| Interesting
Reading on Jodhpur:
Jodhpur Travel Guide
by Vinay Chaubey
Jodhpur
is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was formerly
the seat of a princely state of the same name, also known as Marwar. Jodhpur
is a popular tourist destination, featuring many beautiful palaces, forts
and temples, apart from a stark, scenic desert landscape. The city is known
as the "Sun City" for the bright, sunny weather it enjoys all year. It
is also referred as the Blue City, due to the indigo tinge of the whitewashed
houses around the Mehrangarh Fort. Jodhpur is also known for gentleness
of its people. Jodhpur lies near the geographic center of Rajasthan state,
which makes it a convenient base for travel in a region much frequented
by tourists. The old city of Jodhpur is surrounded by a thick stone wall.
The wall has six huge gates called Nagauri gate, Merati gate, Sojati gate,
Jalori gate, Siwanchi gate and Chand pol.
Places to See in Jodhpur
Forts and Palaces:
* Umaid Bhawan Palace
Maharaja Umaid Singhji who
built this palace was fascinated with western lifestyles so he marshalled
the services of a well-known Edwardian architect, Henry Vaughan Lanchester,
a creditable equal of Edward Lutyens (architect of New Delhi) to construct
a three hundred and forty seven roomed Umaid Palace.
* Mehrangarh Fort
Perched on a 150 m high
hill its sprawl is the most formidable and magnificent fort in Rajasthan.
Rao Jodha founded it in 1459 but subsequent rulers of Jodhpur have also
added to it over the centuries. A meandering road leads to the from the
city 5 kms below. Battle scars of canon ball hit by attacking armies of
Jaipur can still be seen on the second gate.
Museums of Jodhpur
* Mehrangarh Fort Museum
In the middle of the Umaid
Public Garden, this museum houses a rich collection of exhibits armoury,
textile, local arts and crafts, and miniature paintings. And even portraits
of rulers, manuscripts and images of Jain Tirthankars. Umaid Public Garden
houses a zoo and public library. This building and the garden were developed
during the time of Maharaj Umaid Singhji.
* Umaid Bhawan Palace
Museum
Maharaja Umaid Singhji who
built this palace was fascinated with western lifestyles so he marshalled
the services of a well-known Edwardian architect, Henry Vaughan Lanchester,
a creditable equal of Edward Lutyens (architect of New Delhi) to construct
a three hundred and forty seven roomed Umaid Palace. This was to become
India last of the great palaces and the biggest private residence in the
world.
Parks in Jodhpur
Mandore Garden
Mandore was the former capital
of Maharajas of Marwar and is located about 5 miles north of Jodhpur, but
was later abandoned for the security of Mehrangarh fort. Here you will
find the dewals, or cenotaphs of Jodhpur's former rulers. Unlike the usual
chhatri-shaped cenotaphs typical of Rajasthan, they were built along the
lines of a Hindu temple, four stories high, with fine columns and an elegant
spire, all in red sandstone. The most impressive is the dewal of Maharaja
Ajit Singh (reigned 1678-1724). These cenotaphs are set in beautiful landscaped
gardens.
Fairs
& Festivals of Jodhpur
* Nagaur Fair
This eight days fair held
every year during the month of Jan-Feb, is popularly known as the Cattle
fair and is the second largest in Rajasthan. Nagaur Town is the most picturesque
of Rajput townships. Nagaur is a sea of animals, trading over 70,000 bullocks,
camels and horses every year. The bullocks are known for their fleetness.
Not only are the animals lavishly decorated, even their owners flaunt wearing
colourful turbans and long moustaches.
* Makar Sankranti
The festival is celebrated
on the 14th of January every year. This has now become the festival of
kite-flying which does not spare the soaring spirits of anyone in Jaipur.
The devoted ones, however, take a holy dip in the kund at Galtaji. The
traditional sweet associated with it is Phirni, made in abundance by the
halwais of Jaipur.
* Elephant Festival
This festival is held on
the day of Holi, the festival of colours, at the Chaughan stadium. Beautifully
decorated and caparisoned elephants assemble to participate in the royal
procession. Elephant polo, elephant race,elephant tug-of-war with a few
tourist and holi on elephant back are some of the exciting events.
Hotels
in Jodhpur
About the Author
Vinay Chaubey
SEO Manager
For more details on Places
of Interest in Jodhpur visit www.times2travel.com |