Jodhpur

Jodhpur, the second largest city in Rajasthan, is nestled at the edge of the Thar Desert. This blue city gets its name from the ocean of blue-coloured houses which adorn its winding pathways and hilly terrain. The streets are bustling with stalls displaying the traditional ‘leheriya’ patterned cloth and stalls selling mouth-watering street food. This walled city is an amalgamation of old and new. Echoes of the royal past kingdoms can be found in several Rajput palaces throughout. These are interspersed with brick-red modern architecture, all under the watchful eye of the Mehrangarh fort, a mesmerizing 15th-century fort, situated on a small hill which looms over the Jodhpur skyline.

As a culturally diverse and fast-growing city. Jodhpur presents an array of opportunities. In recent years, it has also seen an influx of young educated professionals as it houses some of the top universities (such as the Indian Institute of Technology, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences as well as our National Law University) in the country.

Mehrangarh Fort

Mehrangarh Fort stands a hundred feet in splendor on a perpendicular cliff, four hundred feet above the sky line of Jodhpur. Burnished red sand stone, imposing, invincible and yet with a strange haunting beauty that beckons . Much has been written about the Citadel of the Sun, for truly, it is one of the most impressive in all Rajasthan. So colossal are its proportions that Rudyard Kipling called it “ the work of giants”. Today, it is acknowledged as one of the best preserved forts in India.

Stepwell
(Toorji ka Jhalra)

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Constructed in 1740, Toorji Ka Jhalra, commonly called stepwell of Jodhpur, is an intricate design of stepwell, one of the few remaining structures depicting the traditional water management systems of Jodhpur. This 250-year-old structure was made using the famous rose-red sandstone found in Jodhpur. More than 200 feet in depth, it was once adorned with intricate carvings of dancing elephants, medieval lions, cow waterspouts, and niches that showed various deities. Its impressive design attracts many tourists, and is regarded as a fun place by locals and visitors to engage in harmless, recreational water games in order to beat the heat.

Restaurants & Cafes

Along with the fascinating forts and spectacular palaces, the metropolis of Jodhpur is also quite famous among the tourists because of its lip-smacking cuisine. When talking about good restaurants, the blue city comes with a plethora of choices, just like its tourist attractions.

Whether it be spicy curry at Indique, a beautiful night view of the Mehrangarh Fort from Jharoka 360, a Rajasthani Thali at Gypsy, a fine-dine experience at Risala or some international cuisines from the Stepwell Cafe, you will find everything you might crave in the Blue City.

Mandore Garden

A must-visit destination for anyone interested in architectural heritage, the Mandore Garden is a complex of temples built over the centuries by various Kings and Royal Clans. The park was once the royal cremation ground for the rulers of Marwar, a region in Rajasthan. Today, it has been transformed into a beautiful garden that is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike. One of the striking features of Mandore Gardens is the Mandore Fort, which was built in the 6th century and served as the capital of Marwar before the construction of the Mehrangarh Fort.

A spectacular light and sound show depicting the history of Jodhpur, is operated daily at 7:30 PM daily (timings may differ). One can reach the Madore Garden by taking a quick 5 minute Auto ride from the University.

Surpura Dam and Park

Situated only 3 kms from the University, the Surpura Dam is a water reservoir which is situated in midst of the Rajasthani countryside and is situated at a height which gives you immaculate views of the mountains and plains that surround it. Visitors can engage in paddle boating or Jet boating in the reservoir, which is operational from 10:00 AM till Sunset.

The reservoir is also accompanied by a beautifully laid out park which contains sculptures of different animals which you can view by taking a walk. The best time to visit is around an hour before sunset so that you can capture the sunset while boating and take a walk in the beautifully lit up sculpture park.

Types of Cuisine

An eclectic mix of cuisines, including Western and Asian, is available in restaurants throughout the city.

The local Rajasthani cuisine is delicious but spicy overall. Traditional dishes include Laal Maas (very spicy mutton curry), Daal baati choorma (mildly spicy – made with lentils, wheat and oil), Mirchi vada (fried chillies stuffed with potatoes, and covered with a batter) – this highly popular street food originated in Jodhpur, Gattee ki sabzi (made with chickpea flour), Ker-Sangri (made with wild green berries) among others. Some restaurants can decrease the chillies as per your tastes.

Desserts: Malai Ghevar (traditional layered sweet),

Rajasthani “thalis are available at many restaurants like Gypsy, Laxmi Mishthaan, and Khaas Bagh, as well as in hotel-based restaurants – these thaalis allow you to sample portions of about 10-20 traditional dishes in one go.

Rajasthan

Rajasthan is a state of vibrant folk dance and music, gigantic forts and palaces, spicy food, colourful and large turbans, extensive golden sand desert, camels and rich handicraft. It is therefore, an incredible place to visit in India for enjoying unforgettable holidays. Sprawling in an area of 342239 sq km, Rajasthan is perfect for history buffs, culture aficionados, adventure lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, and more.

The major tourist cities in Rajasthan are Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer and Pushkar. The Ranthambore National Park is also a tourist hotspot with people pouring in from all over the world to experience true wildlife.

Know more

How to reach

Jodhpur has its domestic airport which runs direct flights to and from most Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and others. It thus is a one-stop flight (via these cities) away from countries such as the United Kingdom. Jodhpur is well connected to other cities such as Jaipur and Udaipur via local as well as private luxury buses. Jodhpur rail head is well-connected to other Indian cities, with trains travelling twice a day to major cities like Delhi and Jaipur.

The National Law University is about 15 km from the airport and 12-13 kms from the city centre railway station. From the airport, local cabs and app-based cabs such as Uber and Ola are easily available to the venue.

What to keep in mind:

The city is inexpensive and traditional handicrafts are very reasonably priced
You can bargain with the help of a local friend
The traditional food is spicy, so be mindful if you are not used to chillies
Varied cuisines are easily available
There are good hospitals in and around the city centre
It gets cold at night even if the day is warm. Keep adequate warm clothes with you
Keep phone numbers of contacts handy