Jodhpur, the Blue City, is the crowning jewel of the Land of Rajas, Rajasthan. The erstwhile capital of the largest kingdom of Rajasthan, Marwar, Jodhpur is a city which is drenched in every nook and corner with history of its glorious past and its beautiful present. Situated 355 Km west of the state capital Jaipur, this desert town is the second largest city in Rajasthan and a major tourist attraction. Jodhpur was founded by Maharaja Rao Jodha, the Chief of the famous and dreaded Rathore Clan, in 1459 to serve as the capital of Marwar, the kingdom of the Rajputs. Since its establishment the city has grown to become one of the most important centers of trade on the caravan routes from Middle East.
Jodhpur is a desert city being located on the fringes of the Great Thar Desert and was a major trading center in the times of the Rajputs who ruled this land for centuries. The city is a testimony to the unique beauty of the desert life, the rustic charm of the desert is epitomized in the sights and scenes of this most wonderful of cities. Today, Jodhpur is a very famous tourist destination which attracts thousands to its doors every year who come to get a taste of the royalty and splendor of this princely town full of architectural marvels made of sandstones and the rural desert life near its periphery.
Jodhpur is full of palaces and heritage properties which have been passed down from generation to its current inheritors. There are so many sites for the tourist to behold here the places to visit here include the Meherangarh Fort – one of the largest forts in India atop a hill, Umaid Bhavan – a specimen of Rajputana brilliance, Jaswant Thada, Rai-Ka-Bagh Palace, and Umaid Gardens. Each of these places will enchant you and take you back to the glorious era when the Rajputs used to rule the land with all their might and magnificence. The desert just comes to life in the city of Jodhpur; the setting desert sun drenches the sandstone buildings in the tangerine hue which is a sight to behold for a lifetime.
