Jodhpur Travel Guide: Places to Visit and Best Time to Visit Jodhpur, How to Reach Jodhpur, FAQs (2024)

Jodhpur – the Blue City of Rajasthan is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in Rajasthan! Jodhpur city with its massive forts, divine temples, stunning lakes, and colorful shopping bazaars is truly a traveler’s delight. Also known as the Sun City and the Gateway to Thar, Jodhpur is an amazing visual treat to its visitors with all of its blue houses and blue walls. An aerial view of Jodhpur will show you different hues of blue, thus, establishing why it is known as the Blue City.

With its location right in the center of Rajasthan, Jodhpur is one city which can be easily reached, thus, inviting lakhs of tourists throughout the year. The city of Jodhpur is truly a magical one as it gives off a pretty strong vibe of the bygone era. This former capital of Marwar has also been featured in the Hollywood movie The Dark Knight Rises which has further increased its popularity among foreigners as well.

In this Jodhpur travel guide, find out all that you need to plan your perfect Jodhpur trip. From how to reach the Blue city to places worth visiting in Jodhpur to when to visit Jodhpur – this Jodhpur travel guide will give you all the information.

How to Reach Jodhpur?

As mentioned earlier, Jodhpur is situated right in the middle of Rajasthan, thus, making it easily accessible from any part of India. Having its own airport and railway station makes it furthermore easier to reach Jodhpur.

• By Air: The Jodhpur Airport is a domestic airport which has direct flights coming in from cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, etc. You can also travel to Jodhpur by air from any of the other cities within Rajasthan such as Jaipur, Udaipur, etc. Since, there are not many flights operated from Jodhpur Airport, it is recommended that you book your air tickets well in advance.
• By Rail: The Jodhpur railway station is well-connected to most of the major cities in India. One can easily book their train tickets from cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, etc., or even from cities within Rajasthan, such as Udaipur, Jaipur, etc. If you are planning to visit multiple cities in Rajasthan, then train travel is the best and cheapest mode of transportation. Tourists can easily reach Delhi and just take an overnight train to reach Jodhpur.
• By Road: Jodhpur has a good and well-established road connectivity with major cities within and outside of Rajasthan. There are several government and private buses plying from cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, etc. Most of these bus journeys are overnight journeys and you will be able to reach Jodhpur bright and early in the morning.

Once you are in Jodhpur, you can simply hire private cabs through Uber and Ola or auto rickshaws to take you around the city.

Places to Visit in Jodhpur

There are a number of tourist attractions in Jodhpur, which is why it is important to narrow down the list so that you can visit the best of them. Below is a list of the top tourist attractions in Jodhpur that should be on every traveler’s itinerary.

Mehrangarh Fort

A visit to the Blue City Jodhpur is absolutely incomplete without a visit to the regal and royal Mehrangarh Fort. Built in 1459 by Rao Jodha, the Mehrangarh Fort is one of the largest forts in India. Covering an area of about 5 km, this magnificent fort was built atop an elevated hill having a height of 410 feet. Built by different rulers, the Mehrangarh Fort boasts of seven gates with each of them having their own significance. These seven gates are – Loha Gate, Bhairon Gate, Victory Gate, Marti Gate, Gopal Gate, Dedh Kamgra Gate, and Fateh Gate.

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As you explore this gigantic structure, you will notice one of the gates still has marks of cannon balls while another gate has spikes which were used as protection against animal attacks such as elephants. The Victory Gate was built in honor of Maharaja Man Singh’s victory over Bikaner and Jaipur armies. Visitors to the Mehrangarh Fort should also spend time checking out the stunning Sheesh Mahal and Phool Mahal within the fort.

The Mehrangarh Fort is quite expansive, and visitors will need at least 2-3 hours to completely explore this beauty. The fort has some beautiful carvings on its walls, lavish courtyards, stunning palaces, and museums and galleries which will leave the visitors completely mesmerized. In total, there are six galleries within the Mehrangarh Fort that should be visited – Palanquins, Armoury, Paintings, Elephant’s howdahs, Daulat Khana, and the Turban Gallery. You can also visit some of the other tourist attractions here such as the Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park, Nagnecha Mataji Temple, National Geological Monument, and Chamunda Temple.

• Timings: 9 AM to 5 PM
• Entry Fee: INR 70 for Indians and INR 600 (including Audio guide) for Foreigners

Jaswant Thada

The Jaswant Thada in Jodhpur is a spectacular cenotaph monument made of marble which is also the mausoleum for the kings of Marwar. The Jaswant Thada was built in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II in 1899 by his son Maharaja Sardar Singh. Till date, this mausoleum is used for cremation purposes by the royal family of Marwar. This memorial has a temple-like architecture and is truly an architectural masterpiece in the whole of Jodhpur.

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The entire building is made out of intricately carved marble and visitors will have to climb up a series of red steps to reach the main area. The contrast of red and white is a visual treat for your eyes! Apart from examining the carved marble, visitors can also enjoy a leisure stroll through the beautiful garden at the cenotaph.

• Timings: 9 AM to 6 PM
• Entry Fee: INR 20 for Indians and INR 30 for Foreigners

Mandore Garden

Situated at a distance of about 9 km from Jodhpur, the Mandore Garden is another must-visit tourist spot. This beautiful, lush green, and expansive garden is a part of the spectacular Mehrangarh Fort and is famous for its gorgeous architecture and regal cenotaphs. Some of the must-visit attractions within the Mandore Garden include the temple of Three Hundred Million gods where you will get to see various images of Hindu gods and the Hall of Heroes where you will get to see 16 figures of warriors which have been carved out of a single rock.

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Also, do spend time checking out the various cenotaphs, especially Maharaja Ajit Singh’s which is considered as the most beautiful cenotaph here. Also, browse through the Government Museum which houses some beautiful relics and artefacts.

• Timings: 8 AM to 8 PM
• Entry Fee: Free entry for garden, INR 50 for museum.

Umaid Bhawan Palace

Jodhpur is home to the largest private residence in the world – the Umaid Bhawan Palace! Built in 1943, this stunning palace was mainly built to provide employment opportunities to farmers who were affected by drought. This magnanimous structure boasts of 347 rooms, a private museum, wood-paneled library, tennis courts, billiards room, squash courts made of marble, an indoor swimming pool.

Today, the Umaid Bhawan Palace which is owned by Raja Gaj Singh has been divided into three parts – one part belongs to the private residence of the royal family, the second part has been turned into an amazing museum which houses various artefacts such as photographs, arms, clocks, trophies, cutleries, vintage cars, etc. The third part has been converted into a luxurious five-star hotel! This is the perfect accommodation in Jodhpur if you wish to experience royalty.

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This palace is also known as Chittar Palace since it is situated on top of the Chittar Hill.

• Timings: 9 AM to 5 PM
• Entry Fee: INR 30 for Indians, INR 10 for Children, INR 100 for Foreigners

Flying Fox

If you are looking for some adrenaline rush in Jodhpur, then the Flying Fox Zipline Tour is your best bet! This zipline activity is undoubtedly the best way to experience an aerial view of the stunning Mehrangarh Fort, its amazing architecture, and of course the various colors of the Jodhpur city. This activity has been well-established since 2010 and it consists of six zip lines which will allow you take a tour of the fort’s walls, bastions, and lakes. The duration of this activity is about two hours. Apart from leaving you with memorable views of the fort and parts of the city, the Flying Fox Zip Lining activity is sure to get your hearts racing

Ideally, you will first have to take a short walk up the fort, go through the safety briefing and a practice session before going ahead with the actual ziplining. Each of the six zip lines covers a different area and they are named as – the Magnificent Marwar, Ranisar Rollercoaster, Jai Jodha, Chhota Wallah, Rajputs’ Revenge, and Chokelao Challenge.

• Timings: 9 AM to 5 PM
• Entry Fee: INR 1700 (Adults) and INR 1500 (Children) for online bookings and INR 1899 for on-the-spot booking

Ghanta Ghar

The Ghanta Ghar in Jodhpur is quite famous not just in Jodhpur but throughout Rajasthan. Built almost 200 years ago by Maharaja Sardar Singh, this clock tower is located right in the center of the city. Apart from being the pride of the city, this clock tower is one of the best locations to get a complete 360-degree view of the Blue City. This centrally located masterpiece is surrounded by street markets which are definitely worth a visit!

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If you wish to experience the hustle-bustle of Jodhpur and soak in its local culture and traditions, then this is the place to be! The markets are beautifully lit during nighttime, and it is definitely a sight to behold as the marketplace comes alive.

• Timings: 10 AM to 6 PM
• Entry Fee: No fee

These six tourist attractions are a must-visit for anyone visiting Jodhpur. If you have time, then you can also visit some of the other attractions such as:

1. Toorji ka Jhalra
2. Kaylana Lake
3. Balsamand Lake
4. Khejarla Fort
5. Mahamandir Temple
6. Om Banna Temple

Best Time to Visit Jodhpur

Since Jodhpur lies in an arid land, it usually experiences high temperatures which can make sightseeing quite difficult. Hence, it is important to plan your trip during the right season which will ensure that you get to enjoy all the offerings of Jodhpur.

Avoid visiting Jodhpur during the summer season, i.e., from April to September as it is extremely hot during this period.

October to March is a good time period for visiting Jodhpur as the temperatures are relatively warmer and you can enjoy your sightseeing tour in pleasant weather.

The best time to visit Jodhpur is from November to February as this is the winter season. The temperature is quite cool especially during the daytime which makes visiting all the lakes and forts in Jodhpur an absolute delight. However, nights in Jodhpur during these months can get extremely chilly so make sure you carry sufficient winter wear.

Every city in Rajasthan has its own beauty and charm and Jodhpur is definitely one of the top cities to visit in Rajasthan. Exploring this Blue City will leave you with a lot of memorable memories.