18 Top Tourist Places to Visit in Jodhpur

At a distance of 6 km from Jodhpur Junction, Mehrangarh Fort is an ancient hill fort situated in Jodhpur City. It is one of the renowned historical forts in Rajasthan, and among the must include places in Jodhpur sightseeing packages.

Situated at 410 feet above the city, Mehrangarh Fort was built by Rao Jodha in 1459 AD when he transferred his capital from Mandore to Jodhpur. The fort was named Mehrangarh, meaning 'Fort of the Sun'. Though the fortress was originally started in 1459 by Rao Jodha, most of the fort which stands today dates from the period of Jaswant Singh of Marwar (1638 -78). Today, this fort is preserved and owned by Maharaja Gaj Singh II - the current Rathore ruler.

According to popular folklore, it is believed that to develop the Mehrangarh Fort, the Rao Jodha displaced a hermit called Cheeria Nathji (The lord of birds), who was the hill's lone human occupant. Being angry upon this forced displacement, .....

...read more

...read more

At a distance of 3.5 km from Jodhpur Junction and 6 km from Jodhpur Fort, Umaid Bhawan Palace is a royal palace located on Chittar Hill in Jodhpur City of Rajasthan, India. It is one of the world's largest private residences and also one of the popular Jodhpur tourist places.

Umaid Bhawan Palace is named after Maharaja Umaid Singh, grandfather of the present Maharaja Gaj Singh. Maharaja Umaid Singh had laid the foundations of this opulent 347 room edifice on 18th November 1929. However, the construction work started in 1943. It took 16 years to complete. This sandstone monument is the only 20th-century palace that was built for a noble cause. The purpose was to give employment to the people of Jodhpur during a long period of drought and famine.

Situated on Chittar Hill, the highest point in Jodhpur, the palace is a blend of Indian and European architectural influences. Edwardian architect Henry Vaughan .....

...read more

...read more

At a distance of 1 km from Mehrangarh Fort and 5 km from Jodhpur Junction, Jaswant Thada is a royal cenotaph located near Mehrangarh Fort entrance in Jodhpur city of Rajasthan state. It is famed as one of the most beautiful white marble cenotaphs in Rajasthan and also one of the popular Jodhpur tourist places.

Jaswant Thada was built by Sardar Singh of Jodhpur in 1899 CE in memory of his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. This cenotaph is an example of architectural brilliance in India. Famed as the Taj Mahal of Marwar, Jaswant Thada is a perfect example of Rajputana style of architecture. It is a white marble memorial, built out of intricately carved sheets of marble. These sheets are extremely thin and polished so that they emit a warm glow when illuminated by the sun.

The main memorial has been built like a temple with intricately marble stone carvings, and impressive sculptures, frescos, domes and pillars. The cenotaph has two more tombs within it. The cenotaph of Maharaja .....

...read more

...read more

At a distance of 2.5 km from Jodhpur Junction and 3 km from Mehrangarh Fort, Sardar Government Museum is located in the middle of the beautiful Umaid Public Gardens on the High Court Road in Jodhpur. It is one of the most famous museum of Rajasthan and also one of the best places to visit in Jodhpur.

Sardar Government Museum was established in 1909 and formally opened to public on 17th March, 1936. Only a century old, the museum was built during the rule of Maharaja Umaid Singh under the able guidance of Edwardian architect, Henry Vaughan Lanchester. The museum is named after Maharaja Sardar Singh of Jodhpur.

The museum is renowned for its fascinating exhibition of the historic items of the bygone era. There are various exhibits and galleries inside the museum which comprise miniature paintings, textiles, stuffed animals like birds, weapons, and local crafts. The museum also exhibits paintings of the rulers, scriptures and images of Jain Tirthankars. The military section of .....

...read more

...read more

At a distance of 8 km from Mehrangarh Fort and 9.5 km from Jodhpur Junction, Mandore Garden is situated at Mandore, the former capital of Maharajas of Marwar before the establishment of Jodhpur. This is a popular picnic spot for the people of Jodhpur.

The extensive Mandore Garden has high rock hill terrace, making it a popular local attraction. The cenotaphs of former rulers of Jodhpur can also be seen inside the Mandore Garden. These cenotaphs are not of usual shape and are built along the lines of a Hindu temple. These are built of red sandstone and are four stories high, with fine columns and an elegant spire. The cenotaphs of the Maharani are set on a rocky outcrop over the hill. One of the most prominent cenotaphs is that of Maharaja Ajit Singh which was built in 1793 CE.

The garden also has a hall of heroes which holds idols of various folk heroes of the past. Their statues, carved out of rocks and enhanced with brilliant bright colors can be found in this hall. Adjacent .....

...read more

...read more

At a distance of 8 km from Mehrangarh Fort and 10 km from Jodhpur Junction, Balsamand Lake is an artificial lake situated at Mandore on Jodhpur - Mandore Road. It is one of the prominent places to visit in Jodhpur.

Balsamand Lake was built in 1159 AD by Gurjara-Pratihara rulers as a reservoir to supply water in the Mandore region. The lake has a length of one km, breadth of 50 m and a depth of 15 m. The lake is surrounded by lush green gardens that house groves of mango, papaya, pomegranate, guava and plum. 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. Visitors can also see animals and birds like peacock, jackal and blue bull roaming in the area.

On the banks of the lake is the Balsamand Palace that was built by Maharaja Sur Singh in the 1936. The palace used to be the summer resort of the Maharajas of Jodhpur and the palace .....

...read more

...read more

At a distance of 1 km from Jodhpur Fort and 5 km from Jodhpur Junction, Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park lies at the foot of Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur city of Rajasthan.

The Park extends across 70 hectares about 200 acres of rocky land surrounding the fort. It was created in 2006 for restoration of natural ecology of rocky wasteland and was opened to the public in 2011. This sandy desert park has rock loving plants which adapts to the arid surroundings.

Mehrangarh Fort here was once a rocky wasteland, colonised by an invasive plant from Mexico known as mesquite or baavlia. In 2006, Jodhpur's current maharaja Gaj Singh II entrusted filmmaker and environmentalist Pradip Krishen with the mammoth task of converting this baavlia­dominated wasteland into a green zone. It was Gaj Singh's great grandfather Maharaja Umaid Singh's wish to convert this arid landscape into a green zone. But the painstaking efforts of a man and his team have transformed the land into a paradise for migratory .....

...read more

...read more

At a distance of 1.5 km from Jodhpur Junction and 3 km from Jodhpur Fort, Ghanta Ghar, also known as clock tower, is situated in Jodhpur city of Rajasthan. It is one of the major landmarks in Jodhpur and also one of the top places to visit in Jodhpur.
Ghanta Ghar was constructed by Maharaja Sardar Singh Ji of Jodhpur. Beside the tower, there is the Sardar Market that is frequented by tourists on shopping spree. From this market, tourists can purchase Rajasthani textiles, clay figurines, miniature camels and elephants, marble inlay work and classic silver jewellery. One can also shop here for the finest variety of spices. It is a great place to ramble around at leisure.

Timings: 10 AM to 9 PM

...read more

...read more

At a distance of 3 km from Mehrangarh Fort and 4 km from Jodhpur Junction, Mahamandir Temple is a Hindu temple situated on Mandore road in the city of Jodhpur. It is one of the popular places to visit in Jodhpur.

Mahamandir Temple was built in 1812 CE and is well known for its marvellous piece of architecture that stands on 84 beautifully carved pillars. These pillars display intricate stone carvings that depict yoga postures. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Well-designed traditional motifs are studded on the pillars and walls of this temple.

People throng this Temple in huge numbers and besides worshipping, they like to witness the beauty and art that is present in this temple which is really appreciating. The different yogic postures add to its beauty, as well as enriching the knowledge of followers of yoga about the actual postures.

Timings: 5 AM to 12 PM and 4 PM to 9 PM

...read more

...read more

At a distance of 52 km from Jodhpur, Sardar Samand Lake is an artificial lake situated on Jodhpur - Pali road in Rajasthan. It is one of the major picnic places to visit as part of Jodhpur trip.

This artificial lake as well as the route to the lake is a virtual treat to nature lovers and photographers. The lake attracts several migratory and local birds such as the yellow-legged green pigeon, Himalayan griffon, and Dalmatian pelican, making it a bird watcher's paradise. On the way to the lake, there is a wildlife area, where one can spot animals like Blackbuck, Neelgai, and Chinkara.

The summer palace of Maharaja Umaid Singh, Sardar Samand Palace stands on a hill overlooking the Sardar Samand Lake, among the best places to visit near Jodhpur. The palace is a magnificent Art Deco hunting lodge that was built in 1933. It remains the Royal Family's .....

...read more

...read more

At a distance of 61 km from Jodhpur and 173 km from Bikaner, Osian is an ancient town located in the Jodhpur district of Rajasthan in India. It is an oasis in the Thar Desert, and has been known as the 'Khajuraho of Rajasthan' for its temples. This is one of the popular pilgrimage sites in Rajasthan and also one of the top places to visit as part of Jodhpur tour.

According to early history, Osian was a center for Brahmanism. It was a major stop for camel caravans during the Gupta period. The city was a major religious center of the kingdom of Marwar during the Gurjara Pratihara dynasty. Tradition states that, after being abandoned for a time, the village was re-established by Utpaladeva.

Osian is famous as home to the cluster of 18 ruined Brahmanical and Jain temples dating from the 8th to 11th centuries AD. The shrines are renowned for artwork and carvings. These temples, which include the Sachiya Mata Temple and Jain Temple, are built using red sandstone with Mahavira as .....

...read more

...read more

At a distance of 1.5 km from Jodhpur Junction and 4 km from Mehrangarh Fort, Umaid Garden or Umed Garden is a public garden situated in the heart of Jodhpur city. It is one of the popular gardens of Jodhpur and also one of the top places to visit in Jodhpur.

Spread over an area of 82 acres, the famous Umaid Garden was developed by Maharaja Umed Singh and is named after him only. The garden has five separate gates around it to facilitate entry to the garden from different directions. It has lush green lawns with beautiful roses and other seasoned flowers. A walk in the lush environs is refreshing and rejuvenates mind and body. There is also a museum, artistically designed fountains, a library and a zoo inside the garden.

Viceroy Willington of the British Raj had inaugurated the zoo. The zoo is home to tigers, lion, zebra, ostrich and an emu. Monkeys are also seen swinging from trees. A 'Walk-in Aviary' in the zoo was constructed on the garden in 1978. The aviary houses different .....

...read more

...read more

At a distance of 11 km from Jodhpur Fort and 10 km from Jodhpur Junction, Siddhanth Shiv temple is situated between Takhat Sagar hills and Kalyana Lake on Jodhpur-Chopasani Road in Jodhpur.

The Siddhanth Shiv temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The current location of the temple was a completely deserted place prior to its construction and this isolation and serenity attracted the hermit Veetragi Narain Swami who took shelter there. He was later declared as a highly regarded saint, respected and worshiped by the people residing in neighboring areas.

At some point of time, a handicapped saint named Gaurishanker, later known as Nepali Baba, also came to this place. He had only four fingers in each of his hand and foot. Nepali Baba, himself, made a big temple by cutting stones. This temple is now known as Siddhanth Shiv Temple.

The temple is strategically located between Takhat Sagar hills of Rajasthan which makes it a little difficult to reach it. One can reach the temple .....

...read more

...read more

At a distance of 2 km from Jodhpur Junction and 3 km from Mehrangarh Fort, the Kunj Bihari Temple is a Hindu temple located near Ghanta Ghar market in Jodhpur city of Rajasthan.

Kunj Bihari Temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna, also known as Sri Nathji, and belongs to Rama Nandi Vaishnava sect of Hindus. This imposing structure was constructed by Maharaja Vijay Singh in 1847 AD in the memory of his son, Sher Singh, who died at a very young age. The shrine has been beautifully built using Makrana stone and Chhitar sandstone.

Kunj Bihari Temple seems like a replica of the Ghanshyamji temple in Jodhpur and is an architectural marvel specially the temple top and entrance. It has a toran dwar at the entrance and a sanctum sanctorum. Atop the sanctum is an intricately carved shikhar, which has a kalash at the apex. The entrance of the temple is adorned with a statue of Meera Bai, the great devotee of Lord Krishna. To the left and right of this, there stood the statues of Lord Hanuman .....

...read more

...read more

At a distance of 2 km from Jodhpur Junction, Rasik Bihari Temple, also known as Naini Bai Ka Mandir, is a holy shrine situated on Udai Mandir Road near Umaid Garden in Jodhpur.

Niniji Temple was built by Naini Bai and is often called as Naini Ji Temple. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Rasik Bihari (Lord Krishna). In 1885 AD, Raja Jaswant Singh gave an idol of Lord Nandi made of marble to be kept in this temple. Presently, the temple is maintained and managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The temple building is quite a fascinating one. The main portion of the temple is made of white stone and is surrounded by meeting halls on all sides. These halls are called Sabha Mandaps which have red colored pillars made of sandstones. There is also a gallery inside the temple called the parikrama. At the entrance of the temple one will see the statues of Lord Garuda, Vishnu and Hanumanji on either sides of the gate. In the center hall of the temple the idols of .....

...read more

...read more

At a distance of 18.5 km from Jodhpur Junction, Arna - Jharna is a desert museum situated near Arna - Jharna Temple of Mokalawas village in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan.

Arna - Jharna Desert Museum was the brainchild of late Komal Kothari, one of the finest Indian folklorists and executed by his son Kuldeep Kothari. The word Arna and Jharna means jungle and spring, respectively. Kothari founded the Rupayan Sansthan, an NGO in 1960 to catalogue and preserve the rich and diverse folk art of Rajasthan.

Arna - Jharna is an interactive place that depicts the lifestyle of people living in the villages. Spread over an area of about 10 acres, the museum displays a variety of brooms belonging to different rural communities along with a unique collection of utensils. The artifacts are basic yet intriguing as they represent the socio-ecology aspects of people of different cultures. The museum itself houses a collection of musical instruments from all corners of Rajasthan. There's also .....

...read more

...read more

At a distance of 8.5 km from Jodhpur Junction, Machiya Safari Park is a biological park situated near Kalyana Lake on the Jodhpur-Jaisalmer Route in Jodhpur. It is one of the must-visit Jodhpur attractions for those interested in wildlife.

Machiya Biological Park was conceptualized in the year 1982-83. This park is basically the satellite zoo of the old heritage zoo of Jodhpur. Machiya Biological Park has an area of 41 ha out of 604 ha of Machiya Forest Block. The Machiya Safari Park is an abode to numerous wild animals like deer, desert fox, monitor lizard, blue bulls, rabbits, wild cats, mongoose, monkeys, etc.

It also has a bird-watching point which serves as an excellent place for bird enthusiasts. Inside the park premises, there is a fort from where one can get a scenic sunset view. Elephant riding is the main attraction of the park, which gives a bird's eye view of the picturesque wildlife park. .....

...read more

...read more

At a distance of 10 km from Jodhpur Junction and 11 km from Jodhpur Fort, Kaylana Lake is an artificial lake situated to the west of Jodhpur city on Jodhpur - Jaisalmer Road in Rajasthan, India.

Kalyana Lake was built by Pratap Singh in 1872 CE, the then Prime Minister of Jodhpur. The lake spreads over an area of 84 Sq. km. In ancient times this region had palaces and gardens made by two rulers of Jodhpur - Bhim Singh and Takhat Singh. These were destroyed to make Kaylana Lake. It receives its water from Hati Nehar (elephant canal), which is further connected to the Indra Gandhi canal. The city of Jodhpur and all the surrounding towns and villages depend on Kaylana Lake as a source of drinking water.

The lake is situated between igneous rock land formations. Also known by the name of Pratap Sagar, the area around this lake was once full of wild bears. It served as a secured hunting place for the royal members. An ideal picnic spot for tourists, this lake offers a breathtaking .....

...read more

...read more