A Travel Guide to My Favorite International City, Jodhpur, India

Jodhpur was the first Indian city I called home. I suppose the fact that I fell in love with many aspects of India in Jodhpur contributes to my love for the city, even though it isn't the top tourist destination in India. In spite of other Indian cities being more popular, Jodhpur has some magnificent sites to visit, and the fact that it moves at a slower pace than much of India makes it a great place to spend a couple of days. It only takes about five hours to go by train from Jaipur to Jodhpur, so consider adding Jodhpur to your itinerary if you plan to visit Jaipur. Read on for a few of my favorite things to do in Jodhpur, India.

Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, India
Fort Road
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Telephone: 291-254-8790
www.mehrangarh.org

No trip to North India is complete without visiting the forts of Rajasthan. Mehrangarh Fort is one of the best forts in India. Part of the magnificence of Mehrangarh Fort is the fact that it sits atop a 410 foot high sheer rock and can be seen for miles. One of my favorite rooms in the fort is the Phool Mahal, a gilded room with intricate paintings that was built over a 20-year span between 1730 and 1750. This room was used for royal celebrations. The Moti Mahal was built in the 1500s, over a period of 14 years. This is a room that literally shines due to the mirror work on the ceilings as well as crushed shells that were mixed into the plaster on the walls to give the room a luxurious sheen. This room was used by the maharajah as a private audience hall.

Umaid Bhavan Palace

Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Telephone: 0291-251-0101

I have especially fond memories of the Umaid Bhavan Palace in Jodhpur since my husband and I celebrated our 14^th anniversary there. We enjoyed dinner sitting on the terrace, overlooking the city at night. In addition to dinner options, the palace is also open for tours, and you can even book a room in the luxurious hotel that is part of the palace.

Lassi at the Clock Tower

Downtown Jodhpur has a clock tower that can't be missed. Sadar Bazaar, located near the clock tower, is a great place to shop, so be sure to check it out on your trip to Jodhpur.

Even more impressive than the bazaar is an unassuming restaurant, with a spectacular yogurt drink, the lassi. The lassi shop located at the clock tower in Jodhpur serves lassis that are far better than any other I've had anywhere in India. They are so thick, you can stand your spoon up in the middle of the lassi. This lassi shop, unknown to a lot of tourists, is a favorite of locals. Even if you don't think you like lassis, give the ones at the clock tower a try. I doubt you'll be disappointed.

Reference:

DK Eyewitness Travel Guides: India, pages 380 - 385

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