Jodhpur

Jodhpur is one of the cities that pepped me up. Most of the city is colored blue and the bird's-eye view of the city is breathtaking. It is rightly called 'The Blue City' of India. It is a good place to buy Rajasthani handicrafts and a paradise for people with a sweet tooth. 

Places I visited:

Mehrangarh Fort:  Built at an elevated level from the city, the zigzag road to this fort is enjoyable. Mehrangarh fort is one of the finest forts in India and has something in store for everyone. Thick rugged walls surround the fort, guarding it from the outside world. There are many gates to the fort and the some of them proudly wear the marks of the various battles fought in the past. The fort is very clean and well managed. Our guide for the fort tour was a smart chap and did his job very well.There are several beautiful and amazingly decorated palaces in the fort with huge courtyards. The museum is definitely the best fort museum I’ve been to. It is stocked with the finest artifacts of the bygone era. The palanquins, armory, paintings etc. – everything is stunning. The souvenir shop offers a lot of variety to buy at an OK price. There is vintage car collection of the royal family. I did not try the zipline adventure activity at the fort but I’ve heard it is a lot of fun.

Mandore: It is an ancient town with several monuments of historic importance. My favorite of these were the ruins of Mandore Fort. Surprisingly, not many people visit these ruins. I did not enjoy other places much. Mandore gardens seem to be a favorite among the tourists .I noticed many people came here to feed the monkeys. There is a Ravana temple, a government museum, a temple of 33 crore Gods and a huge rock with carvings in the honor of the famous people.

Jaswant Thada: I am glad I visited this on my way back from Mehrangarh fort.

Jaswant Thada is a cenotaph located very near to Mehrangarh fort and it serves as a burial ground for the Marwar rulers. The architecture of this mausoleum is amazing. It was very inspirational to just sit there in peace and tranquility and feel the aura.

Umaid Bhawan Museum: A small part of the Umaid Bhawan Palace is converted to a small museum and is mainly dedicated to the history of the royal family of Jodhpur. Some vintage cars are displayed at the front of the museum. The hall displays some nice murals, paintings and armory.

My Two cents:

1.     Buy a souvenir from the Mehrangarh fort shop. They have a lot of variety, quality is good and prices are at par with the city shops. No need for bargaining is the biggest plus point.

2.     A guide or an audio guide is a must. There is always an interesting story associated with almost everything. Guides would spice up this experience as they narrate these stories with utmost excitement.

3.     Visit Jaswant Thada on your way back from Mehrangarh Fort. After a tiring visit to the fort, it’d be a refreshing experience.

4.     Like all major cities of Rajasthan, Jodhpur too has a decent transport system. If you’re on a budget trip like me, make use of the public transport.