JODHPUR - more than the "blue city "

This small town was more than just the blue city I imagined it to be. We stayed at Taj Hari Mahal Palace and the hotel does live up to its brand name. Taj Hari Mahal celebrates the grandeur of Rajput architecture, from its arch-shaped swimming pool, latticed windows and flower-strewn water fountains to jewel-toned furnishings inside the plush suites. Gourmands are spoilt for choice at the restaurants which serve scrumptious meals & local delicacies like dal baati and Jodhpuri maas, paired with world-class wines.

I visited during the month of November and it was one of the best times to visit the city. You can visit anytime between October to March when weather in pleasant.

When you think of Jodhpur the best two attractions are without doubt Umaid Bhawan Palace & the Mehrangarh Fort.

The sheer opulence and vastness of the Umaid Bhawan palace left me mesmerized. A trip to the palace gives us a taste about the olden days and grandeur of brave Maharaja’s. I was left to wonder about the royal family and their lifestyle, if they travel the world on their private jet in their free time or play polo or just enjoy deliciously cooked hot meals prepared by their bawarchi’s. A part of the palace is also a museum and a major part is under Taj Hotel. I loved strolling through the museum adorned with vintage clocks & pics of art deco interior of the palace. It also houses artistic murals, opulent miniature paintings, & unusual household paraphernalia which is very rare today. Don’t forget to take your camera as you are allowed to take pictures inside & don’t miss the vintage car collection which was one of the highlights of the museum.

Next day was my visit to the Mehrangarh Fort. The grandeur with which it was built and how well it is maintained even as of today is spectacular. While there are quaint cafes to stop by and sip a cup of coffee, you can also shop traditional good quality Jodhpuri Mojari’s at very reasonable prices. For adventure lovers looking for an adrenaline rush you can try the flying fox at the Fort as well though I gave it a skip this time.

If you are looking for chic cafés & eateries to eat out and get a view of the fort as well then cafe b @ Ota & Indique restaurant are your go to places with delicious food & breathtaking fort views. I also loved another eatery called “On the Rocks” for its sheer ambience & good Italian food but this one is not near the fort. If high end accommodation is what you’re looking for then Hotel Raas is really good which is in old town near the best eateries and local bazaar with great fort views again. Its architectural beauty is what grabbed my attention.

Lastly we also did a desert camel safari which was a 90 minutes ride by car from our hotel. We started our camel safari ride an hour before sunset so we could be at the desert to watch the sunset on the beautiful caramel sand dunes. You can click some amazing pictures there which we did in abundance.

If you have an extra day I recommend you pay a visit to the world famous Ajmer Dargah Sharif ( 4.5 hours’ drive from Jodhpur) made famous by Akbar where he had his prayers answered and was granted a son. I had a soulful experience at the Dargah. It was enriching to see how even after nearly thousand years of its establishment the belief of the people remains intact and all religions come together from different parts of the world and pray with such devotion. We arrived at Ajmer by train in the morning and spent a night there but I would recommend you can visit the Dargah and directly head to Jodhpur for your 2-3 nights stay.

Hope you have a pleasant stay whenever you plan a visit !