On the blue blood trail in the blue city of Jodhpur

Published on by 100cobbledroads

Discover the bewitching capital of the Marwars… 

Geographically placed in the middle of the J-trilogy, Jodhpur has struggled for elusive attention that its more favoured siblings, Jaipur and Jaisalmer, have lapped up far easily. But the second largest city in Rajasthan is coming into its own as the exotic blue city with a historically invincible fort defining the skyline and ambitious facelift on the agenda. Go back in time, dig into its royal roots. Even if you have only a weekend. Domestic carriers like Indigo will get you there from Delhi in about an hour, so scavenge for the cheapest air tickets this winter and make it happen.

Fabulous fortifications

An involuntary ‘wow’ escapes your lips at first sight of the magnificent structure even as your aircraft approaches the country’s largest defence airport. Mehrangarh (Sun Fort) rising 6m to 36m perpendicular is chiselled from that rocky hill it crowns. Believe it or not, it was virtually impregnable even back then. The 5-kilometre long battlements certainly seem to have been ‘built by Titans’ as Rudyard Kipling described them.

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Mehrangarh is a mid-15th century masterstroke of Rao Jodha, who strategically moved the Marwar capital from Mandore. 17 successive generations of Rathores, the largest ruling clan of Rajasthan ruled here over 500 years, expanding the majestic fort beyond its original shape. But the amalgamation of palaces is hardly visible to the untrained eye…so consistent are the architectural styles. Give it a shot.

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Seven solid gates along a steep cobbled pathway up the fort to exhaust invasive armies, even those riding on elephants. Massive walls that even Tom Cruise in his Ethan Hunt avatar wouldn’t be able to scale. And a neck-craning monumental facade that unashamedly proclaims the might of the Rathore imperials.

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Witness a ceremonial turban-tying. Learnt the nuances of Marwar art. Ogle at the unusual Art Nouveau inspired keyhole staircase. And get dazzled by the palace interiors…ornate carvings, lavish palanquins, glittering mirror work, exquisite gold Usta art and intricate jharokhas. 

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And my absolute favourite: the bird’s eye views over the city and the brilliant blue houses sprawled for miles. That’s where you’re going next.

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Brahmapuri blues

The curious cab driver just can’t digest it. “Why are you going to Brahmapuri? There’s nothing there”, he insists. Appraising you sympathetically through the rear mirror. Poor, stubborn tourists…they’ve been misguided. “The blue houses?” (Still sceptical. Even suspicious). “Do you want me to wait, in case you change your mind?” Smile, thank him and descend onto the congested streets, munching on your oversized Pyaz Kachori. The spicy snack will be your lunch substitute this afternoon.

Some locals are still clueless that this iconic Brahmin quarter, forms the most instagrammed image of Jodhpur and, in fact, the very identity of the royal city. So why are some houses in this neighbourhood painted in powder blue with natural indigo dye? Cooling and bug-repelling, thanks to copper salt added to lime wash. Possibly, once affordable only by affluent Brahmins. Theories, all.

Find a local guide to navigate your way. Or like us, just wander into the maze and get lost, looking for ultramarine houses hidden in this poor neighbourhood. Mongrels guard each grimy lane. Silence echoes in the porch of an empty school. Melodious sounds of kirtan emerge from a tiny temple. A woman vehemently shakes her head to reject your photographic advances. Cows block the way. Men gossip lazily. Just walk on in search of more lapis lazuli. And try to remember the way back…its a maze. Without street signs or directions.

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Walled city wonders

Continue the wonderfully aimless drift through the densely packed 2 square kilometre labyrinth of the walled city, enclosed inside six pols (gates), named after the cities they face. A cobbled chowk (square), dominated by a majestic Clock Tower and surrounded by temples, mosques and schools. Bazaars segregated by wares: spices, cloth, jewellery, grains, betel-and-nut, sweets, achar and mirchi. Narrow streets, planned to remain shaded, offering protection from the merciless sun and dry, windy desert. Havelis with elaborate inner courtyards, facades with detailed carving and picturesque jharokas (enclosed balconies), typical of medieval Rajasthan. And dozens of step-wells…water tanks and spaces for social gatherings, even worship.

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Land at a particularly magnificent one, an 18th-century architectural marvel, Toorji ka Jhalra. 60 feet deep with 400 flight of stairs. Complete with an admirable facelift. A fascinating deep chasm with a parade of carved columns and pavilions. Dizzying. Magical. Zigzagging steps, from one landing to the next, a harmonious repetitive pattern horizontally and vertically on three walls of the structure. It whispers to you. Don’t resist. Descend carefully into the depths, till you’re at the water surface. Deep inside the ground, where sunlight melts into shadow, hot air becomes cool breeze and din disappears into silence. Young girls giggle frivolously, men chatter boisterously and solo travellers absorb the ambience. Ignore the distractions. Melt into the past.

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Nearby, snazzy boutiques and a stylish cafe announce modernisation and preservation initiatives. Stay on for a romantic dinner at Raas Haveli next door. Sufi songs from a nearby mosque provide background score and flickering oil lamps illumine the scene demurely. High up in the heavens, Mehrangarh glitters, bathed in soft gold. Dream.

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Mystifying memorials

True to age-old Rajasthan tradition, (as in Ancient Greece and some parts of Europe), cenotaphs or empty tombs are built in memory of the departed. The ones for royals are almost works of art. So pay homage to the Marwar sovereigns immortalised at the ancient Mandore gardens. Its a lost city of grand, ornamental red sandstone cenotaphs. Are these memorials or temples, you wonder. There are richly carved domes, pavilions, pillars and spires. You almost expect to see priests and brass bells in the two enormous ones in honour of Maharaja Ajit Singh and Maharaja Jaswant Singh. Climb the steps bare-foot and explore the elaborate interiors. Bow down to the reverence in the atmosphere.

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Compare the ancient with the comparatively modern at Jaswant Thada, the 19th-century burial ground of the Marwar rulers in Jodhpur. This one is sheer poetry in pure, fine marble, combining Mughal and Hindu design elements so gracefully that you are left wordless temporarily. A multi-tiered garden with carved gazebos frames the monument immaculately. Again, that illusion of a contemporary temple than a tomb. A striking central dome surrounded by several smaller supporting ones, an outer terrace aka the Taj Mahal and exquisite lace-like jaali work. Flocks of dark pigeons speckle the whiteness. Soothing breeze creates ripples over the small crystal clear lake close by.

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Girls take selfies, men taking selfies, families take selfies…but nothing can destroy the quiet glamour of the scene. Or the entire weekend. Because the land of the Marwars has crept stealthily into the depths of your heart. To stay.

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Exploring Jodhpur, the exotic blue city with a historically invincible fort defining the skyline

59 thoughts on “On the blue blood trail in the blue city of Jodhpur”

  1. Jodhpur is indeed underrated as compared to the other two of the J-trilogy. But the Mehrangarh fort is indeed the crowning glory of the place. We were there around this time last year and were completely lost in the beauty of the place and the hidden stories that the ramparts of the fort held in its bosom. Need to go back to explore the city at leisure and in more detail.

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  2. This is a part of India I never even knew about and I especially loved your note about the cab driver and Brahmapuri. It’s always so interesting when people can’t see or appreciate the value of certain destinations. Those of us who love travel just love finding these off-the-beaten path destinations! Thanks for sharing!

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  4. I spent two weeks in Rajasthan a couple of years back and had felt that Jodhpur is perhaps the most underappreciated of all the Rajasthani cities. Thank you for taking me back to those times. Your photographs and the descriptive text brings the place alive.

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  5. Mehrangarh fort for looks amazing. As you said Jodhpur has not really got its due share of tourists like other other two J’s, Jaipur and Jaisalmer; Even though all these places are wonderful. Thank you for those amazing snaps!

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  6. I have seen this place at few other bloggers and it is still interesting to read through. Jodhpur is something I discovered in internet recently and really wanna try visiting. I would love to photograph the architecture and see the life there

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  7. Oh my god. This place looks truly remarkable. I seen a few posts recently on this place but your photos really makes the place even more beautiful and want me to get out there even more. Fantastic read as well, one day I will get down there.

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  9. Jodhpur sounds like a great place to visit.. Brahmapuri looks pretty interesting (those blue houses looks really cool), I can see why you wanted to explore it.. And the Mehrangarh looks pretty impressive too as well as the Mandore Gardens. Sounds like you had an awesome visit!

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  12. Punita, I´d love to meet you someday when I find myself in India. Being one of my favorite countries (next to Japan and Korea), India always evokes a feeling of deep excitement and connection in me. It´s as though I were born there. Your photos of Jodhpur reminded me of Chefchaouen.

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  15. Happy to read about your India posts! 🙂
    Very true. Jodhpur doesn’t get the attention that Jaipur & Jaisalmer gets.
    But then its kinda good to have to typical Rajasthan feel without getting touristy!

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  16. I haven’t had the chance to travel as much as I would like in India but love finding out about locations that are hidden gems just off the beaten path. Thanks for sharing. I’d love to visit Jodhpur.

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  18. These fortifications look really impressive and massive! What a pleasure to explore all the small streets. The blue houses are so unique, it’s funny how locals don’t always see the value of what they have around them, I also have a few examples of this in my travel memories. Your pictures are beautiful, definitely put Jodhpur on the map for me, thanks!

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  19. The blue city Jodhpur is just amazing. We wanted to start our 2018 with a road trip to Jaisalmer but fortunately or unfortunately it ended in Sariska.Great pictures and write-up as always. And impressive architecture.

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  23. I’ve definitely heard of this spot in India but it doesn’t sound very popular, which I’m excited about! I definitely recognize the picture of the stair. I loved Chefchaouen to I’m excited to visit another blue city. India in general has crept up on my list so maybe this year is the year for India.

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  25. Man, that fort does exactly what it was designed to do: intimidate and awe. Also, I love it when folks head towards the “Insta-famous” spots, enjoy them, and then look deeper than just a couple of snaps. Lovely representation of what is obviously a vibrant area – and not just because of how they paint their buildings 🙂

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  26. The blue city of Jodhpur is vivid and lively just like all the other cities in Rajasthan. I was there just a week back. Did you visit recently? The city gets crowded in winter as it is the peak tourist season, but then, it is also at it’s charming best during this time of the year, as seen clearly from your pictures. Mehrangarh fort is one of the best maintained and we found the other places including Jaswant Thada, Umaid Bhavan etc. also very well maintained. Totally loved our time there.

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  28. I love Jodhpur city! It has so many stunning historic buildings. Mehrangarh fort is such a majestic structure, every nook and corner has something to admire about. I missed out on Toorji ka Jhalra during my visit, it looks very interesting.

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  30. Also one of my favorite cities in Rajasthan, Jodphur – not only because of the blue city, but also because of the magnificent fort, the city center with its colorful bazaars and markets. Such a lovely experience. 🙂

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