Holiday Guides for India Jodhpur

India Jodhpur Travel and Holiday Guides and Photos.

Visiting the Indian City of Jodhpur, touring Indian Forts, Palaces, Museums, Cenotaphs in the Blue City and a trip out into the Thar Desert to Osian to see several beautiful old Hindu and Jain Temples.

Jodhpur's Sagar with the imposing Meherangarh Fort behind. Jodhpur City. Dominated by the Mehrangarh Fort Jodhpur is located on the edge of the Thar Desert and is Rajastan's second largest city. Founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha the city is known as the Blue City - if you look at the city from the Fort the buildings do have a very blue look. Another claim to fame for Jodhpur is that the horse riding breeches known as Jodhpurs were designed there. Jodhpur's airport is located only around 6kms from the city centre and is well served with flights from Delhi, Bombay and Udaipur. The main railway line goes right through the city and therefore the main station is very central - there are express train links to Agra, Abu Road, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Delhi and Binaker to name just a few Indian Cities.

The Old City - Jodhpur Julab Sagar - Jodhpur One of Jodhpur's Havelis Haveli at Jodhpur by the lake Sidestreet - quiet for once - Jodhpur
Sardar Market Gate, Jodhpur Market stalls at Sardar Market, Jodhpur Jodhpur - it's clocktower Jodhpur - Sardar Market in the centre of the Old City Jodhpur's auto-rickshaws - commonly known as Tuk-Tuks

The Old City was originally enclosed within a 10 kilometre wall which had eight gates however much of this has now disappeared although the gates remain. At the very centre of the Old City is Sardar Bazaar - a huge series of markets which are overlooked by the Clocktower - here you can buy pretty much anything you wish.

 

Jaswant Thanda. (Chhatri - Cenotaph). These impressive cenotaphs are located close to Jodphur's Fort and are marble memorials to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II and also include cenotaphs of subsequent rulers as well as members of his family. The cenotaphs are open daily and have a few rupees entrance fee. Cenotaphs for earlier Royalty and Rulers can be seen at Mandor (see below).

Cenotaphs at Jaswant Thanda, Jodhpur Jaswant Thanda, Jodhpur Cenotaph at Jaswant Thanda, Jodhpur India - Jaswant Thanda Inside Jaswant Thanda

 

Mandor. These red sandstone built cenotaphs are located about 9kms to the north of Jodhpur City - there are also nice gardens around the cenotaphs which are well populated with monkeys. The gardens feature many water features however these were sadly not in use when we visited but must look amazing when the water is running. There is no entrance fee. Mandor used to be the capital of the Rathore Kings of Marwar until the 15th Century when Rao Jodha created a new capital - which was named after him - at Jodhpur.

Jodhpur - Mandor Gardens and temples at Jodhpur - Mandor Jodhpur - Mandor Gate at Mandor, Jodhpur Jodhpur - Mandor
Hall of Heroes at Mandor, India India, Jodhpur - Mandor's Hall of Heroes Lovely gardens at Mandor Ek Thamba Mahal, Mandor Mandor - Temples and Gardens
Cenotaphs at Mandor, India Mandor Cenotaph Beautiful cenotaph at Mandor, near Jodhpur India Ground of Mandor Cenotaphs More of Mandor's Cenotaphs

Within the gardens there are a series of statues called the Hall of Heroes - carved into rock these are life sized and very colourful and are of religious deities and Indian folk heroes. There is a small museum as part of the gardens but it's not particularly worth visiting however remember to take a look at the nearby Ek Thamba Mahal Palace which is dated from the early 18th Century - where Royal Ladies watched the world go by without being visible to the general public.

 

Jodhpur - Maha Mandir Temple - now partly used as a school Maha Mandir Temple - Jodhpur Jodhpur, India - Maha Mandir Temple Maha Mandir Temple. This magnificent Jodhpur Temple is located just off the Mandor Road near to Mahamandir Railway Station - the Temple is supported by 84 ornamental pillars. There is no entrance fee - just go in and look around the temple which is situated within a large courtyard - with the side buildings now being used as a school.

 

Meherangarh Fort. This huge Indian Fort is one of the largest to be found in India - it sits some 120 metres above the Blue City of Jodhpur and is easily reached from the city by either car or auto-rickshaw (tuk-tuk). As an idea of cost if you use a tuk-tuk - we decided to hire our tuk-tuk for the whole day and went to Jaswant Thada (cenotaphs), then the Fort, Maha Mandir Temple and finally Mandor - this was an all day sightseeing trip and the price agreed was 600 Rupees including tip.

View from Jodhpur of Mehrangarh Fort Jodhpur - Blue City - seen from Meherangarh Fort Jey Pol (gate) at Meherangarh Fort Meherangarh Fort battlements and walls Up on the top at Meherangarh Fort
Meherangarh Fort views from inside Meherangarh Fort Jodhpur - Meherangarh Fort Meherangarh Fort Palanquin at Meherangarh Fort
Phool Mahal - Meherangarh Fort, Jodhpur Takhat Vilas Jhanki Mahal Meherangarh Fort - Jhanki Mahal A Royal Cradle at Jhanki Mahal, Meherangarh Fort
Meherangarh Fort - Jhanki Mahal Moti Mahal Meherangarh Fort courtyard buildings Nagnechiaji Mandir Cannon on display at Meherangarh Fort
Meherangarh Fort cannon View of the Blue City from Meherangarh Fort Just about a view of Chamundi Devi Mandir Meherangarh Fort Chokelao Palace - Meherangarh Fort

The original fort was built by Rao Jodha around 1459 although today's Mehrangarh Fort dates from the mid 1600s and the period Jawant Singh. Entrance to the Fort is guarded by seven gates (Jey Pol being the most well known) and it really is a huge fort - the walls are up to 40 metres high and over 20 metres wide in places. The entrance fee for the Fort is 250 Rupees for non-Indians and it's open daily. Up on the Fort's massive ramparts there are quite a few cannon and artillery pieces to look at - they even have an old Gatling gun. In addition the views from up here of the huge sprawl which is Jodphur are excellent - you can certainly pick out the blue of the "blue City".

 

Osian's colourfull buildings and streets Views from Osian Osian's streets View from around Osian's streets Osian. Located out in the Thar Desert at just over 60 kilometres northwest of Jodhpur, Osian is the location of several Brahman and Jain Temples. Although we visited Osian by hiring a car and driver for the day it's worth noting that if you are travelling on from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer by car it is easily possible to visit these temples on the way by taking the appropriate route clearly shown on maps. The town is dominated by the 12th Century Sachiya Mata Temple - there is no charge to enter the temple area although donations are of course appreciated - as usual you have to leave your shoes off at the bottom steps and be suitably dressed.

Sachiya Mata Temple Temples at Sachiya Mata Sachiya Mata Temple view from inside Carved roof at Sachiya Mata Temple Sachiya Mata Temples on the roof

Note that there are many steps up to the actual temple - it's quite a steep climb. The main temple area is really enclosed and can be a little difficult to actually look round and also parts are fenced or have iron grills. However the outer area not only has really good views of the surrounding town and desert but also has quite a few smaller shrines and temples.

 

Just a few minutes walk from Sachiya Mata Temple can be found the Mahavira Jain Temple - this has a small entrance charge and camera fee. Really worth finding and visiting this temple has excellent carvings and really should not be missed out during the trip to Osian.

Mahavira Jain Temple at Osian Temple carvings at the Mahavira Jain Temple, Osian Osian - Mahavira Jain Temple Jain Temple at Osian Mahavira Jain Temple - Osian
Mahavira Jain Temple at Osian, India Mahavira Jain Temple - Osian Osian Mahavira Jain Temple Mahavira Jain Temple - Osian India - Osian, Mahavira Jain Temple

 

Shiva Temple at Osian, IndiaOsian and it's temples The final and in a way most interesting series of temples to visit are located on the Southern edge of Osian just by the car park area and bus stop. These nine Vishnu and Hari Hara Temples are scattered amongst the scrubland and dunes - you do have to walk out several 100 metres or so through the scrub and sand to find them however these are extremely old temples dating back to the 8th and 9th century and certainly worth the effort.

Very old temple seen at Osian, India Hari Hara Temple - Osian, India An Osian Temple a little way out in the desert Temple at Osian Osian - India - Hari Hara Temple

 

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