Top 8 things to do in Jodhpur, Rajasthan

Also known as the blue city of India, Jodhpur holds a lot of historic value.
The former capital of Marwar, is also one of the most entrancing cities in Rajasthan.

Recently, it has also become famous for destination weddings.

Fortunately I have my in-laws in Jodhpur, hence this city hold a very special place in my heart.
Whether you are historian, traveler, explorer, shopaholic or a foodie, this place will never disappoint you.

Though there are a lot of amazing things to do in Jodhpur, here are the top 8 that you should not miss:

1. Mehrangarh Fort
    Mehrangarh Fort is one of the largest forts of India and the best place to visit in Jodhpur.
    Standing on a rocky hill, approx. around 400 feet above the city, it is easily visible from most parts
    of city.

    Also known as the heart of Jodhpur, Meghrangarh Fort was built by Rao Jodha around 1459 AD.
    The walls of the fort are 118 feet in height and 69 feet in width. There are 7 gates in the fort which
    were built on different occasions to commemorate different instances of victory in the history.

     There are lot of things to do/see here :

     1) Start your exploration with the museum. There are 4 main brilliantly crafted palaces to see here:
         Moti Mahal, beautiful pearl color glass painted windows where Maharaja held his courtroom.




         Sheesh Mahal, the mirror hall.



         Phool Mahal, lavish hall where royal family had their leisure activities.



         Daulat Khana, treasures of the museum.

         The museum also houses a collection of royal ammunition, artillery, musical instruments,
         costumes, palanquins, howdahs, locks and cradles.

     2) Second best thing to do is to check out the breathtaking view of the blue city and Umaid
         Bhawan Palace from the top and relive that mesmerizing moment.

     3) There are local musicians who play traditional folks songs inside the fort. It can be a good
          change to listen to a different type of music unlike today’s Bollywood/Hollywood songs.

     4) Visit Chamunda Mata ji temple which lightens the grace of the fort and has fascinating tales
          behind their idols.

Credit - Here

     5) You can do zip-lining activity known as Flying Fox, to get a memorable experience of the
          entire Fort.

     6) This is the most unique thing that you can only see at this fort, and it is Eagle Feeding.
         Around 3:30 pm sharp, two men climb at the top of Mehrangarh fort to feed hundreds of
         eagles. Eagles diving and catching the food is an intriguing site to watch.

Credit - Here

       

     The entry to the fort is free, but for the museum there is a fee of INR 60 for Indians and INR 400
     for foreigners. There is an additional cost of INR 100 for the camera.

2. Jaswant Thada
    Located in proximity of Mehrangarh Fort is Jaswant Thada. It was built in 1899 by Maharaja
    Sardar Singh in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II of Jodhpur and served as the cremation 

    ground for the royal family of Marwar.

    Now it is one of the renowned tourist destinations in Jodhpur.
    Architecture of Jaswant Thada is absolutely stunning. The entire monument is made with pure
    marble. There are three cenotaphs in this ground, covered with tiered garden filled with carved 

    gazebos and bordered by a small lake.

    It is a great place enjoy the serenity, mesmerizing views of Mehrangarh fort and Jodhpur city, the
    great artwork of the memorials and the beautiful well-kept flowery garden.

    The entry fee is INR 30 for Indians and INR 50 for foreigners. There is an additional INR 25 for
    the camera.

   

3. Umaid Bhawan Palace
     One of the largest royal residences in the world and probably the hottest destination wedding
     option in India, is how we know Umaid Bhawan Palace.

     It is located at one of the highest points of Jodhpur overlooking the city. On one side you can see
     the endless desert and on the other Mehrangarh fort and the beautiful blues of Jodhpur.

     This iconic destination is a symbol of rich and stunning architecture of old Rajasthan.

     Umaid Bhawan Palace homes 64 luxurious rooms, lush green gardens, royal family museum and
     vintage car collection. The entry fee for the museum is INR 30 for Indians and INR 100 for
     foreigners, which includes the access to vintage car collection.

     The whole area is quite picturesque and also you can take pictures inside the museum, so don’t
     forget to take your cameras along.

4. Ghanta Ghar
    Ghanta Ghar or the Clock Tower is a prominent landmark in Jodhpur built by Maharaja Sardar
    Singh some 200 years ago. It signifies the start of Old Jodhpur and holds great historical value.

    You can go the top of Ghanta Ghar and get panoramic views of the city and Mehrangarh fort.

    If you are looking for shopping options, this is the landmark around which you will get the best
    markets. Sardar Market is the prominent amongst all.

Credit - Here

5. Explore the Blue
    Though you get a breathtaking view of the blue city from Mehrangarh Fort, but the beauty can be
    explored better on foot. We had our pre-weeding shoot in Jodhpur and I fell in love with the lanes
    of this city with most of the houses built artistically and painted in blue.

    Also it is a great way to interact with the native people and learn about the rich Indian history and
    culture.

6. Toorji Ka Jhalra
    Rajasthan has lot of Stepwells and one of the famous ones is Toorji Ka Jhalra, also known as
    Toorji’s Step Well in Jodhpur.

    It was built in 1740s by Rani tawar ji, consort of King abhya singh. In olden days it was a great
    social place for women who came to get the water each day.

Credit - Here

    This 250 years old structure has beautiful carvings of elephants, cows and lions, and is a superb
    piece of historical architecture.

    It is fun and relaxing sitting on the steps and looking at the locals dive in the water.

    Overall a great place to sit, watch and get mesmerized by this amazing beauty.

7. Visit the Lakes
     Though there are 9 lakes in Jodhpur, I would recommend you to visit 2 of them, which are
     Kaylana Lake and Bal Samand Lake. You can go for boat ride across the pristine lake, rejuvenate 

     yourself while enjoying the scenic views, especially the mesmerizing sunsets or you can also get 

     the opportunity to see and photograph beautiful birds around the lake .

Credit - Here

8. Mandore Garden
     Mandore belongs to 6^th century and was the ancient capital of Marwar, before Jodhpur was
     established. If you ask any local, they will suggest Mandore Garden to be a prominent visiting
     place in Jodhpur.

     It houses a government museum, umbrella shaped cenotaphs and a temple to 300 million gods.
     The entry fee for museum is INR 50.

     People also come here for picnic.

     

Credit - Here