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Jodhpur

Rajasthan, India

By Altaaf Khan

April 10^th, 2020

December 2019

The Blue City, Jodhpur, our last stop in Rajasthan, the Indian state famous for historic havelis, forts and palaces.

Blue City Sun City

Jodhpur is called the Blue City. Most of the houses in Jodhpur’s old city are blue in colour and some people say that the colour is associated with the Brahmins and that blue houses belong to people of that caste.

Jodhpur is also known as the Sun City because the weather remains bright and sunny all year round, and the colour blue is painted to keep the houses cool.

Jaswant Thada

Built by Maharaja Sardar Singh of Jodhpur State in 1899 in memory of his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, and serves as the cremation ground for the royal family of Marwar. The mausoleum is built out of intricately carved sheets of marble. These sheets are extremely thin and polished so that they emit a warm glow when illuminated by the Sun.

Mehrangarh Fort

Mehrangarh is one of the largest forts in India. Built by Rao Jodha, the fort is situated 125m above the city and is enclosed by imposing thick walls. Inside its boundaries there are several palaces known for their intricate carvings and expansive courtyards.

Umaid Bhawan Palace

Named after Maharaja Umaid Singh, grandfather of the present owner Gaj Singh. The palace has 347 rooms and is the principal residence of the former Jodhpur royal family. Part of the palace is a museum, while another part is a hotel.

Kathputli & Kalbelia

Kathputli, the art of puppetry practiced by a community of agricultural labourers of Rajasthan, known as the Bhats.

Kalbelia dance is a folk dance of Rajasthan, performed by a tribe of the same name. This tribe is a community of Rajasthan, which in ancient time were known to lead a nomadic life moving frequently from one place to another.