Jodhpur is located at the edge of the Marwar desert region in a desert triangle that includes Bikaner and Jaisalmer. The Rathores who were the original royalty in the Marwar region kept shifting their capital. Rao Jodha who claimed to be a decendant of Rama founded Jodhpur in 1459 AD by building the gigantic Mehrangarh Fort on a hilltop. Jodhpur has grown beyond its original Fort boundaries.The houses in Jodhpur are painted a blue indigo and therefore the city is known as the blue city.The blue paint is believed to make houses cooler and it also thought to keep the insects away.
Today Jodhpur is still dominated by Mehrangarh, the enormous fort that sits high on a rocky ridge. The old city just below the fort is mostly painted blue and surrounded by a 10km long wall. The streets here are winding, with shops that sell anything and everything.The medieval bazaars are located west of the clock tower and are certainly a shopper’s delight.
The fort is one of the great attractions here and the museum is well laid out with good descriptions in English. Beautiful displays of clothing worn by royalty, displays of elephant carriages through the ages, an impressive armory, marwar paintings, and royal rocking cradles all show the type of life style enjoyed by the royal family. It displays the passage of time and the wealth of the royals as they adapted to innovations. One luxurious 20th Century cradle on show is automated and runs on electricity and it allowed royal infants to be rocked to sleep in a labour-saving manner!
Jaswant Thawa is a white marble memorial built for Maharaja Jaswant Singh II and it is located close to the Fort. It is a peaceful spot to visit and this royal cenotaph also provides a good place to view the fort and take photographs. Located on a hill top,The Umaid Gardens, containing the Sadar Government Museum and The Umaid Bhawan Palace are also definitely worth a visit.
The arid area to the south of Jodhpur is home to Bishnoi Villages. The best way to explore this area is by an organized “Village Safari” with a guide.It is possible to visit different villages and observe the local way of life.What sets the Bishnoi people apart is their religious philosophy and culture. The Bishnois are very aware, and take care, of their natural environment. They are followers of Jambeshwar, a 15th Century holy man whose principles were largely concerned with protecting the environment. The villages showcase their traditional food, pottery and weaving. Black bucks can be seen freely roaming around the villages quite tame and relaxed. Bishnois are strictly vegetarian and no hunting for animals takes place in their territory