2. INTRODUCTION TO JODHPUR (SUNCITY)
•
The district of Jodhpur popularly known as Suncity
was known as the ancient kingdom of Marwar the
land of Death, the largest kingdom in Rajputana and the
third largest of the Indian Kingdoms, after
Kashmir and Hyderabad.
Jodhpur, former capital of Marwar state, retains much of
its medieval character. Beginning in 1549,
when the city was called Jodhgarh, the Rathor clan of
Rajputs fought and ruled from the virtually
impregnable fort until their territory covered some 35,000
sq. miles making it the largest Rajput state.
4. HISTORY OF JODHPUR
Jodhpur history revolves around the Rathore Clan. Rao Jodha, the chief of the Rathore clan, is
credited with the origin of Jodhpur in India. He founded Jodhpur in 1459. The city is named after
him only. It was previously known as Marwar. The following paragraphs will tell you more about
the past of Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
The Rathores were driven out of their original homeland, Kaunaj, by Afghans. They fled to Pali,
near to the present day Jodhpur. Rathore Siahaji married the sister of a local prince. This helped
the Rathores to establish and strengthen themselves in this region. In some time they ousted the
Pratiharas of Mandore, just 9 km of today's Jodhpur. Initially, Mandore served as their capital,
but, by 1459, Rathores felt a need for a secure capital. This lead to the formation of Jodhpur, the
Sun City, by Rao Jodha.
The Rathores enjoyed good relations with all the Mughals, except Aurangzeb. Maharaja Jaswant
Singh even supported Shahjahan in his struggle for succession.AfterAurangzeb's death,
Maharaja Ajit Singh drove out Mughals fromAjmer and added it to Marwar (now Jodhpur). Under
the reign of Maharaja Umed Singh, Jodhpur grew into a fine modern city.
During the British Raj, the state of Jodhpur was the largest in Rajputana, by land area. Jodhpur
prospered under the British Raj. Its merchants, the Marwaris, flourished endlessly. They came to
occupy a dominant position in trade throughout India. In 1947 India became independent and
the state merged into the union of India. Jodhpur became the second city of Rajasthan.
6. ~
CLIMATE OF JODHPUR
The climate of Jodhpur is hot
and semi-arid during its nearly
yearlong dry season, but contains a
brief rainy season from late June to
September .Although the average
rainfall is around 450 millimetres
(18 in), it fluctuates greatly.
T
emperatures are extreme from
March to October, except when
the monsoonal rain produces
thick clouds to lower it slightly. In the
months of April, May and June, high
temperatures routinely exceed 40
degrees Celsius. During the
monsoon season, average
temperatures decrease slightly.
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7. CONNECTIVITY
Railways : Jodhpur railway station is the divisional
headquarters of the North Western Railways (NWR).
It is well connected with railways to major Indian
cities.
Air : Jodhpur Airport is one of the prominent airports
of Rajasthan. It is primarily a military airbase with a
civil enclosure to allow for civilian air traffic. Due to
Jodhpur's strategic location, this airport is regarded
as one of the most important ones for the Indian Air
Force.
Road : Jodhpur is connected by road to all major
cities in Rajasthan and neighboring states like Delhi,
Ahmedabad, Surat, Ujjain, Agra etc.
8. TOURISM
Jodhpur's most notable attractions are Mehrangarh
Fort, Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jaswant Thada, and
the Ghanta Ghar, or Clock T
ower. T
ourists are also
within proximity to Fort Auwa, Mandore, Kaylana
Lake and Garden, Balsamand Lak, Mandaleshwar
Mahadev T
emple (Mandalnath), Ratanada Ganesh
T
emple, Sardar Samand Lake and Palace, Masooria
Hills, Veer Durgadas Smarak (monument, park and
museum), Bhim Bhirak Cave, and Ravan Ka Mandir,
the only Ravan temple in India. Other attraction of
people are at markets of food, antique items,
traditional clothes and traditional shoes (also
called jodhpuri mojari) held in Jodhpur.
9. rocky defences.
INVINCIBLE FORT
Mehrangadh or the majestic fort, was founded in 1459 AD by Rao Jodha, who was
responsible for setting up the city of Jodhpur. The fort emphasises to a greater extent than most
other forts of Rajasthan, the strange paradox between the intricacies of Rajput military
architecture
of the 15th-18th century period and the flamboyance of the Rajput princes in the late-19th and
early
20th century. The fort rambles across a plateau on a 393 ft high hills, with numerous semi-
circular
bastions and walls that are 121 ft high and 68 ft thick at places, 100 ft over the nearest pass,
with
superb natural
12. GLIMPSES OF LAKE BALSAMAND
A summer residence of the
Maharajahs of Jodhpur now
converted to a heritage hotel
It is Rajasthan's oldest artificial
lakes and one of the first
artificial lakes in the country.
The palace is set on a cliff with
jarokhas and intricate latticed
windows, through which
breezes wafting from over the
lake could enter and cool the
chambers, making it the ideal
summer getaway from the
desert city of Jodhpur for the
Maharajahs of Marwar.
13. MANDOR:• CAPITAL OF ERSTWHILE MARWAR
Historic Mandore was the capital
of
Marwar, during the rule of the
Parihar Rajputs, before this
region
was conquered by the Rathores,
and
Rao Jodha selected the rocky
defenses to the south of
Mandore for
his new capital city, Jodhpur.
The
stone garden palace of Maharaja
Abhai Singh who came here to
enjoy
the lush, green gardens,
pomegranate
orchards and fountains of
Mandore.
14. CHATTRIES OF MANDOR
Mandore is now a suburb of Jodhpur, filled with relics of its history-8th century
Gupta temple, six chattries of the Rathore Rajput rulers of Marwar, 30 chattries
of the
Maharanis of Marwar, ruins of an old citadel on a plateau.
Relatively recent additions are the Marwar Hall of Heroes, shrine of 300 million
Gods and the lawns. Here one may find a charming collection of cremation-site
memorials,
mostly 17th-18th century set amidst surprisingly green. clean and hassle-free
gardens.
16. EK THAMBA MAHAL
SAND STONE SCULPTURED
MAHAL
SINGLE PILLAR
Summer Retreat of Erstwhile Maharajas
17. MAJESTIC JASWANT THADA
The Jaswant Thanda,
located half way up the
interminably long road that
climbs onwards to the fort, is the
traditional cremation ground of
the rulers of Jodhpur. T
aking
pride of place amongst the
onrnamental gardens and chattris
is the fabulous white marble
memorial to Jaswant Singh II,
built in 1899. Jaswant Thada has
a
serene marble facade
outside,colorful interiors.
18. CLOCK TOWER
Sadar bazaar is a lively, bustling, colourful
market
which runs from Sojati Gate to the
Clocktower. Pretty much
anything can be bought in the Sadar
bazaar but the area around
the clocktower specialises in spices, glass
bangles, rugged leather
ware and vivid tie-and-dye printed
fabrics. Some local
delicacies like mawa kachori, pyaz
kachori and makhania lassi,
'the extra buttery buttermilk', are
guaranteed to leave you wanting
more.
19. BISHNOIS: TRIBALS OF MARWAR
The Bisnoi community is known to protect trees and wildlife with a religious
passion. The recent trend for environment conservation has brought the Bisnoi
faith
into the international limelight. Bishnois:Colourful people near Jodhpur
Bisnois often live in little hamlets called `Dhannis', with just a few round huts with
intricate thatched roofs, extremely picturesque to look at, Bisnoi women are
colourfully dressed and wear beautiful ornaments. They scrub the floors of the
huts
and the common courtyards which are always clean, and cook in earthen ovens.
Visiting their hamlets can be a an experience in culture and environment friendly
practises. Each hut is surrounded by trees and shrubs, a contrast to the sandy
desert
around. Farms bordered by trees and plants protect against the advancing
sanddunes.
These traditional technologies make their areas a green oasis in the desert
sands and scrub. They clean dead wood before burning so as not to hurt any
little
creatures sheltering inside.
21. TALE OF BLUE HOUSES
The Indian 'Sun City' of Jodhpur stands on the edge of the Great Thar Desert. It echoes with tales of
antiquity in the emptiness of the desert.Also called the Blue City as most houses, according to an
age-old practice' are painted with indigo blue color to ward off mosquitoes. Overlooking the city, with
the superbly designed Umaid Bhawan Palace, is the awe-inspiring Meherangarh fort right in the
middle of thetown.
Brahmpuri - the colony of Brahmins - is Jodhpur's oldest residential section. For years, the homes in
Brahmpuri have been washed in a particular shade of blue. It is an adept reflector of sunlight and keeps
the interiors cool. Brahmins used to color their houses blue to give them a distinctive identity. But now,
more and more people are taking to this particular tint of blue.
