Jodhpur

 Mehrangarh or Mehran Fort, located in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, is one of the largest forts in India. Built in around 1459 by Rao Jodha, the fort is situated 410 feet (125 m) above the city and is enclosed by imposing thick walls. Inside its boundaries there are several palaces known for their intricate carvings and expansive courtyards. A winding road leads to and from the city below. The imprints of the impact of cannonballs fired by attacking armies of Jaipur can still be seen on the second gate. To the left of the fort is the chhatri of Kirat Singh Soda, a soldier who fell on the spot defending Mehrangarh.

There are seven gates, which include Jayapol (meaning ‘victory gate’), built by Maharaja Man Singh to commemorate his victories over Jaipur and Bikaner armies. There is also a Fattehpol (also meaning ‘victory gate’), which commemorates Maharaja Ajit Singhji victory over Mughals.

The museum in the Mehrangarh fort is one of the most well-stocked museums in Rajasthan. In one section of the fort museum, there is a selection of old royal palanquins, including the elaborate domed gilt Mahadol palanquin which was won in a battle from the Governor of Gujarat in 1730. The museum exhibits the heritage of the Rathores in arms, costumes, paintings and decorated period.

The Royal Cenotaphs of Jodhpur The Jaswant Thada is a cenotaph located in Jodhpur, in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was built by Maharaja Sardar Singh of Jodhpur State in 1899 in memory of his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, and serves as the cremation ground for the royal family of Marwar.

The mausoleum is built out of intricately carved sheets of marble. These sheets are extremely thin and polished so that they emit a warm glow when illuminated by the Sun.

The cenotaph’s grounds feature carved gazebos, a tiered garden, and a small lake. There are three other cenotaphs in the grounds. The cenotaph of Maharaja Jaswant Singh displays portraits of the rulers and Maharajas of Jodhpur.

Famous for its wide green expanses, exquisite architecture and royal cenotaphs, Mandore Garden of Jodhpur is indeed a sight to behold. Located just 9 kilometres away from Jodhpur; Mandore Garden is situated in Mandore which was once the ruling seat of the Pratihara dynasty. The garden is a part of the more massive Mehrangarh Fort, and also houses the famous Hall of Heroes and the temple of Three Hundred Million Gods. The garden also has a Government Museum, which is full of artefacts and old relics. 

The most striking feature of the garden is the gorgeous cenotaphs or ‘dewals’ that can be found spread all across the Mandore Gardens. Undoubtedly, the most beautiful and famous of these cenotaphs is the one that belongs to Maharaja Ajit Singh. The structures inside the garden are undoubtedly its most striking feature, the Hall of Heroes for instance – has 16 figures of warriors carved from a single rock.

Umaid Bhawan Palace, located in Jodhpur in Rajasthan, India, is one of the world’s largest private residences. A part of the palace is managed by Taj Hotels. Named after Maharaja Umaid Singh, grandfather of the present owner Gaj Singh. The palace has 347 rooms and is the principal residence of the former Jodhpur royal family. A part of the palace is a museum.

Ground for the foundations of the building was broken on 18 November 1929 by Maharaja Umaid Singh and the construction work was completed in 1943.

The history of building the Umaid Bhawan Palace is linked to a curse by a saint who had said that a period of drought would follow the good rule of the Rathore Dynasty. Thus, after the end of about 50-year reign of Pratap Singh, Jodhpur faced severe drought and famine in the 1920s for a period of three consecutive years. The farmers of the area, faced with this hardship, sought the help of the then king Umaid Singh, who was the 37th Rathore ruler of Marwar at Jodhpur, to provide them with some employment so that they could survive the harsh conditions. The king, in order to help the farmers, decided to build a lavish palace. He commissioned Henry Vaughan Lanchester as the architect to prepare the plans for the palace; Lanchester was a contemporary of Sir Edwin Lutyens, who had planned the buildings of the New Delhi government complex. Lanchester patterned the Umaid Palace on the lines of the New Delhi building complex by adopting the theme of domes and columns. The palace was designed as a blend of western technology and Indian architectural features.

Kaylana Lake is located 8 km west of Jodhpur in Rajasthan, India. It is an artificial lake, built by Pratap Singh in 1872. The lake spreads over an area of 84 km². In ancient times this region had palaces and gardens made by two rulers of Jodhpur – Bhim Singh and Takhat Singh. These were destroyed to make Kaylana Lake.

An ideal picnic spot for tourists, this lake offers a breathtaking view of the sunset. The lake is situated between igneous rock land formations. It receives its water from Hati Nehar (translation: elephant canal), which is further connected to the Indra Gandhi canal. The natural vegetation here mostly consists of Babool trees (Acacia nilotica), and various migratory birds such as Siberian cranes are seen here in the winter season. The city of Jodhpur and all the surrounding towns and villages depend on Kaylana lake as a source of drinking water. Boating facility is also available here. The Kaylana lake is enclosed by a garden known as Pratap Sagar, where variant species of birds can be seen, bird watching enthusiasts are in for a treat as sedge of Siberian Cranes stopover the lake in winter season.

Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park, spreads over 72 hectares, near the historic Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. The park contains ecologically restored desert and arid land vegetation. The park was created in 2006 to try and restore the natural ecology of a large, rocky area adjoining and below the fort. It was opened to the public in February 2011. The area in and around the park contains distinctive volcanic rock and sandstone formations. The park includes a Visitors Centre with Interpretation Gallery, a native plant nursery, small shop and cafe. There are four trails (yellow, green, red, and blue trails), about 880 m to 1115 m long, that visitors can take and trained guides and naturalists are also available.

The park has around 250 species of native plants.

The Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park has attempted both architectural and ecological restoration. The Visitors Centre is housed in Singhoria Pol, a 17th-century gateway into Jodpur city, which had fallen into ruins and disrepair. The gateway was restored and the Visitors Centre, completed in February 2011, has an Interpretation Gallery about the desert, plants, and history, integrated into the passages and rooms over and around the gate. The historic city wall that had crumbled in places was also restored, which assisted in protecting the area from grazing livestock during ecological restoration.

Balsamand Lake is one of the prominent picnic spots, located about 8 km away from the main city of Jodhpur. Surrounded by hills, this kilometre-long artificial lake was constructed in 1159 as a reservoir to supply water in the Mandore region. There is a picturesque garden alongside the lake that adds to its overall beauty. In this garden, you can see lovely rose beds and groves of pomegranate, mango and guava. Making the entire region all the more attractive is the cascading waterfall built to water the garden.

You can also see animals and birds like peacock, jackal and blue bull roaming in the area. Right next to the lake is the Balsamand Palace that was built by Maharaja Sur Singh in the 1936. Boasting of a grand architecture, this 8-pillared castle has 3 gates for the entrance purpose.

Clock Tower, also known as Ghanta Ghar , is an important landmark in the Old City of Jodhpur. The mighty ruler Maharaja Sardar Singh built this colossal clock tower, in proximity to the popular Sadar Bazar. This few-storey tower is beautifully lit in the evening, which adds to its overall appeal.

The market or bazar is home to more than a thousand small shops that sell a variety of products at quite a reasonable price. This bustling market is popular for selling spices, handicrafts, tea, sweets, jewellery and much more.