Jodhpur- city of blue houses

Mehrangarh Fort
Inside the fort, there is a series of courtyards & palaces.The palace apartments have evocative names like the sukhmahal (pleasure palace), motimahal and the phoolmahal (flower palace).The palace apartments are beautifully decorated and have delicately carved latticework windows of red sandstone.At the southern end of the fort, old cannons look out from the ramparts over the sheer drop to the old city beneath. The Chamunda Devi Temple, dedicated to Goddess Durga stands at this end of the fort.Goddess Chamunda is considered to protect the city from all kind of threats.The Temple is crowded with devotees twice in year during occasion of Navaratras for 9 days.

Fort museum

This is one of the finest museums in rajasthan and certainly the best lay out.It is laid out in the palaces and courtyards within the fort.It houses a splendid collection of trapping off Indian royalty including an amazing collection of elephant howdahs, miniature paintings from a variety of schools, superb folk musical instruments and the inevitable rajput armoury, palaquins furniture and costumes.In one room, there is an exhibit of rocking cradles.Finally there is an enormous and stunning royal tent, originally made for mugal emperors but carried off as booty by the rajputs following one of their many battels.

JASWANT THADA

This white graceful white marble memorial to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II is a short distance from the fort, just off the fort road.The cenotaph, built in 1899 , was followed by the royal crematorium and three later cenotaphs which stand nearby.There is some beautiful marble lattice work and fine views from the terrace in front of the cenotaphs.It also houses the potraits of the rulers of that era showing the genealogy of the dystany.

UMMAID BHAWAN PALACE

The palace built by Maharaja Ummaid Singh ji who ruled from 1911-1947 was the last expression of princely architecture extravaganza during the British raj.The foundation stone was laid in 1929 at chittar hill a sight dictated by astrological considerations. It took some 3000 people working round the clock some 15 years to complete and ranks as one of the world's largest residences.The massive structure is also referred to as "chittar-ka-bangla" or "chittar bungalow".The 347- room building designed by Henry Lanchester, contains two huge wings separated by a double dome 185 feet tall.There is an excellent museum in the palace which houses model aeroplanes, weapons, antique clocks and Bob watches, priceless crockery and hunting trophies.

Clock tower or 'ghantaghar' is a popular landmark of the old city.Throbbling with activity, the colourful market near the clock tower named 'sardar market' has narrow lanes dotted with tiny shops selling exquisite Rajasthani textiles, handicrafts, spices, clay figurines of camels and elephants, marble curios with inlay work and exquisite Rajasthani silver jewellery.

Mandore was the ancient capital of Marwar before Rao Jodha ji shifted base to Jodhpur deeming it to be more secure.Mandore was the capital of the Marwar area from the 6th to the 14th century and went under the name of Mandavyapur at that time.The Mandore Gardens over which the old capital of Marwar was situated are still delightfully exquisite.Built around the Royal Cenotaphs of the Rathore rulers, the gardens have beautiful trees all around, and are further decorated with shurbs pruned in all shapes and sizes along with fountains which dot the landscape.
Of all the Royal Chhatris or Cenotaphs, which were constucted out of dark-red sandstone, six stand out. The oldest ones belong to Raja Maldeo and Udai Singh constructed in the 16th century to the later ones of Sur Singh, Gaj Singh and Jaswant Singh I all built in the 17th century.However it is Ajit Singh's cenotaphs, which was built circa 1724, which is the largest along with Jaswant Singh's which was built around two score years earlier in 1681.Ajit Singh's cenotaphs in particular is a magnificent monument built, as it is close-grained freestone.
Raja Ajit Singh build the "ek thamba mahal" during his reign from 1707-24.This Pleasure Palace was quite possibly his retreat away from it all.The palace amongst other things also houses a Zenana (woman's quaters).It also has a small but picturesque garden and the entrance to the palace via the Ajit Pol.

It is situated on the Jaisalmer road.It provides you a charming picnic spot with a beautiful lake and eye catching natural scenery around.If you are here to stay on to take delight in the sunset, it is like a canvas with romantic colours.It also provides boating facility for the visitors.You can boat around the calm water of the lake admiring the natural beauty of the place.Nearby located is the Siddhanath mahadev temple between the hills.Saint Gaurishanker, later known as Nepali baba, constructed it.He has only four fingers in each hand & foot.He made a big temple by cutting stones, which is now known as Siddhanath Temple.