Jodhpur Travel Guide, India, Jodhpur National Park, Jodhpur Hotels

Jodhpur is situated at the edge of the Thar Desert with Jaisalmer on its west, Barmar, Jalor and Pali on its south, Bikaner on its north, and Nagaur on the eastern side.

Jodhpur is the second largest city of the state of Rajasthan. It has been drawing the attention of tourists from all over the world. Standing as the sentinel of the country's western border, Jodhpur is famous for its magnificent forts and palaces.

SHOPPING:
One can find the usual handicrafts of Rajasthan in the local markets. Jodhpur markets are rich in antiques for which these markets have become the favorite hunt for the foreigners. Besides these, the market near the clock tower is the place for some good bargains. The traditional jewelry like the bajuband, bala, gajra and gokhru are some of the famous products of Jodhpur. Jodhpur riding breeches, colorful hand-printed cotton fabrics and traditional Rajasthani mojri slippers are also worth buying.

CLIMATE:
The city of Jodhpur has a typical desert climate, dry and hot. Jodhpur receives 359.5 mm of rain every year, most of it during the monsoon (July/August). Maximum temperature in Jodhpur during the summers remains in the range of 40ºC while in the winters the minimum average temperature is 11ºC.

EXCURSIONS:

Balsamand Lake and Garden : Located some 7 kms away from Jodhpur is Balsamand Lake, a popular excursion destination from Jodhpur.Balsamand is an artificial lake constructed way back in the year 1159 A.D. The place has a breathtaking beauty.

The Mahamandir Temple : At a distance of 9 kms from Jodhpur, Mahamandir temple is visited by devotees in large numbers. The architecture of the temple is most impressive. There are intricate carvings in stones including 84 well carved pillars. This temple was built in the year 1812.

Dhawa : Dhawa is a small wildlife sanctuary located at a distance of 45 kms from Jodhpur. It is one of the few places of Rajasthan where there is an abundance of greenery. It has a large population of cheetah and sambhar.

Osian : Osian is an oasis in the desert located some 58 kms from Jodhpur. Many tourists visit Osian to have a glimpse of the splendid sunset view available from the place. Osian is a very popular picnic spot for the local people.

Meherangarh Fort Jodhpur

Umaid Bhawan Palace Hotel

Attractions and Places to Visit in Jodhpur

Mehrangarh Fort
Magnificent Mehrangarh, one of Rajasthan's finest forts, looks down protectively over the city, from the hilltop. The fort is situated at an altitude of about 125 metres and is spread over an area of 5 sq. km with seven gates. One could drive up or walk to the top of the small and not so steep hill. Driving or walking up, the sheer rock face from where emerges the tall and massive sandstone wall of Mehrangarh looks awesome indeed.

Jaswant Thada
Red sandstone stairs led up to the chessboard checked courtyard of the neat white marble cenotaph. Dedicated to Maharaja Jaswant, this memorial was built in 1899. It is a peaked structure from the outside with precise trelliswork and excellent carving.

Umaid Bhawan
A wonderful palace of beige sandstone built by Maharaja Umaid Singh in 1928 and designed by the President of the British Royal Institute of Architects. The Fort is a blend of several styles, merging pleasantly. Royal auditorium ballrooms, huge dinning-room, gilded royal furniture, majestic tiger and deerskins on the walls of a gloomy library of old books, crystal chandeliers, stained glass windows, liveried menservants and doormen, swimming pool in basement, various mementoes and old photographs. There is so much to see and discover.

Mandore
Before the foundation of Jodhpur was laid, Mandore was the established capital of the old Marwar Kingdom. Just nine kilometers away, Mandore is a fascinating complex of sprawling gardens, massive cenotaphs, temples, ruins and sculpture. Gods, goddesses, animals, lotuses, adorn the walls and pillars of old yellow sandstone. In a hall are relief sculptures of various deities and rulers, colored bright and mounted on horses. In little corners of temples are rows of beautiful old tiles, excellent ceramic art. Some depicting Lord Rama or Lord Krishna. Then of course, there amongst the temples, figurate, and landscaped vegetation, are the brightly dressed Rajasthani people.

Museum
The Jodhpur Museum exhibits a rich collection of armory, textiles, arts and crafts, miniature paintings, portraits, manuscripts, and images of Jain Tirthankaras.

How to Reach Jodhpur

By Air
There is an airport at Jodhpur, which is 5 km away from the city center in the cantonment area. The Indian Air Force manages the airport of Jodhpur. There are daily flights from Jodhpur to Delhi, Mumbai, Udaipur and Jaipur.

By Rail
The nearest railway station in Jodhpur is in the center of the town only 4 km from Umaid Bhawan Palace. Jodhpur is connected by rail with Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Jaipur, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Abu Road, Bombay via Ahmedabad Barmer and Udaipur via Marwar.

By Road
Jodhpur has a good network of roads connecting it with important cities of Rajasthan and neighboring states. There are frequent bus and private taxi services to and from Jodhpur to other cities. Rajasthan State Transport Corporation plies buses from Jodhpur to all th