Jodhpur is situated near the geographical center of the state of Rajasthan. Earlier known as Marwar, the city is referred to, by various names such as Sun City, Blue City etc. Jodhpur is an important city in the state from travel and tourism point of view, as it houses many beautiful architectural marvels like forts, palaces, temples, etc. Presently, Jodhpur has been divided into two parts, the old city and the new city. The old city lies beyond the stone wall and the seven gates protecting it, while the new one lies on the other side. Being the second largest city in the state, Jodhpur has a lot to offer to the visitors, who come here, with regard to culture, cuisine and shopping.

Tourist Attractions

The major tourist attraction in Jodhpur is Umaid Bhawan Palace. It is built from Chittar sandstone and is therefore called the Chittar Palace, locally. Named after Maharaja Umaid Singhji, it took 15 years to complete. The construction started in 1929 and was completed by 1944, after which it was opened as a private residence. After the death of Maharaja in 1948, it was converted in to a heritage hotel in 1972; however, the royal family still resides in a part of it even today.

Another magnificent structure in Jodhpur is Mehrangarh Fort. It was built by Rao Jodha, the founder of Jodhpur city, in 1459. The fort is located on a 150 ft high hill and is deemed to be the largest fort in the country, containing seven gates. The worth visiting attractions in the palace are the various galleries namely, elephant howdah gallery, palanquin gallery, daulat khana, armory gallery, paintings gallery, turbans gallery. There is even a museum in the palace, which houses old royal palanquins, arms, costumes and paintings.

In the vicinity of the fort complex, lies Jaswant Thada, which is a 19th century cenotaph built in the memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh ll. The white marble cenotaph holds rare portraits of the rulers of Jodhpur. Other places of interest in Jodhpur include Umed Garden, which are dotted with varied species of roses, trees and sprawling lawns. In the garden complex lies the Government Museum, which houses rich collection of weapons, textiles, miniature portraits, local crafts and images of Jain Tirthankars.

Raj Ranchhodji Temple is a must visit shrine here, which is dedicated to Lord Krishna. It was constructed by Queen Jadechi Rajkanwar, after the death of her husband, King Jaswant Singh. The temple is primarily made of red sandstone, carved with beautiful filigree work. The heart of the temple houses a statue of Ranchhodji, made of black marble. Other temples in the city are Achal Nath Shivalaya, Rasik Bihari Temple, Ghanshyamji Temple, Chamunda Mataji Temple, Baba Ramdeo Temple and Udai Mandir.

How to Reach
By Air: Jodhpur Airport is located 5 km from the city center. It has daily flights to and from important cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Udaipur and Jaipur.

By Rail: Jodhpur is well connected to different parts of the country via railways. There are frequent trains to all the major cities.

By Road: Jodhpur has a well maintained road network, linking it to various cities in the state and the country. RSTC and private buses operate from here on a regular basis.