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Jodhpur Tourism Guide
Jodhpur Tourism Guide
Jodhpur is the second largest city in the state of Rajasthan. This
city is popularly known as the "Sun City" because it enjoys
the bright & sunny weather all year. Jodhpur is a popular tourist
destination a valiant sentinel in the desert, on the eastern fringe
of the Thar Desert has the distinction of neither being a part of
the Thar Desert nor out of it. At best it is a doorway to the Maroodesh,
land of the sand after the fall of Delhi and Kannauj.
In 1459 AD, Rao Jodha, chief of Rathore clan of Rajputs, who claimed
descent from Rama, the epic here of the Ramayana, laid the foundation
of Jodhpur. A high stone wall protects the well-fortified city. The
wall is nearly 10km in length and has eight gates facing various directions.
Within, stands an imposing fort on a low range of sandstone hills,
about 125m above the surrounding plains. Invincible! And dauntless
in its league with time! The city lies at the foot of the hills. The
clear distinction between the old and the new city is visible from
the ramparts of the fort.
On the other side of the city, facing the fort is the Umaid Bhawan
Palace, one of the most spacious, sprawling and well-planned palaces
in India. And from here, as you look at fort, a tantalizing view rises
before your eyes at sunset. The peculiar slant of the sunset lends
the desert landscape an awe-inspiring glow and the people, a chivalry
undaunted. This bustling desert city is the second largest city in
Rajasthan after Jaipur and has landscape dominated by the massive
Meherangarh Fort topping a sheer rocky ridge.
The old city is surrounded by 10 km long wall with eight Gates leading
out of it. The new city is outside the walled city. Rao Jodha, a chief
of the Rathore clan, founded the city in 1459 and it is named after
him. The Afghans drove the Rathore out of their original homeland
Kaunaj and they fled to this region around Pali a short distance from
present day Jodhpur. A man oeuvre leads to marriage between Rathore
Siahaji and the sister of a local prince that helped the Rathore to
establish and strengthen them in this region. In fact they flourished
so well that managed to oust the Pratiharas of Mandore, just 9 km
of present day Jodhpur.
By 1459 a need for more secured capital lead to the founding of Meherangarh
Fort on its rocky perch and Jodhpur was thus founded by Rao Jodha.
The Rathores enjoyed good relations with the Mughals and Maharaja
Jaswant Singh (1678) supported Shah Jahan in the latter's struggle
for war of succession. Only problematic relationship they had was
with Aurangzeb. After Auranzeb's death Maharaja Ajit Singh drove out
Mughals from Ajmer and added it to Marwar. In the reign of Maharaja
Umed Singh Jodhpur grew into a fine modern city. The quintessence
of Jodhpur was its valour and equestrian skill. Polo has been the
traditional sport of the Jodhpur nobility since medieval times.
Jodhpur has two railway stations; City and Rai ka Bagh both are outside
the walled city. The bus stand is right outside the Rai ka Bagh Station.
The High Court is a while from the bus stand after the Umed Gardens,
after which is located the tourist reception centre and RTDC Hotel
Ghoomer. Ahead is the main market and entry in to the wall from Sojati
Gate. This area also has many hotels. Jodhpur is also military and
air force station and has a large cantonment.
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