Jodhpur is known as the blue city of India because of its blue-painted houses. Located in the Thar Desert, this blue city of Rajasthan was once the capital of the Marwar kingdom. Something reflected in the impressive Mehrangarh fort, that sits high on a cliff overlooking the city. Even though Jodhpur is Rajasthan’s second largest city, it feels more pieceful than other places. Well, by Indian standards at least. In Jodhpur, you’ll walk through a maze of streets past old blue facades, visit forts and palaces and look out over the former blue city and fort from your rooftop. In this article you will find the best things to do for exploring Jodhpur in Rajasthan in India, including my tips for restaurants, hotels, activities, best travel time and how to get around.
Jodhpur is named after Rajput ruler Rao Jodha, who founded the city in the mid 15th century. Jodh refers to Rao Jodha and pur means city in Sanskrit. Because of its strategic location, it soon became the capital of the kingdom of Marwar. A long city wall with entrance gates and a fort were built to protect the city from outside attacks. Jodhpur in India today therefore still consists of two parts; the old city, with its main things to do and the new part, located outside the former city walls. Still, because of its location, Jodhpur is an important trading center for timber, cotton and grains and therefore a bustling city with much to see. In addition to being called the blue city of India, Jodhpur is also known as the sunny city, because of its desert climate.
In Jodhpur India you want to of course explore the blue city and its things to do. From the clock tower, the centerpiece of the Sardar bazaar, you can walk straight into the blue city and look for blue houses. Unfortunately, there just aren’t that many of them anymore. If you still want to see as many blue spots as possible in a short time, I recommend you to let a tuk tuk drive you around for a few hundred rupees. This will immediately take you to the different shades of blue of the city: small alleys, completely blue-painted courtyards hidden behind the maze of streets, and Indigo-colored walls with street art. Meanwhile you will find yourself among playing children and sleeping dogs while looking into people’s homes. In any case, these are places you wouldn’t find so easily yourself.
Do you want to explore the landmarks and things to do in Jodhpur India with a local guide? This is an overview with different interesting tours.
One of the most famous things to do in Jodhpur India is to visit the Mehrangarh fort, situated on a cliff above the city. Built in the 15th century by Roa Jodja, this fort of the sun is still one of the largest in Rajasthan. Something that is immediately noticeable as you walk around and look up against the high walls, measuring 36 meters by 21 meters. You pass a number of gates before you actually enter the complex. Inside, you are going to be surprised by the detail of the carvings on the windows and balconies.
Do you want to learn more about the fort during your visit? With this tour you book your ticket, including a guide, transportation and you’ll also be able to skip the line.
One of the palaces is now a museum. Here you will visit the former royal corridors, ballrooms, and throne room, where the original interiors and art can still be seen. It is all beautifully decorated and painted, and in some places you can see colorful stained glass windows. When you look out the windows, you have a view of the fortress and the blue city.
Tips for Jodhpur India. Are you feeling adventurous? Then end your visit to the fort with a zipline experience. A route of 6 ziplines lets you enjoy different views of the blue city, the fort, lakes and a ravine. You can book your tour here.
Stepwells are a highlight for me every time I visit Rajasthan. Stepwells are water sources surrounded by high steps that people used frequently in times of drought to fetch water. You can find them in several places in Rajasthan in India, often in combination with a temple. In Jodhpur, there is one located in the middle of the city.
Toorji Ka Jhalra was built in the 18th century by the Queen of Marwar – Raani Tawarji and is 90 meters deep. Today it is a place where locals gather to take a cooling dip. It is nice to take a seat on one of the steps and look around. On the walls of the stepwell are pictures of dancing elephants, lions, cows and gods that were worshipped at that time.
Are you looking for a great view of the blue city Jodhpur in India and its many things to do? Then it is worth walking up the mountain to Pachetia Hill. Here you can look out over the blue city and its surroundings. From here it is also possible to walk down, towards the Ghantaghar (Clock Tower).
One of the best ways to experience Jodhpur in India and its things to do is to take a seat on a rooftop and look out over the city. From Indigo and Indique, you have fantastic views of the fort. Indigo is part of Gouri Haveli and offers delicious dishes, freshly prepared for you. The friendly owner does a tremendous job. At Indique, the rooftop of Pal Haveli, you eat in style. And in the evening, everything is lit.
Also called the mini Taj Mahal, the Jawant Thada is one of the things to do that cannot be missed when you are near the Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur India. This impressive tomb is right next door, idyllically situated on a lake and surrounded by gardens, fountains and small cenotaphs. The monument was built in the late 19th century by Maharaja Sardar Singh in memory of his father and also became a cremation site for the royal family.
Walk around the white marble building which lights up with sunlight, and at times even seems to change color because of the glow. From the gardens you look out over Jodhpur and the mighty fort.
Looking for some peace and greenery in Jodhpur Rajasthan? 10 kilometers outside the old city of Jodhpur are the gardens of Mandore. A beautiful place with greenery, ponds and chatris, dome-shaped pavilions or tombs in honor of the Jodhpur monarchs. Mandore served for a long time as a crematorium for the kingdom, and at each spot where a monarch was cremated, they placed a chhatri. Walk around, take a seat on a bench and observe the cheeky monkeys.
In the old city, be sure to check out the Sardar Bazaar. Everything is available here and it is a great place to observe local life. There are countless women displaying their saris, household items, tobacco shops, spices, flowers and party supplies. In the surroundingstores you will find bracelets in bulk, the modjis (leather shoes with embroidery in spots) and the wide pants called Jodhpurs.
In the middle of the Sardaar Bazaar there is the Ghantaghar (Clock Tower), also the gateway to the old city. You can climb to the third floor of the tower for a view of the market.
On the outskirts of Jodhpur lies the immense Umaid Bhawan Palace, which was commissioned by Maharajah Umaid Singh in the early 20th century. The palace is nearly 200 meters long and 100 meters wide, making it unmissable. In fact, it is said to contain more than 90,000 cubic meters of marble, the same marble that was used for the Taj Mahal. If you have been to New Delhi, you may recognize the architectural style. In fact, the architect was inspired by Luytens who designed large parts of Delhi. Today, the palace consists of a museum and luxury hotel.
One reason to go there is the view of the fort. It’s just a bit of a drive so if you have limited time in Jodhpur India, this is one of the things to do you might want to check out from a distance. From the Meherangarh fort and Jaswant Thada you can see the palace perfectly in the distance.
You can still find most of the blue houses in the Brahmapuri district, the old town west of the fort. This was the district of the Brahmins, the highest caste in India. There are several stories about the reason for the color blue. It is for example said to help against mosquitoes and cool in the heat but according to many locals it was simply for the recognition of a Brahmins’ house.
This area is best to walk around on your own because the streets are too narrow for tuk tuks or other types of transportation. In addition, many of the streets are winding up and around the mountain. By the way, don’t expect too much of the blue. They are mostly blue remnants of buildings. The blue color is no longer an obligation these days, so many houses have been given other colors. But the unpolished vibe has its charm. Besides, Brahmapuri is a residential area, where you get a nice impression of Jodhpurs life.
From the fort (exit at ziplines) you walk right into Brahmapuri. Along the way you have a perfect view of the city’s blue roofs. You can also be dropped off at the edge of the district by a tuk tuk. Do you want to explore the landmarks and things to do in Jodhpur India with a local guide? This is an overview with different interesting tours.
Do you want to treat yourself to a romantic candlelit dinner? Then book a table at The Ajit Bhawan. This historic complex was built in 1927 as a royal residence and later converted into India’s first heritage hotel. Of course you can book a room here. But even as a non-guest you are welcome to enjoy dinner in the courtyard garden or by the pool, that is surrounded by palms, fountains and countless candles. Be sure to order the Royal Rajasthan Thali here, a large platter with a selection of different Indian dishes and types of Indian bread. And if you’re lucky, there will also be live music.
If you thought you were familiar with the different temples in India by now, another surprise awaits you in Jodhpur. Indeed, 53 kilometers from Jodhpur, along the NH-62 Jodhpur-Pali Expressway, is the Om Banna or Bullet Babba Temple. This temple is dedicated to folk hero Om Singh Rathore and his motorcycle. Countless people gather here daily to pray for safe travels and it is a special experience to walk among them.
The story of this particular sacred place originated with Om Banna, who had a motorcycle accident here and died on the spot. When the police took the motorcycle to the police station, it mysteriously returned to the scene of the accident. And this several times, even when the tank was emptied and placed behind cave and lock. Locals saw this as a miracle and began to worship Om Banna’s motorcycle. News quickly spread and the place grew into a shrine, with a temple built around the engine.
In front of the temple there is a small market where incense, flowers, sweets and decorations are sold. People walk barefoot through the temple where an eternal flame burns and past the motorcycle that is in a display case. Red threads and symbols are hung on the tree that caused the death of Om Banna, while there is plenty of singing.
Looking for more tips and things to do in Jodhpur India? This is an overview with activities in the blue city of India.
You will find several hotels in different price ranges in the blue city of India. These are my tips for hotels in Jodhpur in Rajasthan.
Looking for more hotel tips in the blue city of India, Jodhpur? This is an overview.
In Jodhpur India you can visit the main things to do, including the fort, bazaars and the blue city in a day. If you want to take it slower, I recommend staying at least two days in Jodhpur. That way you will have more time to take in all the different impressions.
Located in the Thar Desert in northern Rajasthan in India, Jodhpur has three seasons: Summer, winter and monsoon. The best time to visit Jodhpur is from December through March, when temperatures are pleasant. In the summer months, between April and June, Jodhpur and the rest of Rajasthan experiences high temperatures of around 45 degrees. During the monsoon season, which runs from June through September, the humidity is enormous and most rain falls. In winter, daytime temperatures are still high, around 28 degrees but cool off in the evening.
Jodhpur can be easily reached from other destinations within Rajasthan. Jaisalmer is about 5 hours away, Jaipur is a 6.5 hour drive and Udaipur 5 hours. You can possibly break the journey between Jaipur and Jodhpur with a stop in Pushkar and the journey between Udaipur and Jodhpur in Narlai. There are daily flights to and from Jodhpur from New Delhi. In Jodhpur itself, the easiest way to get around is by tuk tuk. Looking for private transportation to get to Jodhpur? Have a look in my viator shop for options.
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