Top 10 Places To Visit In Jodhpur

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Jodhpur is the second largest city of Rajasthan and is called “The Gateway to Thar”, as it resides on the edge of the Indian Desert. Jodhpur city was built by Roa Jodha,  a Rajput chief of the Rathore clan in 1459 AD as the new capital of the state of Marwar to replace the ancient capital Mandore. Then on, Jodhpur became the home of citizens of Marwar. The people of Jodhpur and surrounding areas are hence also commonly called as Marwaris.

As most of the houses of Jodhpur, particularly in the old city are painted in blue color, hence Jodhpur is called “The Blue City” of India. Jodhpur is again known for its roaring temperature and is also called “The Sun City” as the sun shines very bright and the days are much hotter compared to rest of India. In summers the temperature crosses 50 °C. Jodhpur is also known for its best quality spices and fabrics, color and texture, a booming handicrafts industry all at a reasonable price.

Hence, in this article, we will learn about the top 10 must-visit places in Jodhpur which are as follows:

1. Ghanta Ghar:

Ghanta Ghar and Sardar Bazar, Jodhpur  | by Schwiki (CC BY- SA 3.0)

About 1.5 kilometers away from the Jodhpur junction and around 3 kilometers from Jodhpur Fort, the Ghanta Ghar is a major attraction in Jodhpur. Ghanta Ghar which is also called “The Clock Tower of Rajasthan” was built by Maharaja Sardar Singh (1880-1911) of Jodhpur. Around the Ghanta Ghar, the famous Sardar Bazar is there which is a popular shopping spree in the city.

The name Sardar was given to the market after Maharaja Sardar Singh. The bazaar is famous for selling vegetables, spices, Indian sweets, Rajasthani textiles, clay figurines, miniature camels and elephants, marble inlay work and classic silver jewelry.

2. Jaswant Thada:

Jaswant Thada, Jodhpur  | by Clément Bardot (CC BY- SA 4.0)

Built out of intricately carved sheets of milky white marble, the Jaswant Thada is a monument that was built by Maharaja Sardar Singh of Jodhpur State in 1899 in memory of his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Jaswant Thada is sitting above a small lake 1km northeast of Mehrangarh, is an array of whimsical domes. The beauty of this memorial is its unique design and the kind of marble sheet used.

These sheets are extremely thin and polished so that they emit a warm glow when illuminated by the sun. The mausoleum is delicately crafted and hence it is often regarded as Taj Mahal of Jodhpur.

3. Mandore Gardens:

Mandore Garden, Jodhpur  | by Rajeshrana2 (CC BY- SA 4.0)

The Mandore Garden is situated 9 kilometers away from the center of Jodhpur city. Mandore was the capital of the Pratiharas of Mandavyapura, who ruled the region in the 6th century CE.  Prior to the founding of Jodhpur as the capital, the Royal family used to live in Mandore. Later in 1459 AD, due to security reasons, the capital was shifted to Mehrangarh Fort. The town remained the Rathore capital until 1459 CE when Rao Jodha shifted his capital to the newly founded city of Jodhpur.

The Mandore garden is known for a collection of ancient temples, memorials, garden full of seasonal flowers and its high rock terraces. It also contains the cenotaphs of many rulers of Jodhpur state and among all of them, the cenotaph of Maharaja Ajit Singh which was built in 1793 is most attractive. It also has a government own museum, Hall of Heroes that collects a few belonging of all the rulers of Jodhpur and a Hindu temple dedicated to 33 corers God and Goddess.

4. Kalyana Lake:

Kalyana Lake, Jodhpur  | by Lavpatel2008 (CC BY- SA 3.0)

Located 8 km west of Jodhpur, the Kalyana Lake is an artificial lake built by Pratap Singh in 1872 and is spread over an area of 84 sq. kilometers. Prior to the construction of Kalyana Lake, the very spot had palaces and gardens made by two rulers of Jodhpur – Bhim Singh and Takhat Singh which were destroyed in order to construct the Kalyana Lake.

With an average depth of 35-40ft, this lake is the main source of drinking water to the city of Jodhpur and all the surrounding towns and villages. The Hati canal which is connected to the Indra Gandhi canal is the primary source of Kalyana Lake. During winters, the Kalyana lake is an ideal location for bird watching (as one can sight many migratory birds), picnic and boating.

5. Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park:

Flowering Sarcostemma acidum in Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park, Jodhpur  | by T. R. Shankar Raman (CC BY- SA 4.0)

With an aim to restore the natural ecology surrounding the Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, the Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park was established in 2006. The park is spread over 72 hectares of land and contains distinctive volcanic rock and sandstone formations. This piece of land had been deprived of care over the years and hence was covered with baavlia (Prosopis juliflora), an invasive, thorny shrub.

With the aim to restore the desert like ecology, since 2006, the government is continuously dedicated towards its development. There are roughly 250 species of plants that have been registered here that are indigenous to arid, desert-like conditions, some of which include trees like Rohido, Kumatiyo, and Hingoto etc. The Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park is also preferred by trekkers and as one can spot many species reptiles, birds, and butterflies during their trail.

6. Balsamand Lake:

About 5 km from Jodhpur on Jodhpur-Mandore Road, the Balsamand Lake is a famous picnic spot in Jodhpur and its nearby areas. This beautiful lake was built by Gurjara-Pratihara rulers in 1159 AD. The sole purpose of construction of the lake was to provide water to Mandore which means It was designed as a water reservoir. About a kilometer long, the Balsamand lake is 15 meters in depth.

Later, a palace was built by Maharaja Sur Singh overlooking the lake. This beautiful architectural piece adds beauty to the lake accompanied by its flowering garden all around. Along with the trees of trees like mango, papaya, pomegranate, guava and plum that surrounds the lake one can also sight many wild animals and birds near the lake.

7.  Masuria Hills Garden:

The very beautiful Masuria Hills Garden is seated on the top of the Masuria Hills in Jodhpur. The park is famous for providing the 360-degree panoramic view of the entire Jodhpur City. The blue colored houses with the backdrop of golden sparkling desert in the evening are the best view of the Blue City.

Inside the garden,  one can find a statue of Veer Durgadas Rathore, a prominent hero amongst the Marwari community. There is also a century-old temple of Baba Ramdev, a local deity present in the Garden. The Masuria Hill Garden is full of greenery and seasonal flowers. This place gives you the cool breeze to refresh you from the hotter climate of Jodhpur and the pleasant view will give you the best memories of Jodhpur.

8. Toorji Ka Jhalra Step Well:

Toorji Ka Jhalra, Jodhpur  | by Arjunransigoan (CC BY- SA 4.0)

The very famous Toorji Ka Jhalra (Toorji’s Step Well) was built by a Queen of Maharaja Abhay Singh’s Consort in the 1740s. This well was constructed by the queen as a continuation of the ancient Rajasthani Royal custom where the queens would work towards the construction of water bodies for the public.

The descending steps would lead to the pool of water which was used by locals during ancient time. Constructed in red sandstone, the walls of the well has been decorated with the intricate carvings of dancing elephants, medieval lion, and cow water-spouts, and niches housing ancient Hindu deities. The Toorji Ka Jhalra well is beautifully designed and developed reflecting the traditional Rajasthani art and culture.

9. Umaid Bhawan Palace:

Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur  | by Yash Bhavsar (CC BY- SA 4.0)

The Umaid Bhawan Palace is one of the world’s largest private residence with 347 rooms. This famous place was named after Maharaja Umaid Singh of Jodhpur and its construction work was completed in 1947. The palace is still the principal residence of the royal family of Jodhpur. The Palace is divided into three functional parts – the residence of the royal family, a luxury Taj Palace Hotel, and a Museum focusing on the 20th-century history of the Jodhpur Royal Family.

The museum has a huge collection of weapons, antique pieces of jewelry, royal garments, a banner presented by Queen Victoria and amazing clocks providing detailed information about the royal era of Rajasthan.  The Taj Palace Hotel here is among the most expensive hotels in India given you the best experience of royal lifestyle and culture.

10. Machia Biological Park:

The Machia biological park is located about 8.5 kilometers away from the Jodhpur city towards the Jodhpur-Jaisalmer Route. Machiya Biological Park was conceptualized in the year 1982-83. It is spread over an area of 41 ha out of 604 ha of Machiya Forest Block. The Machiya Safari Park is an abode to numerous wild animals like deer, desert fox, monitor lizard, blue bulls, rabbits, wild cats, mongoose, monkeys, etc, hence it is an ideal place for wildlife lovers.

The park premise also contains a fort which is famous for providing the scenic beauty of the entire location during sunset. Elephant riding and bird watch is the most popular activity in this park during winter evenings. The park is also focused on educating the younger generation about the conservation of wildlife for the future generation.

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