Know The City
The story begins back in 1459 when Rao Jodha decided upon shifting his base
from Mandore, which he felt was vulnerable to foreign attacks, to Jodhpur.
Rathores after being driven out of Kannauj by the Afghans moved to Pali, a
short distance away from Jodhpur. After establishing their capital at
Jodhpur, the Rathores had good relations with the Mughals. During the reign
of Aurangzeb, however, the relationship got bitter. After Auranzeb's death,
Maharaja Ajit Singh forced the Mughals to leave Ajmer, adding the city to
Mewar. When Maharaja Umed Singh held the rein of the kingdom, Jodhpur saw
its brighter days and developed into a fine modern city. The rulers of the
region are known for their valour and equestrian skills. And one of the
interesting things is that Polo has been the traditional sport of the
Jodhpur nobility for long.
Go
There For
Jodhpur offers its visitors a lot to see and experience. You can find a
number of monuments that dot the city and its surrounding areas. One of the
India's most impressive palaces is the
Umaid
Bhawan Palace that is renowned for its lavish art deco. A grand
edifice of marble and stone, the palace was actually built to put into
service the drought hit population. The locals also call it Chitra Palace as
it has special chittar sandstone used in it. Embellished with attractive
balconies, elegant courtyards and landscaped gardens. 3,000 workers toiled
for 15 years to complete the palace. The
Mehrangarh Fort
that is positioned on the outskirts of the city. The construction of the
fort was initiated by Rao Jodha. The ramparts of the fort are worth seeing
and provide stunning views of the city. The next must view thing is the
Jaswant Thada that was built to commemorate Maharaja
Jaswant Singh II. Here, you can see marbles that have been intricately
carved to form sheets. The cenotaph appears more charming as it reflects the
rays of the sun. Other worth visiting sites include
Maha
Mandir,
Sadar Market and
Government
Museum.
People & Culture
The residents of Jodhpur are specifically known for their hospitality all
over India. The city pulsates with tradition and culture and boasts a good
number of artisans. The people here have a typical Marwari accent and are
seen in multihued costumes. Women can be seen wearing pleated skirts and a
hip length jacket that covers the front and the back. Jewellery is an
essential part of their lifestyle. Another interesting thing to note is the
colurful turbans that men wear. The bazaars of Jodhpur are replete with
exquisite handicrafts. Textiles, leather shoes, lacquer ware, antiques,
carpets, stone carvings, miniatures and silver jewellery are some
interesting items to buy here.
Feasting & Celebration
Fairs and festivals are Jodhpur are known in all parts of the country and
the world. The Nagaur Festival, that is held in the month of January/
February, is one of the most popular and much talked about festival here.
Here, you can see the extensive trading of animals like bullocks, camels and
horses. The mirchi bazaar of the Nagaur Fair is the largest in India.
Puppeteers, jugglers and story-tellers gather here from all over Rajasthan.
Another important festival is the Elephant Festival which is held on the day
of Holi. During the event, caparisoned elephants gather at the Chaughan
Stadium to participate in a royal procession. Elephant polo, elephant race
and elephant tug of war are the major tourist attractions here. During the
religious festival of Makar Sankranti, devotees can be seen taking their
holy dip in the tank at Galtaji. The festival of Teej sees processions
coming out of the City Palace for two consecutive days. Dussehra and Diwali
are the other important religious festivals that are celebrated with great
fervour and enthusiasm not only in Jodhpur but all over Rajasthan.
