SUNCITY - A Well Known Tourist Destination

Jodhpur, the heart and the 2nd largest city of Rajasthan after Jaipur also famous by it name as Suncity a entrance gate to thar desert, founded by Maharaja Rao Jodha, the rulers of the Rathore about 15th century in 1459 A.D. when he decided to shift his capital from Mandore to Jodhpur as the new capital of the Marwar. Jodhpur's old city  is also famous as Blue City, lies around the hill surrounded by 10 km long wall with 8 huge gates, which was built to protect the city from attacks of enemies.One can easily made difference between old and present new city from the rampart of the fort. Jodhpur is very famous for its palaces, forts, havelis, ancient temples rich tradition and culture. Rajasthan is also famous for its spices and spicy foods and colorful fabrics and handicrafts industry, The people of Jodhpur are also commonly called as Marwaris.
Jodhpur district in Rajasthan is encircled by the districts of Pali and Barmer in the South, Nagaur in East, Bikaner in North, Jaisalmer in west and Ajmer district, the headquarters of the district is located in the city of Jodhpur.

Facts About Jodhpur

Location                                 Situated in West of Rajasthan.
Height above sea level          230 metres
STD Code                              0291
Population                            77 millions
Language                             Hindi, English & Marwari

Area of Jodhpur

Total area of Jodhpur   :   22,850.00  sq. km.
Total Urban area        :   280.97  sq. km.
Total Rular area        :   22,569.00  sq. km.

Weather of Jodhpur:

In Summer:      Max  45.00 Degree Cent. -  Min 29.00 Degree Cent.
In winter:      Max  25.00 Degree Cent. -  Min 10.00 Degree Cent.
Rainy Season:   From Mid of July to Mid of Sept, and very humid (Upton 80%)

Forest Area of Jodhpur

Total Forest Area of Jodhpur :338 sq. km.

Distance From other important Cities:

            New Delhi   -  597 km.
            Jaipur         -  332 km.
            Udaipur      -  260 km.
            Ajmer         -  211 km. 

Place of Tourist Attractions

Jodhpur is situated in the Marwar region and it is very famous for its cultural and Historical Place among tourists. Every year many tourist visited Jodhpur for view its rich culture and startling places. Best Season for visiting Jodhpur is from October to February. The peculiar slant of the sunset lends the desert landscape an awe-inspiring glow.

Tourist Attractions in Jodhpur

• Mehrangarh Fort
• Umaid Bhawan Palace (Chittar Palace)
• Jaswant Thada
• Mahamandir
• Balsamand Lake & Palace
• Kaylana Lake & Park
• Mandore Garden
• Clock Tower and Sardar Market Girdikot

Tourist Attractions nearby Jodhpur

• Tinwari
• Osian
• Dhawa
• Khichan
• Guda Bishnoi Village (Bishnoi Tribal Village)
• Sardar Samand Lake & Palace
• Luni Fort

Mehrangarh Fort

History of Mahrangarh :- Mehrangarh fort was founded in 1459 by Maharaja Rao Jodha on the top of a rockey hill about 125 Mts. high above the plains, when he decided to shift his capital from Mandore to Jodhpur. Maharaja Rao Jodha started its, but most of the existing fort was constructed by Sh. Jaswant Singh during 1638-78.

There is one very famous myth related to the construction of Mehrangarh Fort is that during the construction of fort a sage who was lived and worship there, had to be forced out from that place. He cursed that the construction of the fort will suffer from water availability and various other problems. That time a man sacrifice his life by bury himself alive in the foundation of the fort to complete the construction of fort.


Inside the Mehrangarh fort:-

• Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace),
• Phool Mahal (Flower Palace)
• Sukh Mahal (Pleasure Palace)
• Umaid Mahal
• Zhanki Mahal
• Zenana Mahal
• Rang Mahal,
• Chandan Mahal
• and Throne Room
• Chhatri of Kirit Singh Sodha
• The Chamunda Devi Temple

Now a days Moti Mahal , Phool Mahal and Sukh Mahal are renovated into a museum exhibits a wide range of collections like elephant carriages, Maharaja's palankeen, covered palankeens for ladies, dengerous weapons, small canons and paintings.
Phool Mahal was the palace where traditional and curtural dances was performed for entertaining the audience.
Zhanki Mahal, was used as cradles(Palnaas) houses for the newborn princes.
Chhatri of Kirit Singh Sodha was built for pays tribute to the brave soldier who laid down his life while protecting his land from enimies.
The fort is open daily from 9 am to 1 pm and then from 2 pm to 5 pm, there is an elevator for the convenience of the visitors. It is about 5 km uphill drive from the main city

Ummed Palace (Chittar Palace)

History of Ummed Palace:- There is a very awe-inspiring anecdote behind construction of this famous Palace. During 1929 to 1942 when people of Jodhpur was suffering from brutal drought and when they refuse to take any financial help from Maharaja Umaid Singh Ji without any work. Then Maharaja Umaid Singh Ji decided to build this Palace to provide employment to more than 3000 drought struck people.
It was designed by the well-known Edwardian architect Henry Vaughan Lanchester and Edward Lutyens.
A special type of sandstone, called Chittar sandstone, the finest Marble with red sandstone was used to construct a more than three hundred roomed Palace without using cement, gives it a special effect.
Due to use of Chittar sandstone it is very famous by another name as Chittar Palace.
Today, this Palace renovated into a luxury hotel and a museum. It is one of the most large, expansive and well-planned biggest private residence palaces of the city in India.

Distance:-          3 km from the Jodhpur Airport,
                         5 km from the Jodhpur Railway Station
                         3 km from the main Rai ka Bagh Bust Stand and Railway Station.

Jaswant Thada

History of Jaswant Thada:- An eye-catching spectacular white marble cenotaph (chattris) of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II built in 1899 by Maharaja Sardar Singh Ji in memory of his father Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Jaswant Thada is on the way, on right hand side towards fort

Maha Mandir

The Mahamandir Temple is constructed in the year 1812 with support of upto 100 pillars, It is dedicated to Lord Shiva,is  located on Mandore road,aprox 6 Km. From Jodhpur railway station & 2 Kms from Rai-ka-bagh railway station & Bus stand.

Balsamand lake 

It is about one kilometer long and fifty meters wide artificial lake surrounded by hills built by Maharaja Umaid Singh in 1936  in Jodhpur, is a very popular picnic spot situated between mandore and mahamandir. it is hardly 2 to 2.5 km from mahamandir and 7 km from the main city .

There are green gardens all around the lake not only with the various varieties of beautiful flowers likes roses,lilies and other but also trees of varieties of fruits like mango, pomegranate, guava, papaya etc.
It a very pleasant picnic spot fascinating tourists with the cool and gentle blowing breeze, through the lush green grass in the area and peaceful surroundings of Balsammand Lake will leave you at peace with yourself.

Mandore Gardens  

Mandore the former capital of Marwar and is situated 11 km north of Jodhpur is famous for the dewals/ chhatri-shaped cenotaphs (unique of Rajasthan) of Jodhpur's former rulers. They were built by the side of the four stories high red sandstone Hindu temple, with a graceful spire.

Clock Tower and Sardar Market 

Today it is very famous  with the name of Clock tower or Sardar Market but in old time it was well known as Girdikot before Clock tower build. It was the place where farmers and businessmen used to kept their grains in godown and trading were take place in the open as shown in picture
Now a days one can find here wide range of Rajasthani handicrafts, textiles, silver, items, vegetables, special spices and varieties of sweets in small shops line both sides of the narrow lanes in these markets