Mehrangarh Fort
Jodhpur
One of India's largest forts, rising high above Jodhpur, with palace rooms and museum galleries inside its walls.
Western Rajasthan (Marwar)
Jodhpur
The Blue City
Jodhpur, Rajasthan's second-largest city, is known as the Blue City for the blue-painted houses that crowd its old quarter. Rao Jodha of the Rathore clan founded it in 1459 near the older Marwar capital of Mandore, and the vast Mehrangarh Fort still towers over the city from its rocky ridge. Two days is enough for the fort, the old city and the palaces around it.
Mehrangarh Fort
Mehrangarh dominates a rocky ridge above the city, entered through a series of gates. Inside are palace rooms, courtyards and a temple to Chamunda Mata, the goddess Rao Jodha brought to the fort and still the family deity of the former royal family. The fort's walls give the best views over the blue houses of the old city.
The old city and the Clock Tower
Below the fort, lanes of blue-washed houses lead down to the Clock Tower, or Ghanta Ghar, a landmark of the old city with a busy market beside it. Walking down from the fort through these lanes is one of the simplest pleasures of a visit.
Palaces and memorials
- Jaswant Thada — a milky-white memorial to Maharaja Jaswant Singh, built towards the end of the 19th century. It is cared for by the Mehrangarh Museum Trust, is open to visitors, and has a gallery of portraits of Marwar's rulers.
- Umaid Bhawan Palace — built by Maharaja Umaid Singh from 1929, in response to a famine that had hit the state, and designed by the British architect H. V. Lanchester in sandstone and marble.
- Mandore — the earlier Marwar capital, near the city, and the place Jodhpur was founded to replace.
Lakes and temples around Jodhpur
- Ranisar and Padmasar — two lakes near Mehrangarh's Fateh Pol, both dating from 1459, the year the city was founded.
- Mahamandir — a temple on the Mandore road supported by 84 carved pillars decorated with figures in yoga postures.
- Balsamand Lake — a reservoir built in 1159 to supply Mandore, later given a summer palace on its shore and surrounded by orchards.
- Sardar Samand — a lakeside hunting lodge built by Maharaja Umaid Singh in 1933; its lake draws migratory birds.
Jodhpur is also known for the Marwari horse, a breed associated with the region.
How long to spend in Jodhpur
Plan one full day for Mehrangarh, Jaswant Thada and the walk down to the Clock Tower, and a second for Umaid Bhawan, Mandore and the markets. Jodhpur sits between Jaipur and Udaipur on the Royal Rajasthan route, and is also the usual gateway to Jaisalmer and the Thar Desert.
Tips for visiting Jodhpur
- Wear comfortable shoes: the walk between the fort and the old city is steep and uneven in places.
- Several sites are on different hills, so allow travel time between Mehrangarh, Umaid Bhawan and Mandore.
About this page
- Published
- Last updated
- Facts last checked
Sources
- Jodhpur — Rajasthan Tourism (accessed 9 October 2026)
- Jaipur — Rajasthan Tourism (Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan) (accessed 9 October 2026)
Timings, fees and transport details change. Always confirm with official sources before you travel.
Things to do
What to see in Jodhpur
- Attraction
Trip ideas
Trip ideas that include Jodhpur
Customisable suggestions, not fixed packages. Use one as a starting point and tell us what to change.
Customisable trip idea · 3 cities
- Jaipur
- Jodhpur
- Udaipur
Royal Rajasthan
Suggested length: 7–8 days
A classic first trip: Jaipur's forts and bazaars, Jodhpur's Mehrangarh, then the lakes and palaces of Udaipur.
Customisable trip idea · City break
- Jodhpur
Jodhpur Blue City Break
Suggested length: 2 days / 1 night
Two days in the Blue City: Mehrangarh Fort and the walk down through blue-washed lanes to the Clock Tower, then Umaid Bhawan and Mandore.
Customisable trip idea · 4 cities
- Jaipur
- Jodhpur
- Jaisalmer
- Udaipur
Rajasthan Highlights Circuit
Suggested length: 7–9 days
Rajasthan's four best-known cities in one trip: Jaipur's forts, Jodhpur's Mehrangarh, the desert at Jaisalmer and the lakes of Udaipur.
Customisable trip idea · 3 cities
- Jodhpur
- Jaisalmer
- Bikaner
Desert circuit
Suggested length: 6–7 days
Forts and havelis of the Thar Desert, with an evening on the dunes outside Jaisalmer.
Keep planning
Eastern Rajasthan
Jaipur
The Pink City
Rajasthan's capital, with a UNESCO-listed walled city founded in 1727, the Amber Fort in the hills above it, and the Jantar Mantar observatory.
- Amber Fort
- Hawa Mahal
- City Palace
- Jantar Mantar
Southern Rajasthan (Mewar)
Udaipur
The City of Lakes
A former capital of the Mewar kingdom, built around Lake Pichola, with the City Palace rising from the lake's eastern shore.
- City Palace
- Lake Pichola
- Jag Mandir
- Bagore ki Haveli
Thar Desert
Jaisalmer
The Golden City
A yellow-sandstone desert town whose UNESCO-listed fort is still lived in, and a gateway to the Thar's sand dunes.
- Jaisalmer Fort
- Patwon ki Haveli
- Gadisar Lake
- Sam Sand Dunes
Seasons
When to visit Rajasthan: a season-by-season guide
Rajasthan's seasons shape everything from sightseeing comfort to festival dates. What to expect in winter, the hot months and the monsoon.
Updated
Plan your trip
Thinking of visiting Jodhpur?
Tell us your dates, how many people are travelling and what you'd like to see.
Prefer to fill in a form? Plan a trip to Jodhpur
Or ask about something specific
Sending a message is an enquiry, not a booking. Nothing is reserved or confirmed until arrangements are agreed with you directly.
Prefer to write in detail? See all contact options