Jodhpur Travel Guide: 5 Places to Visit in the Blue City
Jodhpur's old city is known for its blue-painted houses clustered beneath Mehrangarh Fort, with most major sights within a short ride of each other.
Mehrangarh Fort
One of India's largest forts, Mehrangarh rises directly above the old city and houses a museum of Rajput weaponry, textiles and royal palanquins.
Umaid Bhawan Palace
Built in the 1920s-40s, part of this palace still functions as a hotel while another section houses a museum open to visitors.
Jaswant Thada
This white marble cenotaph, built in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, sits beside a small lake a short distance from Mehrangarh Fort.
The Blue City old town
Narrow lanes lined with indigo-washed houses spread below the fort, best explored slowly on foot or by bike rather than by car.
Mandore Gardens
On the northern edge of the city, these gardens hold cenotaphs of former Jodhpur rulers among older trees and stepwells.
Best time to visit and getting around
October to March avoids the desert heat that builds up from April onward. A scooter or bike rental makes it easier to cut through the old city's narrow lanes and reach Mandore Gardens, which sits further out than the fort and palace.
Planning to ride there?
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