Jodhpur attractions

 


The main and most striking attraction of Jodhpur is Mehrangarh Fort, and if you're up there, you should also visit Singhoria Hill and Jaswant Thada - you find more about these places in a separate post. The clock tower of Ghanta Ghar, in Sadar Market, is an iconic landmark that offers nice views of the city and fort. There is a "lake" (rectangular pool) nearby, but it is not that special. However, the nearby stepwell, Toorji Ka Jhalra Bavdi, is stunning. You may meet a fishing dog there. The busy old town, with its narrow streets and beautiful old architecture is amazing. Just below the fort, the elongated rocky outcrop known as Pachetia Hill offers fantastic views of the fort and the old town, which from here really seems to be the "Blue City".  In the streets of Jodhpur, if you're lucky, you may see Sadhus with an elephant.

 Outside of central Jodhpur, the Umaid Bhawan Palace, reminiscent of the Taj Mahal, is a beautiful sight from afar, but going there is a total waste of time and money. You can only visit a small, not too interesting museum, and you can't see anything from the grandoise building and its park.

Central Jodhpur attractions and route map


Walk 1 (red): 1. Clock Tower, Sadar Market; 2. Gulab Sagar; 3. Stepwell: Toorji Ka Jhalra Bavdi; 4. Blue Wall (street art); 5. Temple; 6. Pachetia Hill, café with view; 7. Padmasar Talab (natural pond). Walk 2 (orange): 1. Clock Tower, Sadar Market; 8. Top of the stairs at Mehrangarh Fort entrance, viewpoint; 9. Inner fort entrance, fork; 10. Chamunda Mata Temple; 11. Back exit of fort; 12. Singhoria Hill; 13. Jaswant Thada. Inset: 14. Babaram Devji, secret viewpoint.

Two walks are suggested, this one covering the attractions in Jodhpur center, the other showing the attractions on the hilltops, Mehrangarh Fort, Singhoria Hill, and Jaswant Thada. The two walks could be combined in different ways in a long day, finishing with a sunset either from Pachetia Hill or the fort area.

The walk starts at the Clock Tower in Sadar Market (1), and first heads to the Gulab Sagar pool (2). Not far from here is the stunning Toorji Ka Jhalra Bavdi stepwell (3). Strolling through the amazing old city, the route followed in this post leads to an area with many murals and paintings known as the Blue Wall (4). From here, stairs lead up to a temple (5) that sits right at the base of Mehrangarh Fort. Along the ridge, passing another temple, the path continues to the elongated rocky outcrop known as Pachetia Hill (6). You cannot enter the temple area at its tip, but a café with a rooftop terrace offers some of the best views of the Blue City. Descending on the other side of the hill, you enter the northwestern parts of the old city. You could enter the Mehrangarh Fort through its back exit (11), although I'm not sure if it is the correct way as there was no ticket office or control when I did. Not far from here is a little natural pond known as Padmasar Talab (7), in which, according to the OpenStreetMap info, it is allowed to swim. Returning back to the starting point, you can chose different ways through the maze of the old city, the route marked on the map is more to show the general direction.

Illustrated map of Jodhpur attractions
(photographed on the street)




Sadar Market and the Clock Tower. 

























Walking through colourful streets.




The Gulab Sagar pond (reservoir). 





The Toorji Ka Jhalra Bavdi stepwell.

























Strolling through old streets.

















The Blue Wall (street art) area, and the way up to the fort's base.











Temple at the fort's base.





Pachetia Hill.






The café with a view from its roof.














Strolling through old streets on the other side of Pachetia Hill.




Padmasar Talab, a natural pond. According to the map, swimming is allowed.



Strolling through old streets.


























The view of Mehrangarh Fort from my hotel. 



English style post boxes. 


The eastern city gate on the street from the bus station. 



Umaid Bhawan Palace, just outside central Jodhpur.











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