Prime Attractions of
Jodhpur » Mehrangarh Fort The Mehrangarh
fort is set on a 125 m high hill which can be accessed by a winding road
uphill. The majestic fort is one of greet hilltop forts. Mehrangarh means
'Majestic Fort'. This fort which can be seen from the surrounding part of
the city was originally built in 1806. The medieval charm is displayed in
the exquisitely carved panels and porches and the decorated walls and
windows of Moti Mahal, Phool Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Sileh Khana and Daulat
Khana. Mehrangarh has its own architectural appeal, such as brilliant
stained glass, that creates vibrant mosaics on the floors, with the passage
of the sun through the day.
The palace in this fort has its own
peculiar style. The only means to access royal residences were the narrow
staircases built within. The fort still houses a collection of musical
instruments palanquins, furniture and cannons.
The well situated
Mehrangarh almost appears impressible. The battlements are set four hundred
feet above the hill. The fort also has three gates, each built to
commemorate a victory as well as to reinforce the fort.
» Umaid Bhavan Palace
This
palace built of Chhittar sandstone or pink sandstone is also called the
Chhittar palace. Built in the 20th century the palace has quite a few
western touch as it was designed by the British Royal Institute of
Architects. The palace took 16 years too be built and was a project to give
employment to people during the severe famine. The dome of the palace is
only one of its kind in Rajasthan.
The palace houses 300 rooms,
has its own theatre, 8 dinning rooms and a banquet hall which can hold 300
seated people. Ballroom has also been built to cater to the westernized
royal lifestyle. The palace also contains an indoor swimming pool with a
mosaic of zodiac symbols. The royal family still resides in a part of this
palace and the rest has been converted into a hotel and a museum.
Excursions of Jodhpur» Mandore 9 kms north of Jodhpur lies
Mandore, popular for its gardens which house the royal cenotaphs or dewals
of the Jodhpur rulers. It includes Maharaja Jaswant Singh and the finest and
largest of all, that of Maharaja Ajit Singh. The Hall of Heroes houses 15
figures representing indu dieties or local heroes on horse, carved out of
rock and brightly painted. The shrine of 33 crore Gods, is painted with
figures of Gods and Spirits.
» MahamandirThis is
a small walled town, clustered around a 100-pillared Shiva temple. The town
was built in 1812.
» Osian55 kms from Jodhpur are
the largest group of Jain and Hindu temples, on the outskirts of the town of
Osian. The intricately sculpted temples has an unrivalled beauty. This town
which was once a great trading centre is an oasis and houses an abundance of
peacocks. The largest of the 16 Jain and Brahmanical temples is dedicated to
Mahavira, the last of the Jain tirthankars. In the same area the Surya
temple has fascinating images of Durga, Surya and Ganesh.
The
sculptural intricacy of the Osian temples rival that of any of the famous
temples of the country, be it the Sun Temple of Konark, or the Hoysala
temples of Karnataka.
» Sardar Sammand Palace and Lake
Resort Your vehicle smoothly treads through the vast plains of
Marwar after witnessing the picturesque hills of Dungarpur, Udaipur and
Kumbalgadh. And now you can see the imposing domes of some structure, you
wonder...what it must be. And then you reach to that place called the Sardar
Sammand Palace, overlooking the Sardar Sammand lake, surrounded by the
gardens and plantations. This palace was built in the 1930s' Art Deco
period, from sandstone blocks carefully joined together. The palace provides
a swimming pool facility complete with steps and arches, squash and tennis
courts, an art deco drawing room, a marble biradari pavilion, lawns, gardens
and the terrace to relax in the morning breeze. The calls of a million birds
sound like an avian orchestra at night, and in the morning, hundreds of
ducks, wading birds and herons can be seen from the balcony. There are steps
leading to the lakefront.
Its just an hour's journey from Jodhpur.
The drive takes you through the Guda Wildlife Sanctuary, where you can see
herds of chinkara, the graceful Indian gazelle, blackbucks and blue bulls,
desert foxes, desert cats, some peafowl and numerous Indian grey partridges.
The Bishnoi hamlets of Khejarali, known for their religious commitment to
wildlife and environmental conservation, the potters village of Sinhasini,
settlements of the Raika with herds of camel, sheep and goat, and Jhalamand
(a village with a castle that hosts tourists in comfortable rooms) are
popular tourist attractions. At Salavas you get to see durries, carpets,
rugs and blankets being woven on traditional pit-looms; at Luni, the castle
hotel, Fort Chanwa, offers small, beautiful rooms and beautifully carved
courtyards and a swimming pool.
» Balsammand Lake &
Palace 
Many
a times you must have dreamt of staying in a huge, royal palace on the
sea-shore or on the banks of river or if not both at least a palace facing
the water reservoir. There is such a place at Mandore in Rajasthan .The 19th
Century sandstone palace built on a hillock facing Balsammand lake is one of
such places that's definitely going to win your heart. The palace was
created by Maharajah Sur Singhji, as a summer pavilion. It is very finely
carved with latticed windows that allow the soft, cool breeze to blow into
the interiors of the palace. The embankments of the lake, in front of the
palace, have domed structure that offers fabulous views of the lake
encircled by hills. An artificial cascading waterfall, brings water down
from the reservoir to the gardens. Mandore, is a part of Jodhpur but it
enjoys the calmness by being far from the city crowd.
The rooms
and suites, the entire ambience here makes you feel as if you are staying in
a royal palace. You can even enjoy a walk through the trees, the rose beds,
pools covered with lilies and the groves of mango, plum, banana, pomegranate
and so on. You will also get to see the peacocks, blue bulls, jackals and
hundreds of flying foxes (fruit bats) in the trees.
Standing
at the edge of the Thar Desert lies the 2nd largest city after Jaipur. This
city houses a number of palaces, temples and other architectural monuments
which add to its glory. This city founded by Suryavanshi Rao Jodha in 1459
A.D. was once the capital of former princely state of Marwar. The old city
of Jodhpur is surrounded by a 10 kms long wall. From the fort you can see
the wall here separating the old city from the new city. The new city has
rapidly grown round this Mehrangarh Fort. 
