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Jodhpur
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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 fenced 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 Rathores out of their original homeland Kaunaj and
they fled to this region around Pali a short distance from present day
Jodhpur. A manoeuvre lead to marriage between Rathore Siahaji and the
sister of a local prince that helped the Rathores to establish and
strengthen themselves 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
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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 and airbase. |
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UMAID BHAWAN PALACE
Maharaja Umaid Singhji who built this palace was
fascinated with western lifestyles so he marshalled the
services of a well-known Edwardian architect, Henry Vaughan
Lanchester, a creditable equal of Edward Lutyens (architect
of New Delhi) to construct a three hundred and forty seven
roomed Umaid Palace. This was to become India last of the
great palaces and the biggest private residence in the
world. Spectacular Central Rotunda, the cupola rises to a
hundred and five feet high; the Throne Room with its
exquisite Ramayana murals; an elegant wood-panelled library,
and even a private museum; an indoor swimming pool, a
Billiards Room, tennis courts and unique marble squash
courts makes Umaid Bhawan Palace is unabashedly the most
magnificent. The palace was also built with superficial |
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intentions of providing employment to famine stricken
farmers. The Palace now is a five star deluxe palace hotel.
The museum of the palace is highly recommended for its
display of weapons, an array of stuffed leopards, a huge
banner presented by Queen Victoria and an incredible
collection of clocks. |
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MEHRANGARH FORT
Perched on a 150 m high hill its sprawl is the most
formidable and magnificent fort in Rajasthan. Rao Jodha
founded it in 1459 but subsequent rulers of Jodhpur have
also added to it over the centuries. A meandering road leads
to the from the city 5 kms below. Battle scars of canon ball
hit by attacking armies of Jaipur can still be seen on the
second gate. To the left is chhatri of Kirat Singh Soda, a
soldier who fell on the spot while defending the fort
against the armies of Amber. There are seven gates, which
include Jayapol meaning victory built by Maharaja Man Singh
to commemorate his victories over Jaipur and Bikaner armies.
Fattehpol also meaning victory gate was built by Maharaja
Ajit Singh to mark the defeat of Mughals. The palm imprints
still attract devotional attention and are covered by
vermilion paste and paper-thin silver foil. |
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Jaswant Thada
On the way down from the fort, on left is Jaswant Thada,
the graceful marble cenotaph of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II.
His son Maharaja Sardar Singhji built the Taj Mahal of
Marwar in the memory of Maharaj Jaswant Singhji II of
Jodhpur. The main memorial has been built like a temple with
intricately carved marble stone that is sculpted by the
genius artesian. A visit to this structure is through the
rocky hills giving it a secluded and a mystic aura. |
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MANDORE GARDEN
Mandore was the former capital of Maharajas of Marwar
and is located about 5 miles north of Jodhpur, but was later
abandoned for the security of Mehrangarh fort. Here you will
find the dewals, or cenotaphs of Jodhpur's former rulers.
Unlike the usual chhatri-shaped cenotaphs typical of
Rajasthan, they were built along the lines of a Hindu
temple, four stories high, with fine columns and an elegant
spire, all in red sandstone. The most impressive is the
dewal of Maharaja Ajit Singh (reigned 1678-1724). These
cenotaphs are set in beautiful landscaped gardens. Nearby is
the hall of heroes, dedicated to various deities and fabled
Rajput folk heroes, whose statues are carved out of rock and
painted in bright colours. Next door is a larger hall called
"The Shrine of the Three Hundred Million Gods", |
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filled with brightly coloured images of the various Hindu
Gods. As you climb up the hill, you come to the ruined city
of Mandore, with its old palace. The beautiful Maharani's
cenotaphs set apart on a rocky outcrop - a ten-minute walk
over the hill. Today its extensive gardens with high rock
terrace make it a popular local attraction. |
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