Jodhpur, Rajasthan:

Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur

After my return from the weekend trip to Delhi and Agra, I had to leave Jaipur again for field work around Jaisalmer in western Rajasthan. On the way, I passed the famous desert towns of Jodhpur and Bikaner.

I started my tour through Jodhpur with climbing to the Mehrangarh Fort standing on top of a hill above the old town. In addition to the impressive architecture with its intricately carved facades, ornate rooms, and the rich collection of old artefacts, the fort allows nice views over the city with its many blue houses. After a short stop at the gardens of the Chokelao Bagh, I watched the sunset in the very nice Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park. Finally and before calling it a day, I went for a stroll across the busy Sardar Market with the Clock Tower, another landmark of Jodhpur. On the next morning, I walked to the Jaswant Thada, a marble mausoleum built in 1899 for Maharajah Jaswant Singh II. The building stands at the shore of Devkund Lake, which can be explored on a guided tour. Afterwards I went to the pompous Umaid Bhawan Palace, one of the largest private residences in the world, which was constructed from 1929 to 1943 for Maharajah Umaid Singh.

mural at the entrance to the Mehrangarh Fort

Mehrangarh Fort

old gate showing holes from cannon balls

Mehrangarh Fort

handprints of the maharajas’ wives committing sati

entrance to the Mehrangarh Fort

courtyard inside the palace museum

intricate stone carvings

elephant howdah

detail on an elephant howdah

intricate facade

intricate facade

palanquin inside the museum

Durga on old painting (18th century)

demons on old painting (18th century)

fancy room in the palace

fancy room in the palace

wall paintings

view towards the Jaswant Thada

view to the Ghanta Ghar (clock tower)

fancy room in the palace

staircase in the palace

view across Jodhpur

courtyard inside the palace museum

collection of cradles

old cradle

courtyard inside the palace museum

intricate facade

intricate facade

courtyard inside the palace museum

at the entrance to the Mehrangarh Fort

old cannons

view across Jodhpur

view across Jodhpur

view to the Ghanta Ghar (clock tower)

view across Jodhpur

life in Jodhpur

Maa Chamunda Temple

visitors in the fort

intricate stone carvings

Mehrangarh Fort

Mehrangarh Fort

Mehrangarh Fort

Chokelao Bagh

Chokelao Bagh

view across Jodhpur

Mehrangarh Fort from Chokelao Bagh

Mehrangarh Fort

Mehrangarh Fort

view across Jodhpur

Black Kites at Mehrangarh Fort

spikes on palace gate against elephants

at Fateh Pol

Fateh Pol

Fateh Pol

Ganesha Temple

Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park

Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park

view across the Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park

Mehrangarh Fort

Mehrangarh Fort

Jodhpur in the evening light

Mehrangarh Fort

Mehrangarh Fort

sunset

Mehrangarh Fort

Sardar Market

Ghanta Ghar (clock tower)

Sardar Market

Sardar Market

Sardar Market

Ghanta Ghar (clock tower)

Mehrangarh Fort

Blue City

Clock Tower and Umaid Bhawan Palace

Rao Jodha, the founder of Jodhpur

panoramic view

Mehrangarh Fort

Devkund Lake

guided tour group at Devkund Lake

sign board at Devkund Lake

Little Grebe

Little Grebe

Little Grebe

Little Cormorant

Spot-billed Duck

Ferruginous Pochard

Little Cormorant

Devkund Lake

Jaswant Thada

Jaswant Thada

inside the mausoleum

inside the mausoleum

old door

cenotaphs

on the way to the Umaid Bhawan Palace

Umaid Bhawan Palace

Umaid Bhawan Palace

classic cars collection

classic cars collection

inside the palace museum

photos of fancy rooms inside the museum

inside the palace

Ghanta Ghar (clock tower)

Mehrangarh Fort

Mehrangarh Fort and Clock Tower

Sardar Market

Sardar Market

Sardar Market

Gulab Sagar Talab

Toorji Ka Jhalra Step Well

Clock Tower and Umaid Bhawan Palace

In the afternoon the train took me to Bikaner, much further in the Thar Desert.