Planning for Rajasthan and looking at things to do in Jodhpur?
Jodhpur is the second largest city in Rajasthan and the ancient capital of the powerful Marwar Kingdom. It is also famously known as the ‘Blue City’ of India for its historic blue houses and iconically blue tinge to the old city.
The city is steeped in history with magnificent palaces, majestic forts, ancient temples and stunning architecture.
From the towering Mehrangarh Fort to the winding blue alleyways that give the city its nickname, there are plenty of unqiue things to do in Jodhpur.
Here is everything you need to know to plan a great itinerary for Jodhpur.
- About Jodhpur
- Best time to visit
- Getting there
- Getting around in Jodhpur
- How long do you need?
- Things to do in Jodhpur
Mehrangarh Fort
Stepwell
Dev Kund Lake
Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park
Sadar Market
Blue Houses
Gangashyam Ji Mandir
Ghanta Ghar - Accommodation
About Jodhpur
The ‘Blue City’ of Jodhpur is located in the heart of the northwest Indian state of Rajasthan. The region is sometimes referred to as Marwar derived from maru-war meaning ‘region of death’ due to the surrounding harsh conditions of the Indian Thar Desert.
The city was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha, a Rajput (one of the warrior rulers of the historical region of Rajputana), and served as the capital of the princely state of Jodhpur.
And (haha), yes. Jodhpur is, in fact, where the eponymous horse-riding pants got their name! These unusual pants were designed by the Maharaja of Jodhpur’s son, Pratap Singh, and worn by his polo team when visiting the Queen of England in 1897.
Today Jodhpur is a vibrant city with many historical attractions, including palaces, forts, temples, havelis, and museums. And the now-renowned blue shade has become a symbol of the city’s identity, creating a stunning contrast against the arid desert landscape.
How BLUE is Jodhpur? And why is it BLUE?
Rajasthan has become known for its famously colour-washed cities. There is the Pink City of Jaipur, the Golden City of Jaisalmer and the White City of Udaipur.
But it does lead to the question of why is the city blue? And exactly how blue is it?
The truth is Jodhpur definitely has an overall theme of ‘blue’. However, it certainly isn’t as blue as it’s Moroccan blue-city-twin of Chefchaouen.
The majority of blue streets of Jodhpur are within the Old City, on the southwest edge of the fort.
But as far as reasoning for why Jodhpur has become the Blue City of India seems a little hazier. Even our guide on the morning walking tour couldn’t give us a definitive answer.
It seems the most likely suggestion is due to the large population of Brahmin castes in Jodhpur who devout their loyalty to Lord Shiva. Blue is the holy colour of Shiva and thus the colour of the Brahmins is blue. Therefore, much of the old city was historically painted blue in devotion.
Best time to visit to Jodhpur?
The best time to visit Rajasthan is during the winter months from November to February.
In winter, the temperature ranges from around 10°C (50°F) to 25°C (77°F), providing a comfortable and enjoyable climate for sightseeing.
In the summer it can get seriously hot during the daytime.
And believe it or not, even the desert regions of Rajasthan do experience rains during the monsoon season in July and August. Take care traveling during this time as it is also the notorious mosquito season in India.
- Read about getting Dengue Fever in India and ending up in hospital in Delhi.
Getting there
Jodhpur is well connected with Rajasthan’s more major tourist routes by air, rail and road.
AIR
The city has a well-functioning airport with direct flights to Mumbai/Delhi/Ahmedabad and some other cities in Gujarat/Rajasthan.
Note that flights to Jaisalmer do not operate all year round. However there are year-round flights to Jodhpur and this makes a sensible connection onwards to Jaisalmer.
RAIL
Jodhpur Junction (JU) is a central railway station and is well-connected to Jaipur and Delhi with local train connections onwards to Jaisalmer.
ROAD
An extensive network of state and private buses link the neighbouring cities and states.
Getting to Jodhpur from Jaipur
There are three main daily trains from Jaipur to Jodhpur that travel during the daytime. If you can avoid it in your itinerary, we don’t recommend arriving to a new city late at night. (Although this is not always avoidable!).
There is no highspeed train from Jaipur to Jodhpur.
- #15014 RANIKHET EXP Departs Jaipur (JP) at 10:10am arriving to Jodhpur (JU) at 16:35pm taking 6hrs 25mins.
- #25014 CORBET PRK LINK Departs Jaipur (JP) at 10:10am arriving to Jodhpur (JU) at 16:35pm taking 6hrs 25mins.
- #14814 BPL JU EXPRESS Departs Jaipur (JP) at 10:55am arriving to Jodhpur (JU) at 16:30pm taking 7hrs 35mins.
The SHALIMAR MALANI EXP departs Jaipur (JP) at 17:45pm arriving to Jodhpur at 22:45pm. Though – from personal experience – this train is often late and makes for an after midnight arrival to Jodhpur!
The RANIKHET EXPRESS and CORBET PRK LINK trains continue onwards from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer.
- Read about taking the train from Jaipur to Jodhpur and Jaisalmer.
- Book the train Jaipur to Jodhpur online through 12GoAsia.com.
Getting to Jodhpur from Jaisalmer
Similarly, it is possible to go from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur by road or rail.
The tricky thing isn’t getting to or from Jodhpur. Rather, it is the challenge of Jaisalmer being the end of the railway line.
With Jaisalmer being the last stop, this means that the arrival and departure times of trains to Jaisalmer that travel to Jodhpur for the most part end up being in the wee hours of the night.
We recommend the easiest way to get there from Jaisalmer is by bus. And vice versa if travelling onwards to Jaisalmer from Jodhpur.
- Read about the bus from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur.
Going from Jodhpur to Udaipur
The journey from Jodhpur to Udaipur is best by road as the cities are not connected with direct trains.
The travel time to Udaipur is around five hours.
It is well worth a stop on the way to visit Kumbhalgarh Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the other largest forts in India.
- Tip: It is easy to book a driver and car through your accommodation.
Getting around in Jodhpur
Exploring on foot is a great option in the old city not only because of the narrow alleys but also because you get some of your best pictures while strolling around.
We got an auto-rickshaw early one morning up to the Rock Park. From there we walked back down to the city through the park trails.
How long do you need to see the things to do in Jodhpur?
Ideally, plan to spend at least two days in Jodhpur.
It isn’t a huge city (by Indian standards). And with two days of exploring you can see all the following things to do in Jodhpur.
Things to do in Jodhpur
Here are the best things to do in Jodhpur including location, timing, entry cost and how best to get there.
1. Mehrangarh Fort
Visiting the mighty Mehrangarh Fort has to be on your list of things to do in Jodhpur.
The Mehrangarh Fort towers over the Blue City of Jodhpur and is a magnificent spectacle in person. The fort walls stand 120m above Jodhpur’s skyline extending perpendicular from the rocky hill giving epic views over the city from the top.
It is one of the most magnificent forts in India and less crowded to visit than the more famous forts in Jaipur, Jaisalmer and Udaipur.
The main entrance is at the northeast gate, Jai Pol. It’s about 300m to walk up from the old city to the entrance. Or you can get to the entrance by auto rickshaw going the long way round (through the narrow old city laneways and up).
- Hours: 09:00h – 17:00h
- Cost: 600 INR per person (audio guide included)
- Location: Old city
- Travel by auto-rickshaw or on foot
Walk 300m up from the city or you can get an auto-rickshaw the long way round.
2. Toorji Ka Jhalra / Jodhpur Stepwell
Stepwells can be found all over India as a type of subterranean architecture that is both beautiful and practical. Especially for a desert city such as Jodhpur, the stepwell holds significance for storing water
The Jodhpur Stepwell, also known as the Toorji Ka Jhalra or Toorji’s Step Well was designed to provide a reliable water source during the dry seasons. It also served (still does) as a community gathering place and a means to access water for daily use.
- Tip: The Jodhpur Stepwell is located only 350 meters from the Clocktower Market (Ghanta Ghar).
- Open: 24 hours
- Cost: Free
3. Dev Kund Lake and Ranisar Lake
Devkund Lake is a reservoir in Jodhpur. If you are visiting the fort or taking a walk through the Rock Park, Dev Kund Lake is one of the things to do in Jodhpur that you can’t really miss.
The lake is situated close to the suburbs Paota and Rai Ka Bagh and literally just below the huge walls of Mehrangarh Fort.
Adjoining to Dev Kund is Ranisar Lake. Both Dev Kund and Ranisar Lake were built for water conservation in the 16thcentury and are fed by rainwater runoff from the hills surrounding the fort.
The Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park has been converted from the catchment area and you can walk through the park to the stepwell entrance on the side of the lake.
4. Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park
This was a somewhat unplanned part of our Jodhpur itinerary. But we spent our first morning exploring the Blue City on a breakfast walking tour. The tour started in the Rock Park just in the lee of Mehrangarh and we made our way on foot back down towards the base of the fort.
The Desert Rock Park covers almost 72-hectares and is a model of Indian eco-tourism. The park land was once part of the fort, and the grounds have been lovingly restored and planted with native species to show the natural diversity of the region.
There are walking trails and paths criss-crossing the park all the way up to the city walls and around Dev Kund Lake.
- Tip: There is a small visitors centre at the entrance.
- Open: 07:00h – 18:30h
- Cost: 100 INR per person
- Travel by auto-rickshaw. We got an auto-rickshaw from our accommodation to the entrance and walked back down to the city through the park.
5. Sadar Market
Also known as the Clock Tower Market, Sadar Bazaar is the famous shopping centre of the city and known for its traditional Rajasthani items.
The market is named after Jodhpur’s former ruler, Sardar Singh. It is a longstanding historic market in Jodhpur and is the commercial heart of the old city. The narrow lanes and crowded alleys are lined with colourful stalls selling chai, vegetables, spices, sweets, jewellery and handicrafts.
Even if you didn’t have plans for shopping, it is a bustling and interesting market for a wander showcasing the city’s rich cultural heritage.
- Open: 9 AM–8 PM every day
6. Ghanta Ghar / Jodhpur Clock Tower
Ghanta Ghar is a famous clock tower that is located in the centre of the Ghantaghar area. The clock tower was built in the 19th century and is the most iconic landmark in the old city.
From the clock tower the market laneways spread out in all directions into Sadar Market.
- Tip: The Ghantaghar Clock Tower area is known for its delicious street food and street food stalls serving everything from samosas and chaat to kachoris and lassis.
7. Explore Blue Jodhpur
The blue city is famous because of its blue houses so you can’t not visit them! If you are staying outside of the blue area of Jodhpur you can easily get an auto-rickshaw to the inner city. Or if you are visiting the fort it is a straight walk down about 300m to the old part of the city.
Navchowkiya or ‘Nav Chowk’ in the old city is one of the best places to find the blue buildings in Jodhpur.
Don’t expect them all to be entirely blue all over the city. (You might be disappointed). But there are some fabulously blue areas of Nav Chowk and the inner Brahmin area. And a wander through the network of blue laneways is one of the best things to do in Jodhpur.
8. Gangashyam Ji Mandir / Hindu Temple
Shri Gangshyam Ji Maharaj Mandir is a famous Hindu temple in Rajasthan. It is one of the oldest temples of the city and dedicated to Lord Krishna.
Our guide shared with us the story of when one of Maharaja Vijay Singh’s queens from Sirohi insisted on bringing an idol of Krishna along with her as part of her dowry. Shri Gangshyam Ji Mandir was specially built to house the effigy.
And thus, all her life, without fail, the queen would make the journey from the Mehrangarh Fort to the temple in her palanquin to pray.
- Tip: It is worthwhile adding the temple to your list of things to do in Jodhpur to see on your walking tour. Our guide shared information we would never have otherwise known!
Final thoughts?
With two days you can see all the highlights and enjoy the rich cultural history and blue-vibrance of this famous Rajasthani city.
We hope that this list has given you inspiration of the fabulously blue and best things to do in Jodhpur!
Where to stay in Jodhpur
It is a good idea when choosing where to stay to book somewhere close to the old city and Fort area. This area has a range of boutique hotels and traditional Haveli accommodation.
- Budget: Raj Mandir Boutique Homestay
Good location in Blue City, spacious room with small balcony inside Haveli style home. Tiny little doors, lots of unique decor and artefacts.
- Budget: Hotel Bawarri Haveli
Friendly, budget Haveli-style accommodation with a rooftop restaurant and less than 1km away from the Stepwell.
- Budget-Mid-Range: Jewel Palace Haveli
Located just 400 metres from Mehrangarh Fort offering the chance to stay in a traditional converted Haveli at a budget-friendly price.
- Hostel: Zostel Jodhpur
Located well in the city’s heart overlooking Mehrangarh Fort and adjacent to the Clock Tower offering haveli-inspired architecture for backpackers.
- Luxury: Umaid Bhawan Palace
Want to try some serious luxury? This one of the world’s largest private residences!
Have more time in India?
- 15 Other places to visit in India.
- Epic 10 Day Rajasthan Itinerary
- Things to do in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
- What to see in Jaisalmer Fort
- Local desert cuisine and the food to try in Jaisalmer
- Overnight train Delhi to Jaisalmer
- Leaving Jaisalmer to Jaipur (and Jodhpur too) by overnight train
- Choosing the best camel safari in Jaisalmer.
More about travel planning for India and beyond
These are the companies we use while traveling fulltime as a family and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere in Asia through 12Go.
- Skyscanner– This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world including everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). Make sure you have travel insurance before riding those trains in India!
