Jodhpur has been a city of the Indian Desert since medieval days. Here one finds abundant flowers, trees, vast artificial lakes and lawns. Yet you are only a step away from a desert landscape, almost as barren as the moon. The city of Jodhpur was built by Rao Jodha in 1459. The outer walls are almost six miles in circumference. One enters the city through one of the seven huge gates.
Mehrangarh Fort
This is the focal point of Jodhpur. Looming above the massive Victory Gate, 500 feet up is the fort. It is more than 500 years old and dominates the entire landscape. The walls around the fort conceal extraordinary palaces, which span five centuries of glory.
The climb to the fort is via a steep zigzag road. At the summit are the handprints of 15 maharajas' widows who committed suicide after their husbands died in battle. See the Thakat Vilas Palace with splendid floor-to-ceiling murals. The view of the countryside from the fort is stunning. On the way down from the fort, see Jaswant Thada, the 19th century marble cenotaph to Maraja Singh. Bits of colored thread, tied to the columns have been left by local women who consider the place a shrine.
Sardar Market
This market is spread around the Old Clock Tower in the Old City.
Mandore
This pretty park is five miles north of Jodhpur. It was the early capital of this area. The park contains the shrine of 300 million gods, a series of gigantic painted figures, who represent local heroes and deities.
Nearby, the Hall Of Heroes was carved from a single rock wall. The other main attraction is the cenotaphs of former rulers, handsomely constructed in many Buddhist styles. These structures stand on places where cremations took place.
Author of this article is Gene Gill. For more information visit his website: Gene Gill Miniatures.
