Jodhpur is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan and is located on the border of the Thar desert. Since there is sunlight on almost every day of the year, it is known as the Sun City and most of the houses here are painted blue, thus it is also known as the Blue City. Jodhpur’s history begins in the year 1459 AD when it was founded by Rao Jodha of the Rathores.
Jodhpur is well connected to other major cities by road, rail and air. Jodhpur has an airport located 5 km from the main city and has regular flight services to Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Udaipur. Jodhpur’s railway network belongs to the North West Zone and is connected to all the metropolitan cities of India. RSRTC buses and private luxury vehicles connect it with the main neighboring towns.
Some of the places of interest in Jodhpur are Mehrangarh Fort, Moti Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Phool Mahal, Zenana Deodi, Chamunda Mataji Temple, Mandore, Jaswant Thada, Umaid Bhawan Palace and Khejarla Fort. There are some famous lakes here namely Balsamand Lake, Kailana Lake, Ranisar Padamsar and Gulab Sagar Lake.
The commercial area of the city is located at Nai Sadak and Sardar Market. The place is popular for its Bandhej sarees and clothing materials and Mojris or Jootis, the pointed-fronted shoes. Here you also get handicrafts, spices and tea as souvenirs. There are numerous crafts and handloom shops around the city.
In Jodhpur, formal restaurants are fewer in number, but there are plenty of street food stalls in every corner of the city. They serve samosas and Rajasthani delicacies like Makhaniya Lassi, Mawa Kachori, Panchkuta, Dal Bati Churma, Gatte Ka Saag, Kabuli, Mirchi Bada and sweets like Gulab Jamun, Kabuli and other Jodhpur specialties.
Some of Jodhpur’s popular restaurants are located near Jalori Gate and Sardar Market and serve fish, kebabs, dal, paneer and roti. There are many good hotels to stay in and some of the old palaces have been converted into heritage hotels. They are expensive but serve as an ideal destination for weddings and other social gatherings. A good hotel is the Ranbanka Palace built by Maharaja Ajit Singh. Rajasthani cuisine is served here and processions of dancers, elephants, camels and horses are seen here representing the ancient heritage of the land.
If you are looking for a budget hotel, you can find them around the station road, near the clock tower and near Ummed Chowk. Jodhpur is comparatively a safe city to stay. As it is very hot in summer with its desert climate, it is advisable to visit the city in winter. There are nearby outlets worth visiting such as Jaisalmer, Mount Abu, Luni Fort, Osiyan and Udaipur. Read through a reliable Jodhpur travel guide to find the right Jodhpur hotels and restaurants that will make your moments enjoyable while staying there. The city is warm in climate but warm in hospitality.
