Jodhpur

INTRO
Jodhpur, the second largest city of the Rajasthan state, is a popular tourist destination as it features lots of temples, forts and beautiful palaces. All that is combined with scenic desert landscape and consequently Jodhpur is called "The Gateway to Thar", since it is situated on the edge of the vast Thar Desert. Jodhpur is often referred to as "The Sun City" as sun shines in the city very bright and it is hot almost all year round. Jodhpur is also known as "The Blue City" for the indigo colour of the houses situated around one of its most famous landmarks: the Mehrangarh Fort.

City Profile
City: Jodhpur
Country: India
Area: 75, 5 km²
Population: 952, 000
Districts: 3
Mayor: Mayor - Dr. Om Kumari Geholt
Language: Marwari, Hindi, Rajasthani

LOCATION
Jodhpur is located in north-western India - in the state of Rajasthan. Altogether with the suburbs, the city encompasses an area of 75,50 km2. The average elevation of Jodhpur is 232 meters above sea level.

TIME TO VISIT
Jodhpur features a typically desert climate - hot and dry. Weatherwise, probably the best months to plan a trip to the city are March and November - as weather then is relatively mild and pleasant. Summers in Jodhpur are extremely hot - temperatures often exceed 40°C. Winters are cooler - temperatures average at about 10-12°C. Most of the precipitation in Jaipur is during the monsoon period - in July and August. One of the most interesting events that take place in Jodhpur is Teej - a fascinating festival in late August or early September. It is celebrated for well being of spouce and children and purification of body and soul. The sumptious feasting lasts three days.

POPULATION
Officially, the population of Jodhpur is around 1, 000, 000 people. Although, there are many residents of the city that are not registered - mostly labourers from nearby villages. Males constitute 53% of the population of Jodhpur, females are 47%. 14% of the denizens of Jodhpur are under 6 years of age. The average literacy rate of the city is 67% - quite higher than the national average of 59,5%.

DISTRICTS

Old Jodhpur - most houses in the old part of the city are shades of blue - that's why Jodhpur is often referred to as the "Blue City". Northern side of Old Jodhpur - called also Brahmpur because of the large number of Brahmins that live in this part of the city.
City Centre - the area where most major businesses of the city are located. The planning of Jodhpur is quite chaotic so it is not exactly the geographical centre of the city. There are no high rises in Jodhpur - even the major administrative and business buildings are 4-5-storey. The cleanliness of the streets is not immaculate and that might be quite shocking for the first time visitors of the city - street dogs, piles of trash and beggars at every corner are something normal. If that fact does not bother you too much, there are some nice restaurants offering local dishes as well as some decent cafes and bars - in case you want to spend some time having a drink and enjoying the typical Indian atmosphere of Jodhpur.
Mehrangarh Fort - one of the major landmarks of Jodhpur that can be considered a district of the city. Located on a hilltop, the fort offers nice views to the city which is sprawled below the fort. Located at an altitude of 125 meters above sea level, one of Rajasthan's finest forts is spread over more than 5 km2 and has seven large gates. http://www.maharajajodhpur.com/fort/mmt_obj.htm

SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS

Moti Mahal - the Pearl Hall. Located in Mehrangarh fort, it is where the Maharaja held his audiences. The building itself is an architectural marvel - pearl-coloured inside with beautifully painted windows. There are five alcoves on the far wall - for the queens to listen in.
Jaswant Thada - a memorial dedicated to Maharaja Jaswant built in 1899. This white marble cenotaph represents a peaked structure with extremely precise trelliswork and excellent carving.
Umaid Bhawan - a marvellous palace built entirely of beige sandstone was designed by the President of the British Royal Institute of Architects. The year of the full completion of the building was 1928. It is a fine blend of several different styles that merge nicely.
Mandore - long before Jodhpur was founded, Mandore was the established capital of the Old Marwar Kingdom. This fascinating complex of massive cenotaphs, sprawling gardens, beautiful sculptures and temples is located just nine kilometres away from the modern city of Jodhpur. If a visitor has a spare day while in Jodhpur, a visit to Manadore is definitely the right thing to do.

AIRPORT

Jodhpur Airport - a small airport located about 5 km away from the city centre. There are daily flights to and from Mumbai, Jaipur, Delhi and Udaipur. A taxi ride from downtown costs around Rs.200, taking an auto rickshaw is much cheaper - about Rs.50.
http://www.farecompare.com/flights/Jodhpur_Airport-JDH/airport.html

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION

Taxi - taxi cabs in Jodhpur are abundant and quite easy to find. Vehicles are old and not very comfortable - especially for long rides. Price is negotiable - always make sure you bargain prior to the trip. Taxis can be hired also on hourly, daily or even weekly basis.
Auto Rickshaws - an exciting way to get around Jodhpur and feel its real spirit. The auto rickshaws are unmetered - price of a trip is subject to bargaining.
Tongas - horse driven carriages. They offer an exciting way to travel around the city. Prices are relatively higher than the auto rickshaws - again negotiable.
Mini buses - very chaotic - forget about schedule. It is not advisable to use the mini buses - they are mostly for locals.

HISTORY
Jodhpur was founded in 1459 by the Rajput chief Rao Jodha. The city is a former capital of the Marwar state. The old city of Jodhpur is surrounded by a 10-km long wall built of stone and constructed about a century after the city was founded. Currently, there are about 100 towers in Jodhpur - built in different periods. Most of them are surrounded by defensive battlements. In 1947 India become independent of Great Britain. Shortly after that, the state of Rajasthan merged into the Union of India and Jodhpur became the second city of Rajasthan.

CITY LINKS

Official website - http://jodhpur.nic.in/
Photos of Jodhpur - http://terragalleria.com/asia/india/jodhpur/
Official website of Rajasthan - http://www.rajasthan.gov.in/JODHPUR1.SHTM
Jodhpur travel guide - http://wikitravel.org/en/Jodhpur

UNIVERSITY LINKS

National Law University of Jodhpur - http://www.nlujodhpur.ac.in/
Jai Narain Vyas University - http://www.jnvu.edu.in/