At the entrance to the Thar Desert stands Jodhpur, the fortified city whose foundations were laid by Rao Jodha, Chief of the Rathore clan, in 1459 A.D.

The palaces within are noted for their fine lattice work in red sandstone. The Lakes and the temples add to the beauty and grandeur of Jodhpur. A view of the desert landscape and the fort against the sun’s rays at sunset present an unusual glow lending the fort a formidable look.

WHAT TO SEE:

MANDORE GARDENS:
A pretty park, 8 km north of the city, it was the early capital of Marwar.The park contains the shrine of 300 Million Gods, a series of gigantic painted figures, some covered by devotees in layer over layer of silver leaf. Nearby, the hall of heroes was carved from a single rock wall.

VICTORY GATE & MEHRANGARH FORT:
Jodhpur’s massive Victory gate was erected by Ajit Singh to mark a military defeat over the Mughals in the 18th century. Above it, the 500 year old Mehrangarh Fort looms almost 500 feet dominating the entire landscape. It is a grim, almost impenetrable fort concealing extraordinary palaces and spanning five centuries of Rajput glory.

UMAID BHAWAN:
Now a luxury hotel, the building is really new incomparison.It was finished in 1942. It is made with pink sandstone, a stamp really of the massive edifices designed by Edward Lutyens for New Delhi. In fact, one of Umaid Bhawan’s architects, H.V.Lancaster, had worked with Lutyens.

An interesting fact about the palace is the reason for constructing it. Maharaja Umaid Singh commissioned the palace to provide work thousands of his subjects in 1930 when a particularly severe famine had hit the princely state.

EXCURSIONS:

FORT POKHARAN:
Pokhran, incidentally, was the site of India’s nuclear test explosion on May 18, 1974. The massive, cream-coloured, 14th century fort, 168 Km from Jodhpur, always a town of narrow lanes bordered by slopes and houses. Pokharan (formerly Balagarh) Fort once sheltered the 16th century Mughal Emperor, Humayun’s- Babar,s son and Akbar’s Father) from the Afghans led by Sher Shah Suri – builder of the famous sub-continental Grand Trunk Road after he lost in a battle.

STANDARD SIGHTSEEING TOURS:

HALF DAY CITY:
Half day tour visiting the Mehrangarh fort, situated on a low sandstone hill, including, Moti Mahal and Phool Mahal. Also visit Jaswant Thada, an imposing marble memorium built in 1899 and the Museum located in the Umaid public gardens.

HALF DAY EXCURSION TO MANDORE:
Mandore, the ancient capital of Marwar (8 Kms from Jodhpur) was abandoned for strategic reasons. At the foot of the hills amidst gardens, commemorative cenotaphs line the silent city. A shrine reportedly of 300 million gods contains the life size statues of local deities and heroes.