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Jodhpur Travel Guide, India

Jodhpur Travel Guide: General Information

Set at the edge of the Thar Desert, Jodhpur is one of the major cities in Rajasthan (area-wise second only to Jaipur). With its magnificent forts, palaces, temples, sand-dunes and lakes, Jodhpur forms an important center of Rajasthan tourism.

Also known as the ‘Sun City’ (because of its year-round sunny weather) and ‘Blue City’ (because of the indigo-tinged houses of the city), the city of Jodhpur is divided into two separate parts – the old city within the Mehrangarh fort and the new city.

The greatest lures of Jodhpur travel are the city’s diversified cottage industries and there is a huge demand for Jodhpur-made cutlery, carpets, glass bangles, handicrafts and marble items.

Jodhpur Travel Guide: Architectural Heritage

Jodhpur is divided in two separate sections – the old city and the new city divided by a thick stone wall. The old city area preserves the architectural heritage of the times when Jodhpur was the capital of the Marwar kingdom. Known as the Mehrangarh Fort (built atop a 400 ft high rock), the old city is itself a majestic piece of architecture. The fort (started around 1459 under Rao Jodha, the founder of Jodhpur) has many palatial structures within its bounds like The Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jaswant Thada and Rai Ka Bag Palace, etc.

The other architectural attractions of Jodhpur travel are the Osiyan temples (or Ossian city temples) – the majority of the temples are Jain temples built between 8th century and 11th century. The Osiyan temple precincts also has temples dedicated to Hindu deities like Shiva, Vinshnu, Amba Mata and others.

Jodhpur Travel Guide: Economy And Infrastructure

Jodhpur has long been a trade center, where people traded in agricultural products, wool, etc. In the recent years, however, the cottage industry, especially handicrafts, have boosted up Jodhpur’s economy. This is essentially linked to the surge in Jodhpur travel and tourism; every traveler coming to Jodhpur is reluctant to leave the city without its colorful mementos - Rajasthani puppets, clay figurines/miniatures, lacquered items, glass bangles and silver jewelry, etc. Jodhpur antiques, tie-n-dye textiles, embroidered leather items, are well-liked world-wide.

Jodhpur scores high in tourism infrastructure. The city is well-connected to other Indian cities by airways, road and railway links. Jodhpur Airport is served by Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines that run connecting flights to important Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Udaipur. Indian Railways link Jodhpur to cities like Ahmedabad, Bikaner and Delhi. Roadways also give easy access to Jodhpur.

Jodhpur Travel Guide: People and Culture

Jodhpur is a colorful city and the people are equally colorful, be it in their attire or in their lifestyle. Essentially affable and easygoing, they always extend warm hospitality. Speaking of their culture, the folk dances and folk music of the region have always enthralled the spectators.

Coming to celebrations, a great number of festivals like Holi, Diwali, Nag Panchami, etc. are celebrated with a lot of fun. Religious festivities apart, the biggest attraction of Jodhpur travel is the Marwar Festival.

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