There gleamed the first rays of Sun so bright,
That the opulence of the fort illuminated with delight.
Perched atop the hills,
Was the most regal jewel I had ever seen
And down below is a city through a blue screen.
Jodhpur can mesmerize you,
Jodhpur can tantalize you.
And only once you have been a part of the scene,
That you can realize how blue can take you to places you have never been.
Jodhpur is a magical city that can feed your wanderlust beyond your imagination and make you a wanderer of sorts. Jodhpur can cast a spell on you, so intense that you are bound to explore the city with a fervour that may have been unknown to you.
Located approximately in the centre of Rajasthan, Jodhpur is frequented by many foreign tourists and is a preferred location amongst them. The beauty of this amazing city is rustic as well as regal at the same time. Such opulence and magnificence may be akin to the entire Rajasthan but the royalty of Jodhpur will only fill you with awe and admiration.
The Mehrangarh Fort.
I have not seen so much opulence in one place. This towering fort perched atop a hill is a spectacle to watch from the city as well as perfect to catch a glimpse of the blue walled city down below. The fort possesses an imposing beauty that can leave you baffled. Within the high walls of the fort are a series of museums that display the plethora of royal artifacts and commodities that were once used by the royal families who resided here.
The palaces on display embody the various types of things used for the comfort of the rulers and their families. You will find a wide variety of cannons on display atop the fort walls. This is where you can catch an eagle’s eye view of the entire regions down below.
The palanquins kept are also specimens of fine art. All in this entire fort can teleport you to an era of opulence, magnificence and affluence that was synonymous to Indian history and heritage.
The Umaid Bhawan Palace.
This is a relatively modern palace located within the reaches of the city and has been converted into a luxury hotel, a museum and a private residence for the existing king Raja Gaj Singh and his family. IT took 14-15 years to complete this monument and it is said that the architecture is inspired by the Central Library of London. The palace was divided into the Zenana quarters and Mardana quarters for the women and men respectively. The museum displays a wide variety of artifacts from the royal era .From the quirky collection of watches that were placed inside finger rings or maangtika (a small ornament worn by women on the head) to the stuffed leopards that were hunted by the Maharajas to the palanquins and turbans on display are all worth seeing. The plethora of vintage cars on display gives you a glimpse into the lives of the royal entities that ruled this region.
Jaswant Thada.
The Jaswant Thada in Jodhpur is also located atop the hills and can be seen from the city below. This is a cenotaph built in white marble and is also referred to as the Taj Mahal of Jodhpur. The mausoleum was built in honour of the Maharaja Jaswant Singh. The locals believe that the king was infact a God and is therefore worshipped by the locals who seek his blessings. Adorned by a beautiful lake at the entrance the view from this place is simply mesmerizing.
Mishrilal Hotel
If you visit Jodhpur, you ought to visit this lovely eatery that serves chilled Makhania Lassi which is made from the finest quality yoghurt and is unlike any other Lassi that you may have had. The owner, Mr. Rajender Arora swears by the quality of the food he sells by emphasizing that he feeds people only what he or his family eats. It’s a family run business and has been featured on many major Travel channels and portals across the world. I loved the Rabri too and infact you should just come here and try all of their delicacies and I am sure you will not be disappointed at all.
Mandore
Mandore is also the maternal home of Mandodari, Ravan’s wife. Mandodari is believed to be a princess of Mandore. It is believed that Mandore has a very intriguing cave that is described as the Path to hell and it is through this cave that Raavan entered Mandore to marry Mandodari. The residents of Mandore do not burn Raavan’s effigy during Dusshera rather worship him as he is considered the Damaad (son-in-law) of Mandore. I couldn’t explore much of Mandore but I did visit the Ravan ki Chhatri or Chabutra which is where Raavan entered into holy matrimony with Mandodari.
Vagabonding across Jodhpur has been the most magical experience ever. With the breathtaking sights of a city covered in blue to the magnificent fort that lights up the entire city to seeking Raavan’s sasuraal in Mandore to gorging on Makhania Lassi and Rabri, Jodhpur has been the best of Rajasthan I have seen so far.
I want to be a part of the iconic Pushkar Mela this year because I have simply fallen in love with Rajasthan and watching the camel fair has been long on my travel wishlist. There can be nothing more varied and beautiful than the Royalty of Rajasthan.