Jodhpur: My Favorite City in India

It was with great curiosity and anticipation for the mysterious country of India that we boarded a flight to Mumbai. Our footprints passed five cities: Mumbai, Jodhpur, Delhi, Varanasi, and Agra. Each of them has its own distinctive charm. However, of all the cities, Jodhpur is my favorite. If I had a chance to revisit only one of these cities, I would definitely go for it - a city with sky blue and a spectacular fort.

- By Cindy Tang, the travel consultant at Odynovo Tours

Note: For those who are interested in doing an India tour with visits to Jodhpur, here is a recommended itinerary for reference: 14-Day Mughal North India. And as always, it can be tailored to your interest.

Jodhpur is known as a "Blue City". When I got there I found it is really blue! A number of houses around the Mehrangarh Fort are painted blue, which adds a mysterious and romantic color to the city. Why the houses are painted blue is not completely certain but if you ask locals, the usual reply is that the color can beat the heat of the desert and repel insects!

Overlook the Blue City of Jodhpur Mehrangarh Fort

The majestic Mehrangarh Fort is the most muscular part of the warm blue city. Perched on a 125-meter-high cliff, it is built with solid yellow sandstone and surrounded by walls. Towering, solid, and imposing. It is visible from any corner of Jodhpur, rightly being the heart of this blue city. 

Walking into the fort is like wandering into a small town. Complicated pathways are interlined with well-laid architectures. The structures have exquisite carvings from columns to windows. Every detail showcases the great craftsmanship of Indian artisans. The interiors of the palaces are decorated with gold and embedded with gemstones, demonstrating luxury. 

A few palaces have been converted into museums, displaying various precious items and articles used by royal families, including palanquins, saddles placed on elephants, arms and swords, cradles, costumes and miniatures, and many more items. 

Wandering in Mehrangarh Fort, my eyes were frequently caught by the colorful figures of Indian women who passed by the fort. All of them, young or old, have red dots on foreheads, deep eyes and slightly tanned skin. Graceful saris add to their natural beauty and bring out a natural and unique Indian charm that captures the imagination.

As I climbed up to the top of Mehrangarh Fort and looked down, I was amazed by the blue view before my eyes. Through the strong light of the desert, against the azure sky, the ‘blue' was so refreshing and pleasing. It's hard to imagine that a place with the color of the Aegean Sea actually exists at the rim of the desert! Hereafter, in my cognition, blue is not only sky and sea, but it's also Jodhpur. 

Even though we were reluctant to leave, we had to go down the fort. Farewell, Jodhpur! Someday I will come back, for the "blue", and also for the spectacular fort.

Tips for seeing Jodhpur

1. How to Get to Jodhpur

Jodhpur is located in central Rajasthan, 338 km (6 hrs' driving distance) southwest of the capital Jaipur. The airport of Jodhpur is very small for both military and civil use. It is 6 km from the downtown of Jodhpur, with several daily flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, and Udaipur.

2. Tour the Mehrangarh Fort

The Mehrangarh Fort offers an audio guide in English, French, Chinese, Italian and other languages. The fee is included in the admission ticket.

There is an elevator in the Mehrangarh Fort. 

Recommended visiting time for Mehrangarh is 1.5 -3 hours.

3. Other Attractions

Jaswant Thada: The entire palace(technically a memorial to Maharaja Jaswant Singhji) is made of white marble. It's like a mini Taj Mahal. It is only 3 minutes' driving distance to Mehrangarh Fort and offers a panoramic view of the fort- Flying Box

Adventure travelers can experience flying box travelling through the forests and valleys just by Meherangarh Fort. The ride is safe and equipped with coaches at two ends of ropes to instruct every visitor.

4. Accommodation:

We stayed at the Ajit Bhawan Hotel (price from 143$ per night) during our Jodhpur trip and I strongly recommend it. It is very close to the airport and train station (only 3 kilometers). All the rooms are lovely and ample to move about. There are a lovely garden and a swimming pool. Staffs are extremely helpful and friendly. If you want to spend a bit more money, the Raas Haveli Jodhpur might be a good choice. It is located at the foot of Meherangarh Fort with wonderful rooms, well-manicured grounds and a wonderful view of the spectacular fort.