|
« Previous Destination |
Main Page |
Next Destination » |
» JODHPUR LOCATION
 [A View Of Jodhpur, Rajasthan]
Geographical Location: Between 26-0' and 27-37' north latitude and 72-55' and 73-52' east longitude. |
|
» DISTANCE FROM MAJOR CITIES TO JODHPUR |
- Delhi - 592 km
- Mumbai - 1060 km
- Ahmedabad - 512 km
|
|
» JODHPUR WEATHER
Weather in Jodhpur, is dry and hot, a typical desert weather. Jodhpur Climate is of an extreme type, with the variations in temperature range being very high. Jodhpur is bright and sunny throughout the year.
The best season to visit the city is between October and March, when the climatic conditions in Jodhpur, are the best.
- Temperature in summer : 45º C (Max) - 37º C (Min)
- Temperature in winter : 27.5º C (Max) - 05º C (Min)
- Annual Rainfall : The average annual rainfall is approximately 32 cm.
|
» JODHPUR POPULATION
28,80,777 (persons) |
|
» CLOTHING IN JODHPUR
Light tropical in summer and light woollen in winter |
|
» LANGUAGE IN JODHPUR
Hindi, Rajasthani, Marwari and English |
|
» JODHPUR DEMOGRAPHICS
- Total Population of Jodhpur - 28,80,777 (persons)
- Males constitute 52.40% and females 47.60% of the population.
- Density of population - 126 (persons per sq. km)
- Total working population - 36.49 (per cent)
- Literacy rate of Jodhpur is 57.38%.
|
|
» JODHPUR HISTORY
 [Jain Temple In Jodhpur]
According to Rathor tradition, the clan traces its origins back to the Hindu god, Rama, hero of the epic Ramayana, and thence to the sun. So the Rathors belong to the Suryavansha (solar race) branch of the Kshatriyas, the warrior caste of Hindus. Later, breaking into historical reality, in 470 A.D. Nayal Pal conquered the kingdom of Kanauj, near modern Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh. The Rathor capital for seven centuries, Kanauj fell in 1193 to the Afghan invader's led by Muhammad Ghori.
Rao Jodhaji, the chief of the Rathore clan of Rajputs moved his capital from its vulnerable position in Mandore to its present location in 1459. He first built the Mehrangarh Fort and then fortified the city surrounding it. In the early 16th century Rao Ganga Singh, one of his successors, joined hands with Rana Sangha, the great warrior king of Mewar against a common enemy, the Mughal Emperor Babur. During the reign of Babur’s grandson Akbar, a tenuous peace was reached following his matrimonial and military alliances with many Rajput kingdoms. This period of calm allowed Jodhpur to become a centre for the arts and culture. By the end of the 18th century, after a period of political strife, Jodhpur emerged as the largest and most powerful of princely states. By the time of Indian independence in 1947, it was a much-respected progressive kingdom that merged with the Indian Union.
|
 |
» JODHPUR CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
 [Cultural Dance In Jodhpur]
One can find the usual handicrafts of Rajasthan in the local markets. Jodhpur markets are rich in antiques for which these markets have become the favorite hunt for the foreigners. Besides these, the market near the clock tower is the place for some good bargains. The traditional jewelry like the bajuband, bala, gajra and gokhru are some of the famous products of Jodhpur. Jodhpur riding breeches, colorful hand-printed cotton fabrics and traditional Rajasthani mojri slippers are also worth buying.
For reasonably cheap and traditional cuisine, tourists should visit the Ajit Bhawan Palace. The adventurous ones may try the makhaniya lassi (a rich, frothy buttermilk) and mawe ki kachodi (a rich crumbly pastry typical of Jodhpur) at Sadar Market.
A good number of hotels and guesthouses are available for a comfortable stay in Jodhpur. The Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation also has provision for the tourists. The Umaid Bhawan provides an excellent opportunity to experience the grandeur of a royal home along with the traditional cuisine.
|
» FOLK DANCES IN JODHPUR
- The famous Ghoomar dance,Jodhpur's popular dance derives its name from ghoomna, the pirouetting which displays the spectacular colours of the flowing ghagra, the long, skirt of the Marwari women. Men have a range of their own more vigorous dances. The Gair of Jodhpur is performed in a single file and marital costumes are worn for effect. Sticks or swords are often used in male dances, and the male dances.The dance of Kalbelia women is vivorous and graceful.
- Music and dances are such an essential part of tribal life that professional musicians and dancers are redundant. Their dances are generally accompanied by the beats of the mandal, chang and a variety of other musical instruments, which provides a lively rhythm to their dance sequences.
The Ghoomar is the characteristic dance of the Bhils. Men and women sing alternately and move clockwise & anticlockwise giving free and intended play to the ample folds of the ghagra.
Vibrant, vigorous, graceful, sinuous, plaintive, and martial, the dances of Marwar evoke the desert in all moods. It is the most lilting tribute to the spectacular beauty, the undulating sinuousness and the brutal harshness of the landscape, and to the hardiness and the heroism of the people who live in this land of kings.
|
» FESTIVALS & FAIRS IN JODHPUR
- Rajasthan, the land of brave Rajputs, celebrate Marwar Festival every year in memory of its heroes. The two-day Marwar Festival is held in Jodhpur in the Hindu calendar month of Ashwin (September-October) during the full moon of Sharad Purnima. Originally known as the Maand Festival, the festival offers a good opportunity to experience the richness of the art and culture of the Jodhpur region. In fact, the colorful Marwar Festival in Jodhpur is exclusively devoted to the folk music and dance of the region.
Hundreds of colorfully dressed folk dancers and singers take you back to the days of yore, of battles and valiant Rajput heroes who still live on in their ballads. Other major attractions of the Marwar festival are the exciting camel tattoo show and polo.
- In Jodhpur, the run-up to Makar Sankranti is celebrated as the International Kite Festival. Maharaja Gaj Singh of Jodhpur, also the chairman of Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation, hosts it every year in the Umaid Bhavan palace lawns. About 75 fliers from 7 countries participate - with teams from Belgium, France, Hong Kong, U.K., Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Pakistan and about 7 teams from Jodhpur and Delhi, Pune, Jaipur. Only in 1998 did the team from Hong Kong defeat the Jodhpur ‘Fateh Sagar Kite Club’. In all the other years, Indian teams have taken the crown. The theme of the kite festival is ‘One-Sky-One World’.
- This festival is held on the day of Holi, the festival of colours, at the Chaughan stadium. Beautifully decorated and caparisoned elephants assemble to participate in the royal procession. Elephant polo, elephant race,elephant tug-of-war with a few tourist and holi on elephant back are some of the exciting events.
- The Gangaur festival is observed in different parts of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur and Bikaner but the main fair is held in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
Travel to the annual Gangaur Festival in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India takes you through the corridors of past where you almost relive the cheerful joy and exhilaration that marks the observance of traditional rituals that mark the Gangaur festival, just as was done in the ancient times.
On your visit to Jaipur in Rajasthan, India during the Gangaur fair and festival, you watch young Rajasthani girls who dress up in all their finery, don traditional attires with chunky trinkets and jewelry and come to participate in the Gangaur fair held in Jaipur in Rajasthan, India.
Luxury Rajasthan Travel offers you tour packages that offer you travel tours to the Gangaur celebrations held in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Young Rajasthani girls and married women fast and offer prayers to the deity Parvati and wish for the well being of their husbands or would-be husbands. According to an ancient convention it is customary for the newly wed brides to observe all the rituals that mark the Gangaur celebrations.
Luxury Rajasthan Travel provides you with an array of tour packages that take you to the 18-day Gangaur festival that is celebrated to honor the Hindu deity Gauri or Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. This gala fair is held every year during the months of April-May in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
- Other popular festivals and fairs of Jodhpur include the Teej celebration. The advent of monsoon is celebrated by the young women of the city. They dress up in colorful traditional dresses and sing native songs. Also worship goddess Parvati. A procession comes out of the city palace for 2 days.
This festival basically for women on this day they pray to god for their husbands.
- Celebrated to mark the homecoming of Lord Rama. The Ramlila-an enactment of the life of Lord Rama, is held nine days before Dussehra. On the tenth day, larger than life effigies of Ravana, his brothers Meghnath and Kumbhakarna filled with different fire crackers are set alight to celebrate the victory of good over evil.
- Celebrated every year in October- November, Diwali is perhaps the most popular of all Indian festivals. The origin of this festival can be traced back to the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana, when Lord Rama returend to this kingdom Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. The whole kingdom was lit up with diyas (earthen lamps ) to celebrate his return. To date, on Diwali day, houses all over India glow with the twinkle of innumerable divas, candles and electric lights. The night is illuminated with the flaming lights of fireworks, creating kaleidoscopic design against the black canvas of the sky. During the Diwali celebration decoration and lighting is done throughout the walled Pink City, with every market competing with the others to pick-up the best decorated market award.
|
| |
» PLACES TO BE VISITED IN JODHPUR
 [Mehrangarh Fort In Jodhpur]
Some of these gates still bear marks of many a siege that this fort has withstood. Its very hard to imagine how any invader even thought of conquering this fort, which at places has 17 feet thick and 68 feet high walls.
The Mehrangarh Fort encloses many palaces, which are known for their intricate carvings and sprawling courtyards. Moti Mahal or the Pearl Palace has a delicately carved stone screen and treasures the Sringar Chowki, royal throne of Jodhpur. Umaid Villas displays the Rajput miniature paintings and Ajit Villas exhibits musical instruments and the royal costumes. Both these villas are joined by a beautiful mirror room.
- The Welcomheritage Umaid Bhawan Palace is located at just 3 kms from Airport, 5 kms from Railway Station and 3 kms from Bus Stand of Jodhpur. It is one of the the largest and grandest private residence in the world. The Umaid Bhawan Palace is a splendid example of the Indo-Colonial and art-deco style of the thirties. It took three thousand artisans fourteen years to create this magnificent edifice of hand-chiselled sandstone blocks put together by a special system of interlocking. There is no mortar binding....an architectural triumph! Extending across 26 acres, 15 acres of which are taken up by gardens, the palace is 195 meters long and 103 meters wide.
Umaid Bhawan Palace exudes an aura distinctly its own.The Palace hotel subtly blends Rajput and Victorian architecture.Lush lawns and courtyards,picturesque ceilings,marble corridors,treasure troves, hunting trophies of yesteryears and exquisite royal heirlooms complete the regal picture.Since olden days, the Maharaos of Kotah (as Kota was formerly called) had always lived in the medieval Fort inside the city. Wanting a modern palace for his personal use, Maharaja Umed Singh II settled for nothing but the best. He commissioned Sir Swinton Jacob, a distinguished officer of the Royal Engineers in the British Army, to design the building. As expected, Umed Bhawan came up in 1905 in the prevalent Indo-Sarcenic style. Plentiful supply of white Khimach and Pink Sandstone from nearby quarries helped, while Italian marble, among other things, had to be imported for flooring.
A Choice of 94 rooms and suites. Each room appointed with the furniture originally created for the Palace. Surpassing the splendor of the other guest rooms are the Maharaja & Maharani Suites originally used by Maharaja Umaid Singh and his Maharani. In the foyer leading to these suites is a musical fountain made entirely of English crystal. Some of the old retainers of the royal household are still there to serve the needs of present day guests with the gracious hospitality that has always been a unique hallmark of the Palace.
Enjoy the sumtuous buffet laid out daily for lunch and dinner at the Marwar Hall, with a wide choice of Indian, Continental and Rajasthani specialities. As an alternative, there is Risala, the a la carte restaurant. The lovely colonnaded verandah, The Pillars is a perfect setting for a leisurely drink and snacks, to enjoy the wintery sun during the day or watch it set at dusk. And as twilight falls and peacocks stalk across the back lawns it is time for a drink at the Trophy Bar.
- The Jaswant Thada is a flawlessly executed piece of Rajputana architecture that enchants you with its poignant appeal on your tours to Jodhpur tourist attractions with Indian Horizons.
Un paralled in grace, the Jaswant Thada is a royal cenotaph that was constructed by Maharaja Sardar Singh to honor the memory of his courageous father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II.
The main cenotaph that is dedicated to Maharaja Jaswant Singhji is designed like an exquisite piece of jewelry, magnified out of proportion. The white marble Jaswant Thada looks like a lovely temple that entices you with its pavilions, domes and delicate looking pillars.
Feast your eyes on the profusion of marble latticework that adorns the entire Jaswant Thada. See true to life portraits of Rathore warriors who ruled Jodhpur, admire colorful dedications to the maharanis and concubines of Maharaja Jaswant Singhji who committed Sati on the pyre of the deceased ruler.
- Located in the Umaid gardens, the Jodhpur Government Museum has a large and fairly interesting collection ranging from stuffed animals to weapons, from textiles to miniature paintings and from local crafts and images of Jain Tirthankars. A museum also has a library and a zoo and its military sections displays arms, bableships and planes belonging to the bygone era.
Girdikot and Sardar Market: The Girdikot and Sardar Market is famous for its wide collection of Rajasthani dress materials, traditional apparels, art materials and silver jewelries. Every year many foreign as well as local visitors come to the city of Jodhpur to view the tribal life of Rajasthani people and they all visit the Girdikot and Sardar Market to buy several Rajasthani products.
The Girdikot and Sardar Market is a place for outstanding artifacts made by the local villagers and Rajasthani people. Colorful bazaar, crowded people near Clock tower, narrow lanes with tiny shops selling Rajasthani products, combine the atmosphere of the Girdikot and Sardar Market of Jodhpur. All the shops of the Girdikot and Sardar Market sale marble curios with inlay work, handicrafts, Rajasthani textiles, clay figurines of camels and elephants and beautiful Rajasthani silver jewelries.
Maha Mandir Temple: Leterally, the great temple, a place where sacred glory reigns in a peaceful tranquility. Situated on Mandore road, the temple is an architectural splendor, supported by 84 pillars and ornamented with detailed designs and figures depicting various postures of Yoga. The entire structure is marked by a unique and original style.
- Mandore, 9 km to the north of Jodhpur, was the capital of Marwar before the foundation of Jodhpur. It was founded in the 6th century, and passed to the Rathore Rajputs in 1381 after a marriage alliance between a princess of the original founders, the Pratiharas, and the Rathode Raja, Rao Chandor. Today the main attraction here is the far-reaching Mandore gardens with there high rock terraces. The gardens also contain the chhatries (cenotaphs) of the Rathode rulers. One of the most imposing is the Cenotaph of Maharja Dhiraj Ajit Singh, an enormous edifice with carved elephants, amalake (disk-shaped flourishes with fluted edges), a pillared fore chamber with fine sculpture. You can climb to the third storey up a peculiar set of staircases. Opposite is the 17th century Chhatri of Maharaja Dhiraj Jaswant Singh, an enormous octagonal pavilion with a vast dome and huge pillars.
- The Ossian city near Jodhpur, Rajasthan is an ancient city lying in ruins. It is approximately 65 Kms from Jodhpur. The main attractions of this city are its temples that have gracefully stood the test of time. They are beautifully designed and constructed.
- Rai ka Bag Palace was amongst the favorite retreats of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Built by Hadiji, the queen of Maharaja Jaswant Singh I, the palace ranks amongst the popular attractions of Jodhpur.
|
| |
» LAKES IN JODHPUR
 [Kaylana Lake In Jodhpur]
- In Front of Haveli. Pal Haveli is an 18th Century Rathod Home located in the heart of Jodhpur (Rajasthan, India). Pal Haveli offers pleasant Courtyards terraces offer splendid view of the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort, the Royal Family's cenotaphs at Jaswant Thada, Gulab Sagar, Clock Tower, Old City & Umaid Bhawan Palace.
 [Balsammand Lake In Jodhpur]
All around the lake are lush green gardens. You can also take a walk through the trees, the rose beds and around pools covered with lilies. Also in the garden are the groves of mango, guava, papaya, plum, banana, pomegranate and other fruits. An artificial cascading waterfall brings water from the reservoir to the gardens. The embankments of the lake, in front of the palace, have domed structure that offers fabulous views of the lake. One will also get to see the peacocks, blue bulls, jackals and hundreds of fruit bats in the trees.
- On a tour to the famous Sardar Samand Lake Palace of Jodhpur, tourists can be charmed as they can spot numerous wild animals like the Chinkara, Blackbuck and Neelgai. On a travel by the way of the Sardar Samand Lake and Palace in Jodhpur, one can experience Indian culture along with the beautiful nature. The Sardar Samand Lake Palace of Jodhpur is a great architectural structure of old Jodhpur city. The Sardar Samand Lake Palace was formerly used as an art deco hunting lodge of the Maharaja Umaid Singhji. In year 1933, Maharaja Umaid Singhji was constructed the Sardar Samand Palace it is acknowledged as a skilled illustration of rustic as well as glamorous representation of Rajput era.
The Sardar Samand Lake Palace was designed by the George Goldstraw who was an English architect and designed. The outstanding curves of the palace including the exotic sculptures of interiors make tourists mesmerized and spellbound. So, do visit the city of Jodhpur and explore the beauty of the Sardar Samand Lake Palace with Indian Horizons.
- Umed Sagar dam near Kaylana lake was constructed in 1933 by Maharaja Umed Singh, It is spread over an area of 27 square kilometers.
|
|
» OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION
|
» ACCOMMODATION IN JODHPUR |
|
|
|
|
« Previous Destination |
Main Page |
Next Destination » |
|
