Places to visit in Jodhpur

Jaswant Thada is an intricately crafted cenotaph built in honour of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, in 1899. It is a memorial, built of ornate carved sheets of white marble. The exterior of the monument emanates a warm glow when the sunlight falls on it, due to its extremely thin and polished stones. It’s a traditional cremation ground for the rulers of Jodhpur. One has to go through rocky hills to visit the Jaswant Thada. This lends a mystical feel to the whole visit. It is open to tourists from 9:00am to 5:00pm daily.

The scenic beauty is astounding in the lakes, parks, caves and landscapes of Jodhpur. Some tourists like to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of certain places of Jodhpur, while some like to enjoy the frenzied and lively point of interest in Jodhpur. The nature of Jodhpur provides a perfect blend for all kinds of tourists.

There are a lot of places to visit in Jodhpur that are incredible but the there are some places that a tourist absolutely cannot leave without visiting. The Mehrangarh Fort is one such place and every tourist should make it a point to visit this place without fail. The various temples, gardens and markets must be visited to experience the culture and the lifestyle of the people of Jodhpur.

The vast stretch of sand of the Thar Desert and the majestic monuments and nature of Jodhpur reflects a lot about its culture. Language, music, art and food blend in a perfect way to give a vibrant and ethnic experience which is very prominent to this region. The old city markets of Jodhpur give a traditional rural bazaar feel to the experience.

Bhim Bhirak Cave is located in the hilly area of Jodhpur city. It is approximately 12kms away from the Jodhpur Railway Station. From ancient times, a statue of Goddess Bhagwati is situated in the cave. The rocky terrain and the breathtaking view of this place have been savoured by a lot of tourists.

Sardar Samand Lake is very picturesque spot in Jodhpur. It attracts a vast variety of migratory birds and thus, is a perfect spot for bird watching. It has beautiful collection of flora and fauna and is like a photographer’s paradise. The tranquillity and peace of this place is enjoyed by all the visitors.

Umaid Bhavan Palace Museum is a well maintained museum, which displays the Maharaja’s and his royal family’s exclusive belongings. Stuffed leopards, weapons, various trophies, fascinating crockery, etc are displayed in this museum. A wide collection of clocks and a huge banner bestowed by Queen Victoria is also exhibited in the museum.

Mehrangarh Fort Museum is an exceptional museum. It displays a large variety of palanquins of the old royalty. The heritage and culture of the Rathores, incorporating paintings, arms, costumes, decorated rooms, etc are displayed in the museum. The luxurious and grand past of the royal families reflects in this museum.

Udai Mandir is situated on the Udai Mandir Road and can be easily spotted. It is an architectural marvel, located in Jodhpur. The upper portion of the temple gate is carved out of sandstone.102 pillars support the main temple, which stands on a huge platform. It is open to tourists on all days of the week from 9:00am to 3:00pm.

Siddhanth Shiv temple lies in between the Takhat Sagar Hills. It is said that a saint, Nepali baba, who had four fingers in each of his hands and feet, made the temple by cutting stones.  The story behind this temple attracts a large amount of tourists to it, throughout the year.

The Kunj Bihari Temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna, is built on the banks of Gulab Sagar Lake. The temple and specially its entrance and top are an architectural spectacle. A statue of Meera Bai is located in the entrance of the temple and the statues of Namdeo and lord Hanuman is located on either side of Meerabai’s statue. The idol of Lord Krishna, the presiding deity, is located in the Garbh Griha. It is open to tourists from 6:00am to 12:00pm and 7:00pm to 10:00pm.

The Chamunda MatajiTemple is located in the southern part of Mehrangarh Fort. Most of the citizens worship the Chamunda Mata. During Dussehra celebrations, the devotees throng the Mehrangarh Fort to get one glimpse of the Devi. The temple is open to tourists from 5:00am to 12:00pm and 4:00pm to 9:00pm daily.

Umaid Bhavan Palace is one of the biggest private residences, located in Jodhpur. The purpose of building this palace was to provide employment to a plenty of people during a period of drought and famine. The palace is split up into three operative parts – the residency of the royal family of the owner, a luxurious Taj Palace Hotel and a museum displaying the 20th century history of the royal family of Jodhpur. It also has a gallery displaying the most exotic automobiles possessed by the royals. The palace is open to the tourists from 9:00am to 5:00pm daily.

Mehrangarh Fort is the largest and the most splendid fort in the whole of Rajasthan. Founded by Rao Jodha in 1459, it is one of the most visited tourist attraction of Jodhpur. It is located on a 150 m hill and is 122m above the city, enclosed by thick imposing walls. To reach the fort, one has to cross seven gates. The palm imprints on these gates catch the eyes of the tourists to this day.  Several palaces like the Moti Mahal, Phool Mahal and Sheesha Mahal situated inside the fort, never fail to attract the tourists. The fort is open to tourists on all days from 9:00am to 5:00pm.