About Jodhpur
Jodhpur in the north Indian state of Rajasthan is especially known for its shopping and its wholesale and export operations. Jodhpur, the heart of Rajasthan and the glittering jewel of her eternal crown, bedazzle the Thar, enriching the desert with entrepreneurship, scholarship and art. It is an island of marble palaces, separated from the desert by an immense wall, with eight gates facing different directions. Popularly known as the blue city, Jodhpur appeals every tourist from various edges of the world.

Major Tourits Attractions:

Umaid Bhawan Palace
Umaid Bhawan Palace is the last of the great palaces of India and one of the largest residences in the world. Designed by famed Edwardian architect Henry Lanchester, the golden-yellow sandstone monument was conceived on a grand scale, in fashionable art deco style, and took 15 years to complete. Today, the palace offers guests a taste of royal living, once only available to kings and princes. The palace, which served as the principal residence of Jodhpur's Royal family, was named after Maharaja Umaid Singh Ji, the grandfather of the present Maharaja of Jodhpur, Maharaja Gaj Singh Ji.

Mehrangarh Fort
Mehrangarh Fort is one of the largest forts in India. The fort is situated on a lofty height, 400 feet (122 metres) above the city, and is enclosed by imposing thick walls. Inside its territorial boundaries, there are several palaces, which are known for their intricate carvings and sprawling courtyards.

In 1458, Rao Jodha (1438-1488), one of Ranmal's 24 sons became the fifteenth Rathore ruler. One year after his accession to the throne, Jodha decided to move his capital to the safer location of Jodhpur as the one thousand years old Mandore fort was no longer considered to provide sufficient security.

The foundation of the fort was laid on May 12, 1459 by Jodha on a rocky hill 9 kilometres to the south of Mandore. This hill was known as Bhaurcheeria, the mountain of birds. According to legend to build the fort he had to displace the hill's sole human occupant, a hermit called Cheeria Nathji, the lord of birds. Upset at being forced to move Cheeria Nathji cursed Rao Jodha with "Jodha! May your citadel ever suffer a scarcity of water!". Rao Jodha managed to appease the hermit by building a house and a temple in the fort very near the cave the hermit had used for meditation, though only to the extent that even today the area is plagued by a drought every 3 to 4 years.

Jaswant Thada
The Jaswant Thanda, located half way up the interminably long road that climbs onwards to the fort, is the traditional cremation ground of the rulers of Jodhpur. Taking pride of place amongst the onrnamental gardens and chattris is the fabulous white marble memorial to Jaswant Singh II, built in 1899.

Excursions:

Mandore: Mandore was the capital of the ancient Marwar Empire, prior to the foundation of the city of Jodhpur. Extensive gardens with the rock terraces make this historic city even more enchanting. The soaring temple shaped memorial to Maharaja Ajit Singh here is the largest and the finest of all the cenotaphs of Jodhpur rulers. It houses the "Hall of Heroes" which contains 16 figures of Hindu deities and local heroes on horse back.

Osian: 65 Kms from Jodhpur, lies ruins of an ancient city called Ossian. This city is famous for Brahmanical and Jain temples, which belong to 8th and 11th century. Surya or Sun temple and the Sachiya temples are famous for their beauty. The shikhar of Sachiya temple is clustered by two rows of turrets, an ambulatory and a large assembly hall with an elaborate ceiling. This town which was once a great trading centre is an oasis and houses an abundance of peacocks. The largest of the 16 Jain and Brahmanical temples is dedicated to Mahavira, the last of the Jain tirthankars. In the same area the Surya temple has fascinating images of Durga, Surya and Ganesh. The sculptural intricacy of the Osian temples rival that of any of the famous temples of the country, be it the Sun Temple of Konark, or the Hoysala temples of Karnataka.

Guda Bishnoi: This village is inhabits by the Bishnoi community. They are staunch believers in the sanctity of plant and animal life. Villages are marked by Khejri trees and deers, which thrive. It has become a popular tourist attraction. Many agencies are offering a trip by jeep to the surrounding villages to see the local way of life. Settlements of the Bishnoi Tribal Community who are famous for their reverence for plant and animal life can be seen in the villages. These trips offer good opportunity to buy rugs and handicrafts. Visitors are shown how villagers make dhurries and can try making pots, grinding grain and firing slingshots

Bal Samand Lake: Originally constructed as a bund by Balak Rao Parihar and enlarged by Maharaja Sur Singh, this spot overlooks a fine artificial lake. The Bal Samand lake.