Jodhpur Travel Guide
History of 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 following paragraphs will tell you more about the past of Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
The Rathores were driven out of their original homeland, Kaunaj, by Afghans. They fled to Pali, near to the present day Jodhpur. Rathore Siahaji married the sister of a local prince. This helped the Rathores to establish and strengthen themselves in this region.
In some time they ousted the Pratiharas of Mandore, just 9 km of today's Jodhpur. Initially, Mandore served as their capital, but, by 1459, Rathores felt a need for a secure capital. This lead to the formation of Jodhpur, the Sun City, by Rao Jodha.
The Rathores enjoyed good relations with all the Mughals, except Aurangzeb. Maharaja Jaswant Singh even supported Shahjahan in his struggle for succession. After Aurangzeb's death, Maharaja Ajit Singh drove out Mughals from Ajmer and added it to Marwar (now Jodhpur). Under the reign of Maharaja Umed Singh, Jodhpur grew into a fine modern city.
During the British Raj, the state of Jodhpur was the largest in Rajputana, by land area. Jodhpur prospered under the British Raj. Its merchants, the Marwaris, flourished endlessly. They came to occupy a dominant position in trade throughout India. In 1947 India became independent and the state merged into the union of India. Jodhpur became the second city of Rajasthan.
Monuments in Jodhpur
MEHERANGARH FORT
The Meherangarh Fort, situated on a 125 m high hill, is the most impressive and formidable fort in Rajasthan. The construction of the fort was begun by Maharaja Rao Jodha in 1459 and was completed by Maharaja Jaswant Singh (1638-78).
The fort originally had seven gates (pols). There is a first gate with spikes to prevent attack from elephants. The other gates include the Jayapol, built by Maharaja Man Singh in 1806, following his victory over the armies of Jaipur and Bikaner. The Fatehpol or victory gate was erected by Maharaja Ajit Singh in 1907 to commemorate his victory over the Mughals. The last gate is the Lohapol or iron gate beside which there are 15 handprints, the “sati” marks of widows of Maharaja Man Singh who threw themselves upon his funeral pyre in 1843.
The fort is still run by the Maharaja of Jodhpur. Inside the fort there are a series of courtyards and palaces. Some of these house a collection of folk music instruments, elephant howdahs, miniature paintings, furniture and costumes. At the end of the fort is the Chamunda temple, dedicated to a form of Goddess Durga.
Jaswant Thada
Jaswant Thada is a marble pillared memorial (cenotaph) built in 1899, dedicated to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, by his wife after his death. People often compare this memorial to the Taj Mahal, because both are symbolic of eternal love. You can get a panoramic view of the city from this place.
Umaid Bhawan Palace
It is a huge marble and pink-yellow stone palace with 347 rooms. Designed by H.C. Lanchester, the President of the Royal Institute of British Architects in London, the Palace was built during the time of Maharaja Umaid Singh. The Palace was constructed by over 3,000 people over a period of fourteen years. The palace has eight dining rooms, an underground swimming pool and a scenic garden. Half of the Palace is now converted into a luxury hotel.
The Umaid Gardens
Near the Tourist Bungalow is a beautiful garden, attached with a simple zoo.
Juni Dhan Mandi and Talaiti Mahal are buildings made of carved red sandstone.
Balsamand Lake
The lake, which is actually an artificial lake, is about 3/4 km long and 50 m wide. There is a beautiful palace built in 1936 on the bank of the lake, which was used by the royal family asa summer home.
Festivals
Marwar Festival Jodhpur
The splendor and royalty of Rajasthan is simply unrivalled. This is one of the most colorful states of India and hence is also the conglomeration of a lot of different culture and heritage of the different regions that simply captivate our senses. There are a lot of forts and palaces that can be found here which still reverberate of the old glory and charm. There are innumerable things to watch here in Rajasthan and the fairs and festivals of Rajasthan are some of the most interesting events that one will come across during his visit to Rajasthan. One such festival that truly deserves the attention is the Marwar Festival, Marwar.
This festival is marked by a whole lot of excitement and zeal among the people. This festival is celebrated as a mark of remembrance to the lost heroes of Rajasthan. A lot of events take place that catches the attention of even the foreign tourists who come for the tour of Rajasthan. Marwar Festival of Rajasthan involves a lot of cultural events and the music and dance that completely enthralls the tourists. This festival is celebrated in the month of September and October for a span of two days which is Ashwin according to the Hindu calendar.
Marwar Festival, Marwar is the best opportunity to take a look closely at the rustic rural life of the people and to see the folk dancers who carry the pots on their heads which is posed well and even dance to the tunes of the singers. The live entertainment takes place generally in the Umaid Bhawan Palace, Mandore and Mehrangarh Fort. The other attractions of this festival are camel tattoo show and polo.
Desert Kite Festival in Jodhpur
There are numerous Fairs and Festivals of Rajasthan that have their own unique appeal and significance in the life of the people. Festivals in Rajasthan are marked by gusto and enthusiasm. The Desert Kite Festival is known for whole lot of excitement and enthusiasm that fills the air with delight and the excited people gather to be a part of this festival. The healthy competition amongst the different kite flyers adds a charm to this festival.
Desert Kite Festival in Rajasthan takes place in the Jodhpur Polo Ground. The huge ground is an apt place to hold this mega event in Rajasthan. The visitors can take delight in the various types of kites that fly in the air in the different shapes and sizes. When these kites fly high up in the air they simply add to the beauty of the clear skies and thus make for a wonderful experience for the visitors who take pleasure in watching the colorful kites fly high up in the sky. Color, gaiety, and enthusiasm are the
main attributes of this festival.
Desert Kite Festival is also celebrated with equal zeal and enthusiasm in Jaipur just as it is celebrated in Jodhpur. This wonderful festival attracts a large number of tourists from different parts of the country as well as world to come and be a part of this lively festival. Desert Kite Festival in Rajasthan is celebrated in the month of January and generally takes place on January 14th or on the Makar Sakranti which is considered to be an auspicious day in the Hindu almanac. There are also a lot of cultural programs that take place in this festival to mark the exhilaration that exudes in this festival such as dancing and singing.
How to reach?
By Air: Jodhpur airport is located in the cantonment area. It is well connected with the metropolitan cities in India through direct flights.
By Rail: Jodhpur Railway Station is located on station road and come sunder the Northern railway network of India. It is directly connected with the major cities in India like Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and other cities.
By Road: Jodhpur has a good road connection .You can reach Jodhpur from Delhi via Gurgaon, Jaipur, Ajmer, Beawar and Pali.If you are on a Rajasthan Tour, then you can make a trip to Jodhpur from Bikaner or Jaisalmer by bus or by hiring a cab.
Hotels in Jodhpur
Heritage Hotels
Hotel Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur
Hotel Ajit Bhawan, Jodhpur
Hotel Balsamand Lake Palace, Jodhpur
Hotel Devi Bhawan, Jodhpur
Hotel Karni Bhawan, Jodhpur
Hotel Krishna Parkash Heritage Haveli, Jodhpur
Hotel Pal Haveli, Jodhpur
Hotel Polo Heritage, Jodhpur
Hotel Ranbanka, Jodhpur
Hotel Ratan Vilas, Jodhpur
Luxury Hotels
Hotel Fortune Ummed, Jodhpur
Hotel Park Plaza Jodhpur
Hotel Taj Hari Mahal, Jodhpur