Visitor's note about Jodhpur
Forts, palaces, monuments and even in people's behavior, it was royalty everywhere in Jodhpur. The musical welcome provided by mustachioed men in fine traditional wear, the professionalism with which the locals protect their heritage and the poignant hand marks of the sati victims on the walls of the fort are the memories that will remain fresh in my mind for years to come.

On my next visit to India, I will spend atleast one week to fully absorb the beauty of this town.



Factfile
Location: Rajasthan
Best time to visit: November-February
Must visit attraction: Mehrangarh Fort
Excursions: Mandore, Ossian

A word about Jodhpur
Jodhpur, the 16th century capital of the Rathore Rajputs has a cultural identity of its own that makes it a unique tourist attraction in Rajasthan. The royal heritage of the Jodhpur city is evident in the hilltop eyrie, Mehrangarh fort that has seen the various phases of its history. Today, the Jodhpur city is a part of the Desert Tourist Triangle and offers exquisite palaces, forts, temples and havelis, which stand testimony to the imperial grandeur

PLACES OF INTEREST IN JODHPUR

Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur
I hired a jeep to reach to the Mehrangarh fort, which was located atop a hill and visible from miles away. To reach to the Mehrangarh fort, I had to cross seven gates and while reaching there I was thinking about the bravery of those rulers who thought of conquering this fort. Some of these forts still had the marks of many a siege that this fort has withstood.

Once inside the Mehrangarh fort, I came across many more interesting places including Moti Mahal with delicately carved stone screen, Umaid Vilas Palace with exquisite miniature paintings, Ajit Vilas exhibiting musical instruments and royal costumes and the Maan Vilas Palace with its breathtaking collection of Rathore armory.

Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur
Since I was staying at Umaid Bhawan Palace only, so I had enough time to explore the various section of this magnificent palace. Even after several years of its construction, the sandstone of which the fort is made of has not weathered.

Government Museum of Jodhpur
Exciting! This is the only word to describe the experience of visiting the government museum of Jodhpur. A large and fairly interesting collection of stuffed animals, wooden biplane models and brass battleship transported me back into the time when Rajput Kings ruled the city.