JODHPUR: The blue city

This is a busy and second biggest city of Rajasthan after Jaipur. With crowded roads and big buildings this city is known as blue city of Rajasthan. ( Jaipur is pink city and Jaisalmer is golden city ) Nai Sarak is the busiest road and many big and small shops are available here. Jodhpur is one of the popular destination for shopping. Traditional Rajasthani dresses are available at a very attractive price in Govt Emporium at Nai Sarak road. For other textile items you can bargain for your best price. Jodpur is famous for its Jodhpuri dress, it is a full dress with rounded neck and hand work embroidered on it. Price varies on cloth and type of design on the dress. Another shopping center for textile is Tripolli market. At one end of the Nai Sarak is famous Clock Tower or Ghanta Ghar. This tower is illuminated by different color of lights in the evening. Around the clock tower there is a big local market selling traditional items like bangles, shares, Chunny, utensils are some of the popular products sold here. One of the famous drink of Rajasthan is Lassi. This drink is available through out the state but the Lassi of Jodhpur near the clock tower is very famous. You have to use a spoon to drink Lassi here, where as Lassi is taken as a drink by use of a straw in all other parts of the country.

Jodhpur airport is located at a distance of 6 KM from the city at Ratanada

Local buses go to every part of the city. Main bus stand is at Raika Bagh. You can take a local bus to some tourist places away from the city like Mandore and Kaylana Lake.

There are overnight sleeper , semi sleeper buses to all important towns of Rajasthan and neighboring states. Advance booking for these buses can be done from many tour operators. Many travel agents are available at railway station road. Sleeper buses are ok if you want overnight sleep. In these buses there will be two sleepers side by side in one side ( driver side ) and one single sleeper in door side of the bus. Ask your agent to give you berth layout of the buses.

Jodhpur is well connected by Rail network, road and by air. The railway station looks like a busy station with many long distance trains to other parts of India originating and passing through this city. There is a daily train in night from Delhi to Jodhpur. The train from Jaisalmer to Delhi also passes through Jodhpur. There is a tourist information center and a internet browsing center available in platform number 1. Download your camera photos to CD or hard disk here.

Indian Railway station code for Jodhpur JU

Umaid Bhawan Palace

This Palace is the present residence of erstwhile royal family of Jodhpur. This palace is constructed by Umaid Singh the King of Jodhpur in 1920. Today part of the palace is used as museum for the tourist to visit. Central part is maintained by Taj group as a hotel and in other part the present king and his family stays. Entry is allowed to the museum only and tourists are not allowed to enter to hotel or to the private area. Hotel entry fee can be paid and it will adjusted against drinks and foods server in hotel.

Visit the picture gallery of Umaid Bhawan Palace and museum

The museum has some excellent collection of watches, furniture, paintings and many other items. Inside the museum there are big painting of past rulers of Jodhpur and there is a big model of the palace kept here. There is a excellent clock collection of old days are in display here. The royal throne and some other products are in display here. Please keep a note of the closing time of this museum and plan accordingly to reach there before. This museum is closed after 6 PM but this time changes ( plus minus 30 minutes ) depending on the seasons. Buy your ticket before that and enter inside.

If you are a serious photographer then plan your visit in the morning as in the afternoon sun will be behind the fort and you will be facing the palace with sun at background.

Jaswant Thada

This was constructed by Sardar Singhji in memory of his father Jaswant Singhji . This is a beautiful Marble cenotaph surrounded by garden and a small pound. Jaswant Singhji was burn in 7th Oct 1837 ( Saturday ) and breathed his last on the 11th October 1895. To his credit he has introduced Railway, post offices, telegraphs , opened schools, hospitals, colleges and constructed Bundhs

Remove your shoes before entering to the main cenotaph.

The entry fee to this cenotaph is Rs 10 for Indians, Rs 20 for foreigners. Still camera fee is Rs 25 and video camera is Rs 50. This place is opened till evening 5.30 PM from morning 8.30 AM

You can visit Mehrangarh Fort along with Jaswant Thada as both are located in same road and Jaswant Thada is towards right ( while going to fort ) at a distance of 1 KM.

If you are at Jodhpur you must not miss , ( you can't also as this fort is vissible from every corner of the city )

You can try for a Camel safari here but if you have a plan to visit Jaisalmer then better you experience that at Sam near Jaisalmer. If you want to go for a village safari then go for Bishnoi village package.

Jodhpur to Delhi distance is 600 KM
Jodhpur to Jaipur distance is 345 KM
Jodhpur to Jaisalmer is 285 KM
Jodhpur to Biakner is 255 KM