buildings and beautiful landscapes that are often featured in many films, daily soaps, music videos, and advertisements.
About Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Originated in the year 1459 AD by Maharaja Rao Jodha of the Rathore clan, Jodhpur is named after him. It is generally known that this city is built in place of the ancient capital, Mandore of the state of Manwar and that’s why people here and in nearby areas are called ‘Marwaris’. It is believed that the antiquity of this ancient city is seen in Mandore Gardens. Being near to the Thar desert, the life of people has been influenced by ‘Banjara’ tribes, who are now settled in various parts of this city.
Jodhpur is divided into the old city and new city. The old city lies within the famous Mehrangarh Fort and is bounded by a wall with eight gates. Over the past several decades, the city has expanded greatly outside the wall, the new city. The houses of Jodhpur were originally painted blue which signifies that they belong to Brahmins, the higher caste of India. Geographically, Jodhpur lies near the center of the Rajasthan state that makes it convenient for tourists to visit this place.
12 must-visit places in Jodhpur
Let’s look at the 12 famous attractions of Jodhpur city that you cannot miss in your itinerary.
Mehrangarh Fort
The main attraction of Jodhpur is Mehrangarh Fort. This royal and majestic fort was built by Rao Jodha in 1459 AD, which is also one of the largest forts in India. Located on a hilltop, about 410 feet above the city, it gives a beautiful view of this whole Blue City. The fort is guarded by tall walls with seven gates that are built at different times and for different purposes. This fort has several palaces (mahals) inside it such as Moti Mahal (Pearl Hall), Sheesh Mahal (Glass Palace), and Phool Mahal (Flower Hall).
The fort also has two ancient temples. Nagnechiji temple is the royal family’s personal temple. And Chamunda Mataji temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga. Chamunda Mataji was the favorite goddess of Rao Jodha’s and so her idol was brought to the Fort. Since then Chamunda Mata is widely worshiped in Jodhpur.
The detailed and beautiful carvings on the walls, the courtyard, the trilling history, and museum attract tourists worldwide to the Fort. Mehrangarh Fort is also contributing their special focus on folk art and music. They organize cultural performances every day at various locations of the fort. This fort symbolizes the glorious royal culture of Rajasthan.
Timings: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (Daily)
Ticket: ₹ 50 – ₹ 100 for Indian tourists. ₹ 600 for Foreign Tourists
Travel Tip: Try zip-lining at the fort to enjoy the panoramic views of Jodhpur City. Best landscape and the photographic view from the top. I have taken so many pictures capturing this view.
Jaswant Thada
Located next to Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada is famous as one of the most beautiful white marble cenotaphs (an empty commemorative tomb). The memorial was built in the honor of Maharaja Jaswant Singh-II by his son Maharaja Sardar Singh in 1899. Maharaja Jaswant Singh-II was one of the rulers of Jodhpur, who made successful attempts to raise the economy of Marwar and lowered the crime rate.
Jaswant Thada is now operated as a Museum and is a huge tourist attraction. This beautiful architecture has valuable intricate carved white marbles that set an example of the Rajput style. The main structure has a dome with beautifully carved sculptures, like a temple. At the entrance, you will find the local musicians and folk dancers who welcome and entertain the tourists. Inside the museum, there are various beautiful portraits of Rathore kings, the rulers of Jodhpur, with the informational guide that helps the tourists to understand the history of Marwar.
Because of its milky white look, this place is also known as the Taj Mahal of Marwar. This monument has magnificent gazebos, a graceful garden, and a lake adjoining the sepulture ground. It also has a memorial of a peacock who flew into a funeral pyre. It’s a relaxing place where you can sit and enjoy the view of the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort and Jodhpur city.
Timings: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (Daily)
Ticket: ₹ 10 – ₹ 50
Travel Tip: Climb up a hill to reach the cenotaph and remove your shoes while entering the cenotaph to pay respect to the deceased. Sit, relax in the garden and enjoy the stunning view.
Umaid Bhawan Palace
The grand Umaid Bhawan Palace is the most popular attraction for tourists. It was built by Maharaja Umaid Singh. The palace was built in 1943 and construction started in 1929. In order to help the farmers who were facing extreme conditions due to drought, Umaid Singh decided to build the Umaid Bhawan. Because the main motive was to provide employment to around 3000 people, the completion of Umaid Bhawan took this long. When constructed, this palace had 347 rooms and several courtyards.
Umaid Bhawan Palace was also known as the Chittar Palace because it was constructed with the stones drawn from the Chittar hill. Currently, this palace is divided into three sections – the Royal residence, Museum, and a Five-star Hotel. Raja Gaj Singh, the present owner of the royal residence, lives here with his family. Tourist entry is restricted in the residence area. The museum is open to the public and the hotel is available for the guests to stay.
The Museum section displays the large collection of photographs and clocks that embellish the interior of the Palace beautifully. It also has stuffed leopards, armor, glass & porcelain ware, and other art pieces of the royal family. Maharajas’ classic vintage cars are also on display in the garden area outside the museum having flourishing greenery and different varieties of flowers.
The third part of the palace – a five-star hotel, run by the Taj group, offers the most executive hospitality to their clients. It is an award-winning and one of the most popular hotels in India. The indoor and outdoor amenities of this luxurious hotel include – Spa, Fitness center, Billiard table, Croquet, Tennis courts, Squash courts, Golf, Polo, and Horse riding. The hotel has an awesome restaurant that offers delicious continental and Indian fusion dishes. You can enjoy the most amazing dining experience here.
Timings: 10 am to 4:30 pm (Daily )
Ticket: For Museum: For Indian tourists ₹30 (Adult), ₹10 (Children). For Foreign Tourists ₹100
Travel Tip: Take a Heritage walk in the Palace premise and hear fascinating stories.
Toorji ka Jhalra
Toorji Ka Jhalra, a stepwell of Jodhpur is one of the oldest structures that represent the traditional water management systems of Jodhpur. Built by the Queen of Maharaja Abhaya Singh Rathore in 1740, it is a sign of the old tradition where the Queens supervise the projects of public waterworks. The structure of Toorji Ka Jhalra is simple and elegant. It has been beautifying with help of their intricate carvings of elephants, lions, cows, and sculptures of Gods & Goddesses.
This structure was made with the use of famous rose-red sandstone found in Jodhpur. The stepwell is more than 200 feet deep to access the groundwater. There were two levels to access water and a separate tank to receive water. There was a wheel, driven with the help of bullocks walking in a circular platform to draw water. There are many small chambers inside the staircase to light a fire in order to climb steps at night.
This water was used by the public over the centuries till the modernization of the city occurred and this stepwell was completely unused. To restore this heritage, it was cleaned up and then opened for tourists. Now a few local shops and cafes are opened around it for the tourists’ convenience.
Timings: All the time open
Ticket: No Entry fee
Travel Tip: You can engage yourself in water fun games here to beat the sunny weather of Jodhpur.
Kailana Lake
Kailana lake is the best place to visit in Jodhpur to watch the sunset. This is an artificial lake, 8 km away from Jodhpur city, on Jaisalmer road. Covering an area of 84 sq km, Kailana lake was built by Pratap Singh in 1872 that serves as a source to provide drinking water to Jodhpur city and its neighborhood. During that era, wild bears & other animals were found in this region, and was known as a famous hunting ground for royalty.
This lake is encircled by many trees, mountains, and rock formations which make it a delightful sight for the tourists. It is a perfect place for bird watchers because you will find here many species of birds while enjoying the breezy atmosphere of the lake. During Winter, Siberian Cranes are also seen here. This makes Kailana lake worth it to visit which gives a lively and joyful experience of Jodhpur city.
Above all, you can enjoy the amazing view of sunset & sunrise. During these, the sky seems like a canvas painted with several beautiful colors, which makes this lake a perfect picnic spot and a place to relax witnessing the scenic natural beauty. Also, there are few places to visit within its 5 km of radii such as Machia Biological Park, the Machiya Fort, and various Shiva temples.
Timings: 8 am to 6 pm
Ticket: No Entry fee
Travel Tip: Boating facilities are also available through R.T.D.C. to enjoy a boat ride and a mesmerizing natural view.
Balsamand Lake
An easy to reach place for every tourist, Balsamand Lake is situated 5 km away from Jodhpur city, on the Jodhpur- Mandore road. This is an artificial lake built in 1159 AD by the Gurjara-Pratihara rulers that act as a water reservoir to supply water in the Mandore village. Today it has become one of the famous tourist attractions.
To add beauty, a lush garden is surrounded by this lake that has various trees such as mango, guava, pomegranate, papaya, and plum. You can also see the lovely rose beds that enhance the beauty of the garden as well as the lake. And don’t miss the waterfall built to water the garden. Animals and birds like peacocks, jackals, and blue bulls are also seen roaming in the area. Nearby the lake, you can find many shops for handicrafts shopping.
In 1936 Maharaja Sur Singh built the Balsamand Palace, next to the Balsamand Lake, a red sandstone grand architecture of an 8-pillared castle and 3 entrance gates. This was the summer home of the Jodhpur Maharajas which turned into a Heritage hotel offering excellent amenities and an authentic Rajasthani experience. The hotel also offers horse riding and a village safari. It also has a vintage style restaurant that offers both veg and non-veg Indian food.
Timings: 6 am to 6.30 pm
Ticket: No Entry fee
Travel Tip: There is a promenade surrounding the lake which is great for romantic evening walks while witnessing spectacular sunset views.
Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park
Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park is an artificially rocky trail beside the Mehrangarh Fort created in 2006., but it was made open for public visit in 2011. This park is built to restore the rocky wasteland around the fort and to preserve extraordinary plants that belong to the area of the Thar desert. This densely populated eco-park is expanded over an area of 170 acres and there are around 200 plant species, several unique rock formations, and geological features of Jodhpur.
The park is crisscrossed with four walking trails which are called – yellow, red, green, and blue trails. In total, these trails are around 850 – 1110 meters long. One of these trails takes you to Devkund Lake where you can watch various local & migrated birds, butterflies, and reptiles. There is a Visitor’s center, an Interpretation gallery, shops, a plant nursery, and also a cafe. You can hire a guide who can give you deep information about this park. He would take you through the visitor’s center, a trail over the volcanic rocks that give you a detailed view of this region. You can see sediments of Paler Sandstone over the volcanic rocks.
This park is also famous for its precious and semi-precious crystals found during the rock formations. This park has a plant nursery from which the visitors can buy the plants. You can view several natural canals, a variety of rocks, plant and animal species that are the specialty of this region. Nature lovers would love this place because of its charming terrains that make it one of the finest creations of Jodhpur city.
Timings: 7 am to 6:30 pm
Ticket: ₹ 100 per person
Travel Tip: Exclusive plant collection can be spotted and studied in this natural environment. Visit in the early morning or late afternoon for the most pleasant temperatures.
Stargazing with Desert Camping
Stargazing night in desert camping – too tempting to resist, especially the Jodhpur desert safari. Going to the Thar desert is an experience that can be cherished for a lifetime. Your trip seems to be incomplete with this one. There are various packages for desert safari as the tourists’ visiting duration from Jodhpur city from which 70 km travel from the sand of the Thar desert to the ancient town of Osian is the shortest. But if you want to feel fully adventurous, you can take the incredible journey from Jodhpur city to Jaisalmer, covering around 250 km of the mesmerizing desert.
Either going on the ‘Ship of the Desert’ – Camel or taking a desert jeep, any of these will give you an entirely different experience of the desert. Along with the sand dunes, enjoy the sunset and various activities such as riding a quad bike and staying in tents that give you a feel of a royal king or queen. As the sun sets you will enjoy the folk culture of Rajasthan, local artists entertaining the tourists with folk music and dance in their colorful Rajasthani avatar. Sitting near the campfire, enjoy the sky view of twinkling stars with your loved ones. Your meal and stay will be allocated as per package.
The camping is carried out in a calm and quiet place, somewhere in the middle of the Thar desert away from the urban noise. You would experience the flawless Rajasthani hospitality at your campsite. You can even interact with the people living in nearby areas of the desert. This is an opportunity to live the authentic desert inhabitant life and worth having experience.
Timings: As per package selected
Ticket: As per package selected
Travel Tip: Feel the traditional Rajasthani lifestyle. Camel safari and a campfire night, an incredible experience.
Jodhpur Government Museum
For a better understanding of Rajasthan’s royal culture and history, Jodhpur Government Museum is a must place to visit. Also known as Sardar Museum, it is located in the center of Umaid Garden. This fascinating museum showcases various weapons, textiles, miniature paintings, portraits, inscriptions, sculptures, local arts & crafts, and images of the Jain Tirthankaras. Umaid garden also has a public library and a zoo.
The museum is divided into 4 sections – the archaeological area, the armory, arts and crafts, and the historical section. This museum also displays its military history by showcasing military plane models and battleships. Many stuffed animals are also displayed that represent animal life in the past era. If you are interested in history and archaeology, you will love this place that displays the unique and rich collection of olden days of Jodhpur city.
Timings: 10 am to 5 pm. Closed on Friday and public holidays
Ticket: ₹ 5 for Indian tourists. ₹ 50 for Foreign Tourists
Travel Tip: Feel the traditional Rajasthani lifestyle. Camel safari and a campfire night, an incredible experience.
Mahamandir Temple
The name itself gives the description of the temple, ‘Maha’ means huge. Mahamandir means huge temple. The mahamandir, a temple of Lord Shiva, located 2 km away from Jodhpur on the Mandore Road, was built in 1812. This temple is a huge architectural wonder with 84 pillars having beautiful carvings of various yoga postures on them. The beauty of the temple has been the center of attraction for tourists.
It has a peaceful surrounding and offers a calm atmosphere to visitors and thus many people come here to offer prayer and seek blessings. Now there are shops, cafes, and restaurants that are open around the temple for visitors’ convenience.
Timings: 5:00 am – 12:00 Noon, 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Ticket: No entry fee
Travel Tip: The best part of this temple is its royal architecture which attracts tourists in large numbers.
Mandore Gardens
Mandore was the capital of Marwar before the founding of Jodhpur. Situated 9km away from Jodhpur, Mandore Garden is a reminder of its glorious past. It’s an architectural masterpiece and has traditional values that take you into the past of the princely era of Rajasthan. It displays the royalty and the cultural heritage which are the roots of Jodhpur city.
Mandore Garden is a high rock terrace with beautiful cenotaphs of Jodhpur’s rulers. These red sandstone & chhatri-shaped cenotaphs have a height of 4 floors with distinct columns and elegant spires. The cenotaphs include the memorial of Maharaja Ajit Singh and others built for the Maharani atop a hill. The architecturally beautiful dome of the cenotaphs is the biggest attraction among the tourists.
Mandore Gardens has a museum, a ‘Hall of Heroes’ located quite close to the cenotaphs. A ‘Hall of Heroes’ is dedicated to the Rajput fighters and different deities. An eye-appealing thing here is the colorful statues that have been carved from a single rock. Another attraction that can be found in the Mandore Gardens is the temple, a shrine dedicated to three hundred million Hindu gods.
Timings: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Ticket: No entry fee
Travel Tip: Wear comfortable footwear as you need to walk around a lot. Also, remove your shoes before entering the cenotaphs. This place is full of monkeys, so be careful.
Bishnoi Village
Witness the authentic lifestyles of rural Rajasthan, present in Marwar. Bishnoi is a small village, 22 km away from Jodhpur city, is known for its culture. These people are devoted to protecting the environment because of which many bird and animal species are still found around this area. The history of this village is well-known for the sacrifice of the hundreds of villagers who sacrificed their lives to save trees from being cut down. Bishnoi tribes worship Lord Vishnu and are vegetarians.
They heartily welcome the tourists and spend time with them by opening their culture to visitors, through tales, insights into their daily lives, and through their arts and culture. Their main occupation is sheep-herding, weaving, and pottery that the tourists can witness here as well as can learn and purchase the crafted products.
Other attractions near Bishnoi village are the Guda village for bird-watching, the Guda Bishnoi Lake, and The Shepherd’s Village. You can watch these attractions on a camel ride or in a jeep. You can spot birds like partridges, peacocks, the Great Indian Bustard, and animals like blackbucks, chinkaras around this area.
Timings: 9 am to 5 pm
Ticket: Charge for a camel ride or jeep
Travel Tip: A village safari is a great option for you to be able to cruise through its attractions, try out some of the local delicacies, and speak with the locals.
Where to stay in Jodhpur?
We recommend staying around the Mehrangarh Fort, the old city of Jodhpur, which is at a distance of 15 minutes from the airport. There are many luxurious and cheap hotels available to stay in across the old city. RAAS Jodhpur, Heritage Kuchaman Haveli, Radisson Jodhpur are the luxurious hotels near the old city.
The amazing part of staying here is to experience its social surroundings, the colorful and buzzing atmosphere of the market. The old city has a wonderful history and ambiance, the maze-like lanes, and look up to rooftop café/bars. Walking through its narrow streets and you can experience the culture of Rajasthan.
As mine was a budget trip- me and my friends decided to stay at Zostel. The rooms and dorms are decent, we had bought 1 room 1500 per day and 2 dorm beds at 500 Rs per day.
FAQs
What are the top attractions to visit in Jodhpur?
- Mehrangarh Fort
- Jaswant Thada
- Toorji Ka Jhalra (Toorji’s Step Well)
- Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park
- Umaid Bhavan
How many days do you need in Jodhpur?
2-3 days are idle number of days to spend in Jodhpur!
Which is the best area to stay in Jodhpur?
- Near Sardar Market (Old City)
- Near Stepwell (Old City)
- Navchokiya (Old City)
What is special in Jodhpur?
Jodhpur was historically the capital of the Kingdom of Marwar, which is now part of Rajasthan. Jodhpur is a popular tourist destination, featuring many palaces, forts, and temples, set in the stark landscape of the Thar Desert.
Is Jodhpur safe at night?
Jodhpur is a pretty safe place to be in but don’t stay out till too late at night and don’t get too friendly with the locals either.
Does Jodhpur have desert?
Located in the Thar Desert, Jodhpur is a jumble of different shades of blue cubes and is truly a sight to behold. The contrasting colours amidst the Thar desert look uniquely striking.
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It will help me a lots thanks purvi ❣️