Call it by its many names and they will not do Jodhpur justice. An oasis in
the arid Thar Desert, Jodhpur is the second
largest
city in the state of Rajasthan. Representing this colourful city with shades
of blue, Jodhpur has a history that is rich and a present that beckons strongly
to the discerning tourist. Forts and palaces, temples and havelis, culture and
tradition, spices and fabrics, colour and texture, Jodhpur has them all and
in plenty.
Situated in western Rajasthan, Jodhpur
has long attracted both the domestic and outside tourist. It not only offers
tangibles, in terms of what you can see and buy but also fills one with a
sense of history and the splendors of an era gone forever. The hospitality
of the locals, the demure women, the colourful turbans -all set against the
unmerciful desert is something to feel, not just see.
Every pore
of Jodhpur tells its own tales of heroic tales that made legends out of
kings and soldiers, romances that continue to warm the heart and a time when
epics were lived out on the streets by everyday man.
Population:
Approx 2.8 million
Climate: Jodhpur is given to
extremities in weather. With temperatures in summer ranging from a minimum
of 20°C to a maximum of 49°C, summers are not the preferred months
for travel. The winters though, with temperatures hovering between maximum
temperatures within mid twenties to 5-6°C at the lowest are a great
time to visit.
Best time to visit: An extensive green
cover ensures a pleasant season during spring and early winter. The best
season to visit the city though remains between October and March.
Mehrangarh Fort Considered one of India's best
forts, this invincible stronghold of the Marwars sits on a steep hill
lording over a wonderful view of its surroundings. It is also a beautiful
fort and undoubtedly, the jewel of Jodhpur. Intricate latticed windows,
elaborately carved panels and elegantly curved porches speak of beauty and
taste. No matter what part of the fort you are in, its ambience will leave
you in awe and your senses reeling. Take in the sight high up on the rampart
where the second largest cannon in Asia rests, the recoil of which requires
an area as large as a football field!
Umaid Bhawan Palace
If forts can be ornate, this is a palace we are talking about. The Umaid Bhavan
Palace was built in the 20th century as a famine relief project, providing employment
to its people over a time period of 16 long years. And if the Mehrangarh fort
is the jewel, the Umaid Bhavan comes a very close second. A fabulous art-deco
edifice, Umaid Bhawan is fabulously maintained and contains within, the museum
- a veritable treasure-trove of memorabilia showcasing the royal past of Jodhpur.
Peek into a little of everything that royalty lived with - from tea sets and
clocks to paintings and royal apparel. The palace now operates as a heritage
hotel, though part of it is retained as the royal residence.
Jaswant Thada
Close to the fort complex, this 19th century cenotaph was built in white
marble, in commemoration of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Rare portraits of
Jodhpur's past rulers are also displayed here. Walk around and savour the
intricate work both on the lattices and the doors. The gardens and water
tank built in front of the cenotaph provide this place the perfect setting
for serenity.
Shopping While the shopping centres
of Jodhpur may not technically fall under the category of 'what to see' in
Jodhpur, the list would be quite incomplete without it. Renowned for its tie
and dye textiles, jootis, lacquerware, antiques, carpets and puppets, make a
trip to the Sadar Bazaar, where you will find all of the above and more.
Jodhpur has many a unique thing to decorate your home and life with. Visit
Mohanlal Verhomal's store for Indian spices, the Umaid Bhawan/ Ajit Bhawan
Road to shop for Antiques and don't miss the Jodhpur Handloom House for
beautiful Bandhni and Leheriya saris.
Golf Courses
For those of you that cannot get through a holiday without sport, the Sadar
Club at Ratanada offers a round of golf - Rs 100 for 18 holes plus Rs 50 for
equipment and Rs 20 for a caddie. The club was built by the British about a
100 years ago and the ambience is wonderful especially if you like a round
of golf.
Mandore Travel just 8 kms from the city to
visit Mandore, once the capital of Marwar. There are old cenotaphs of the
Rathore rulers and craggy caves that once sheltered homeless ascetics here.
While the sixteen deities carved out of the rock face are rather garishly
displayed in a niche adjacent to a temple within the complex, the
exquisitely landscaped gardens are home to a variety of birds and small
animals.
The Jodhpur Kite Festival: Jodhpur has some festivals that are
special if not unique to it, the kite festival of Jodhpur being one of them.
What makes the kite festival unique is the simple fact that it began just a
few years ago, which means no stories, myths and legends that most other
Indian festivals carry.
This desert kite festival is becoming
increasingly popular among kite fliers the world over. It is celebrated on
the 14th of January, celebrated in other parts as Makar Sankranti or the day
of transition of the sun into the Northern Hemisphere.
This day
is inextricably related to kites in most parts of India. People from all
ages can be seen with kite and string with necks straining towards the sky.
It turns into a competition where the aim is to ensure that other kites are
downed while yours soars higher. Everyone is an adversary and every kite is
fair game.
The three-day festival is inaugurated at the Polo
Ground, the venue for some serious kite flying and fighting. There is the
display part of the festival, where Air Force helicopters release kites from
the sky and hundreds of schoolchildren release balloons. Kites take on a
life of their own and the designs on each of them makes the sky take on hues
that have never stained the skies before.
Then there is the
Fighter Kite Competition, where crowds roar in encouragement and there is
poetry in motion. Both the Display and Fighter Kite categories have
prestigious trophies that people covet and strive to win. The evenings see
participants being provided with dinner at exotic locations.
On
the final day, the festival shifts to the exquisite lawns of Umaid Bhawan
Palace, the royal residence of the Maharaja of Jodhpur. The finals of the
Fighter Kite Competition and the final judging of the Display Kites are
followed by the prize distribution ceremony, the valedictory function, and a
farewell dinner with the Maharaja.
The Marwar Festival: The
vibrant and fun filled Marwar festival is held annually and is a celebration
that brings to life the essence of all that Rajasthan stands for. Jodhpur
celebrates this two-day festival with folk music and dance, fun and
folklore.
The Marwar Festival is held every year in memory of
the heroes of Rajasthan. The festival is held in the months of
September-October and is a joy to behold. Originally known as the Maand
Festival, it features folk music that centres on the romantic life-style of
Rajasthan's erstwhile rulers. This festival is devoted to the music and
dance of the Marwar region and offers a good opportunity to see the folk
dancers and singers who assemble here, providing hours of lively
entertainment. These folk artists provide a glimpse of the days gone by, of
battles and valiant heroes who still live on in their songs.
The
attractions of the festival are compounded by the venues they are held in.
the Umaid Bhawan Palace, Mandore and the Mehrangarh Fort are hosts to this
cultural feast.
HOW TO GET THERE:
By Road: Jodhpur is well connected by road to
Jaipur
(330 kms),
Udaipur
(265 kms) and
Jaisalmer
(300 kms).
By Air: Indian Airlines and Jet Airways both link Jodhpur with
Mumbai,
Jaipur, Udaipur and
Delhi.
By
Rail: Jodhpur is well connected to Delhi, Jaipur and Jaisalmer by train.
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India Travel Hotel.
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