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Guide » Jodhpur Travel Guide
Jodhpur Travel GuideJodhpur
is the second largest city in the state of Rajasthan. This city is popularly known
as the "Sun City" because it enjoys the bright & sunny weather all
year. Jodhpur is a popular tourist destination a valiant sentinel in the desert,
on the eastern fringe of the Thar Desert has the distinction of neither being
a part of the Thar Desert nor out of it. At best it is a doorway to the Maroodesh,
land of the sand after the fall of Delhi and Kannauj.
In 1459 AD, Rao
Jodha, chief of Rathore clan of Rajputs, who claimed descent from Rama, the epic
here of the Ramayana, laid the foundation of Jodhpur. A high stone wall protects
the well-fortified city. The wall is nearly 10km in length and has eight gates
facing various directions. Within, stands an imposing fort on a low range of sandstone
hills, about 125m above the surrounding plains. Invincible! And dauntless in its
league with time! The city lies at the foot of the hills. The clear distinction
between the old and the new city is visible from the ramparts of the fort.
On the other side of the city, facing the fort is the Umaid Bhawan Palace,
one of the most spacious, sprawling and well-planned palaces in India. And from
here, as you look at fort, a tantalizing view rises before your eyes at sunset.
The peculiar slant of the sunset lends the desert landscape an awe-inspiring glow
and the people, a chivalry undaunted. This bustling desert city is the second
largest city in Rajasthan after Jaipur and has landscape dominated by the massive
Meherangarh Fort topping a sheer rocky ridge.
The old city is surrounded
by 10 km long wall with eight Gates leading out of it. The new city is outside
the walled city. Rao Jodha, a chief of the Rathore clan, founded the city in 1459
and it is named after him. The Afghans drove the Rathore out of their original
homeland Kaunaj and they fled to this region around Pali a short distance from
present day Jodhpur. A man oeuvre leads to marriage between Rathore Siahaji and
the sister of a local prince that helped the Rathore to establish and strengthen
them in this region. In fact they flourished so well that managed to oust the
Pratiharas of Mandore, just 9 km of present day Jodhpur.
By 1459 a need
for more secured capital lead to the founding of Meherangarh Fort on its rocky
perch and Jodhpur was thus founded by Rao Jodha. The Rathores enjoyed good relations
with the Mughals and Maharaja Jaswant Singh (1678) supported Shah Jahan in the
latter's struggle for war of succession. Only problematic relationship they had
was with Aurangzeb. After Auranzeb's death Maharaja Ajit Singh drove out Mughals
from Ajmer and added it to Marwar. In the reign of Maharaja Umed Singh Jodhpur
grew into a fine modern city. The quintessence of Jodhpur was its valour and equestrian
skill. Polo has been the traditional sport of the Jodhpur nobility since medieval
times.
Jodhpur has two railway stations; City and Rai ka Bagh both are outside
the walled city. The bus stand is right outside the Rai ka Bagh Station.
The High Court is a while from the bus stand after the Umed Gardens, after
which is located the tourist reception centre and RTDC Hotel Ghoomer. Ahead
is the main market and entry in to the wall from Sojati Gate. This area
also has many hotels. Jodhpur is also military and air force station and
has a large cantonment.
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