The city of Jodhpur is the second largest in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is called the Gateway to Thar, as it is literally on the edge of the Thar desert. It is also called the Sun City as the sun shines (very bright and hot!) almost every day of the year.

Jodhpur Blues

Understand

Jodhpur is a historic city and the origin dates to the year 1459 AD when it was founded by Rao Jodha, the Rajput chieftan of the Rathores. The Rathore kingdom was also known as the Marwar and was the largest in Rajputana.

The city was built as the new capital of the state of Marwar (now reorganised into Rajasthan state) over the ancient capital Mandore [1]the ruins of which can be seen near what is now the Mandore Gardens

The people of Jodhpur and surrounding areas are hence also commonly called as Marwaris.

The houses in the old city are shades of blue - hence sometimes its also called the Blue City; the forts and palaces, temples and havelis, culture and tradition, spices and fabrics, colour and texture, a booming handicrafts industry, all are worth a visit to this historic city.

• The Regional Tourist office run by the Government of Rajasthan is located at RTDC Hotel Ghoomar, High Court Road, +91 291 2545083

Get in

Jodhpur is well connected by road, rail and air to all major cities and towns.

By plane

Connected by air from Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Udaipur; the airport is about 5 km from the city centre. Take a taxi from the airport to your hotel.

• Indian (IC) [2] (previously Indian Airlines) operates daily flights in to Jodhpur from Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Udaipur; the airline office is located on Airport Road, 91 291 2510757, 2510758. Open everyday from 10AM-1PM and 2PM-4.30PM. Contacts for the airport counter are 91 291 2512617, 2511516

• Jet Airways (9W) Jet Airways operates daily flights from Delhi and Mumbai.

By train

Jodhpur is an important division of the North Western zone of the Indian Rail network . It is well connected by direct trains (see timetable) from all metros and major cities in India (including Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Lucknow, Kalka, Jammu, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad)

The taxi stand and auto-rickshaw stand are located near the exit of the railway station.

The advance reservation office is on Station Road, between the railway station and Sojati Gate. The office is open from Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 8 pm and on Sunday until 1.45 pm IST. If you are a foreign tourist, you can also buy Indrail passes in USD and reserve tickets at the International Tourist Bureau; this counter is located at the advance reservation office.

You can also book your tickets online at IRCTC, the official booking site on the internet, from 4 am to 11 pm IST on all days.

By car

Approximate road distances from various destinations are

By taxi

Various tour operators and travel agencies offer chauferred car-taxi services; these are charged on a per km, per day basis. You can plan to take one to arrive into the city or take one for sightseeing in and around the city.

By bus

Jodhpur can be reached by RSRTC (Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation) buses and private luxury buses which operate from all major towns and cities in Rajasthan as well as the cities of Ahmedabad and Delhi.

Get around

Means of transport include

• Tourist Cabs (Taxis) - ply on a minimum distance/hour per day basis
• Auto Rickshaws (unmetered) - negotiate before you board one
• Tongas - horse driven carriages
• Mini buses - public transport is available but chaotic and not advisable except when on a shoestring budget

The narrow lanes of the inner walled city of Jodhpur are best traversed by Autos, but can also be explored by bicycle or motorcycle/scooter.

See

Mehrangarh Fort

The main attractions in Jodhpur are

• Mehrangarh Fort - a majestic fort atop a hill
• Umaid Bhawan Palace - partly converted to a 5 star hotel
• Balsamand Lake - now converted to a resort
• Jaswant Thada - royal cenotaphs built in marble
• Mandore - ancient capital of Marwar[3]
• Kailana Lake - a picnic spot and a main drinking water source for the city

Temples

• Baba Ramdev Temple at Masuria Hills
• Ganesh Temple at Ratanada
• Santoshi mata Temple at Lal sagar
• Mahamandir Temple

Do

Learn

This is not a complete list of options, but just to indicate that if you wish to stay in this city for a longer period, there are a lot of options for education and learning.

Jai Narain Vyas University [JNVU] (offers undergraduate, graduate/postgraduate and doctoral courses)

Formerly University of Jodhpur, estd 1962, took over 4 state run colleges Jaswant College, Shri Maharaj Kumar College, Kamal Nehru Girls college and MBM Engineering College.

University Departments

• Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies: BCom, BCom (Honours), MCom, MTA (Masters in Tourism), PGDTA, MBA
• Faculty of Science: BSc,MSc
• Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences: BA, BA(Honours), MA
• Faculty of Law: LLB, LLM
• Faculty of Engineering: BE, ME, MCA(Masters in Computer Applications),PGDCA
• Faculty of Education: BEd, MEd

Science

• L.M.(Lachoo Memorial) College of Science and Technology

 (also offers course in Mass communication and Video Production at Bsc. Level)
 

Commerce

• Omkarmal Somani College of Commerce
• Shri Nakoda Pasharvanath Jain College

Women only

• J.N. Vyas Mahila Mahavidyalaya (offers Arts and Commerce undergraduate courses)
• Kamala Nehru College for Women (offers Arts, Science, Home Science and Commerce undergraduate and graduate courses, run by JNVU)

Engineering

• M.B.M (Magniram Bangur Memorial) Engineering College (aka Faculty of Engineering, JNVU)

Pharmacy

• Lachoo Memorial College of Pharmacy (affiliated to University of Rajasthan, Jaipur)

Medicine

• Dr Sampoorna Nand Medical College

Law

• National Law University. Estd 1999; NH-65 Nagour Road, Mandore; +91 291 5121594, 2572530, 5121702, [4]

Management

• Department of Management Studies (Faculty of Commerce and Management, JNVU)
• Aravali Institute of Management

Education

• Faculty of Education (JNVU department)
• Mahesh Teachers College

Evening Studies

• Institute of Evening Studies (JNVU department)

Work

Buy

• Bandhej sarees and dress material
• Mojris or Jootis. Shoes with a pointed front, a must-have accessory if you plan on dressing like a Rajput Maharaja.
• Handicrafts these are handmade (made to look like old antiques), the handicraft industry is a booming industry in this city.

Eat

Don't forget to try the Rajasthani delicacies

• Makhaniya Lassi
• Mawa Kachori
• Panchkuta
• Dal Bati Churma
• Gatte ka saag
• Kabuli (a rice speciality)
• The Hot and Spicy Mirchi Bada

• A bit of a cult favourite, or at least trying to be, is the Omelette Shop (aka Carib Hotel), just outside the gates to the main square. Five yards away is the up and coming Vicky, whose omelettes are identical except for the noticeable increase in the amount of ginger. Controversy and confusion have been stoked by a Lonely Planet recommendation, which has inspired signs all over the area claiming the mantle of the "real" Omelette Shop.

• Mehran Terrace, Meherangarh Fort. Candlelit dining with an exquisite view of the city. Thalis are Rs 300-400. Book ahead.

Drink

Sleep

Budget

• Hotel Karni Bhawan, Defence Lab Road, Ratnada

• Hotel Quality Inn Chandra, Panch Batti Circle, Airport Road

• Hotel Residency Palace, High Court Colony, Ratanada, +91 94141-27777 (hotel@hotelresidencypalace.com, fax +91 291-2640747), [5].

Mid-range

• Heritage Hotel Ajit Bhawan Palace, Circuit House Road

• Heritage Hotel Balsamand Lake Palace, Mandore Road

• Pal Haveli, Gulab Sagar (near the clocktower), +91 291 329-3328, (info@palhaveli.com, mobile 98292-43247), [6]. Beautiful rooms in a heritage hotel-like atmosphere. A short (though steep) walk from Mehrangarh. Will arrange airport/train station pickup. Rs 1300-1500/1500-1800. (singles/doubles)

• Devi Bhawan, Defence Lab Road, Ratanada, +91 291 251-1067 (devibhawan@sify.com, reservations +91 98 2803-5359), [7]. A 90 year old heritage property with delightful rooms set around a lush garden. The rooms are decorated with period furniture and Rajasthani textiles. Only 1.5 Km from the centre of the town.

Splurge

• Umaid Bhawan Palace, Circuit House Road, +91 291 251=0101, (ubpresv.jodh@tajhotels.com, fax 91 291 2510100), [8]. This is a 5* hotel now managed by the Taj Hotels (earlier by ITC Welcomgroup) and is housed in the famous Umaid Bhawan Palace. The view is scenic and it has an underground swimming pool for the guests alongwith squash and tennis courts.

• Taj Hari Mahal, 5, Residency Road, +91 291 243-9700 (harimahal.jodhpur@tajhotels.com, fax 91 291 2614451/52), [9].

Contact

• Area Code: The telephone area code is 291.

If you are dialing into a Jodhpur number from outside India dial +91 291 xxxxxxx; if you are dialing into a Jodhpur number long distance from anywhere in India, prefix the area code by a 0 i.e. dial 0291 xxxxxxx; in Jodhpur just dial the 7 digit number xxxxxxx.

Stay safe

This is a comparatively safe city, however it is advisable not to venture out late in the night alone.

While travelling in trains or buses, avoid any snacks offered by seemingly well meaning strangers. There have been some incidents where tourists or even locals have been drugged and looted after consuming narcotic-laced biscuits or tea.

Beware of touts selling rail tickets or promising reservations on trains. It is a criminal offence to buy and sell tickets except from recognized agents or the reservation offices.

Cope

Get out

• Bishnoi Village safari, +91 98 2803 5359 (rakesh_singhs@hotmail.com, devibhawan@sify.com). Bishnois are a community that protects wildlife and environment. In safari the guide will take you around the Bishnoi villages in a jeep and there you will see deer, blackbuck and chinkara roaming around their huts and playing with their childres and village people feeding them.it is a 70 km tour.
• Luni fort - about 40 kms outside Jodhpur - now converted to a heritage hotel
• Osiyan - about 60 kms - Jain temples as well as Kali temples

You can see the neighbouring tourist destinations of Osiyan temples, Ranakpur Jain temples, Nathdwara temple, Bikaner and Deshnok, Ajmer and Pushkar, the desert city of Jaisalmer, the hill station Mount Abu, the city of lakes Udaipur or the pink city Jaipur