Away With The Steiners

8 Blue & Best Things To Do In Jodhpur, Rajasthan. 

Sarah Steiner

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 

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. 

Ha! Yes. Jodhpur is, in fact, where the eponymous horse-riding pants got their name!  

The pants were designed by Pratap Singh (son of the Maharaja of Jodhpur).

His polo team caused a sensation when they wore them while visiting Queen Victoria in 1897. The style was quickly adopted by the British and remains a staple of riding gear today.

Today Jodhpur is a vibrant city with many historical attractions, including palaces, forts, temples, havelis, and museums. 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? 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 Jodhpur 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 became 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.  

Blue walls; blue clothes.
More fabulous blues.

Best Time to Visit to Jodhpur? 

Jodhpur’s desert climate means the weather can swing from ‘perfectly pleasant’ to ‘scorching’ in a matter of weeks. So to ensure you aren’t hiding from the sun all day, timing is everything.

The best time to visit Rajasthan is during the winter months from November to February. 

Winter: November to February

This is widely considered the best time to visit Jodhpur.

Expect a comfortable range between 10°C (50°F) at night and 25°C (77°F) during the day.

The air is crisp, the skies are usually clear blue, and the weather is ideal for climbing up to Mehrangarh Fort or exploring the blue alleys without breaking a sweat.

Summer: March to June

By April, the heat begins to intensify significantly.

During the peak summer months (May and June), daytime temperatures can soar well above 40°C (104°F).

Monsoon: July to August

While it is a desert region, Jodhpur does see its share of rain during the monsoon.

The desert dust settles, and the surrounding hills can turn a surprising shade of green.

Welcome to the Blue City.

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 and 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. 

Travelling by Train: Jaipur to Jodhpur

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 high-speed rail on this route, so expect a classic, leisurely Indian Railways experience.

Daytime Trains

For a smooth transition between cities, we recommend taking one of the morning departures.

Arriving in Jodhpur during daylight hours makes finding your hotel and navigating the bustling station much less stressful.

Train Name & NumberDeparture (JP)Arrival (JU)Duration
Ranikhet Exp (#15014)10:10 AM04:35 PM6h 25m
Corbet Prk Link (#25014)10:10 AM04:35 PM6h 25m
BPL JU Express (#14814)10:55 AM06:30 PM7h 35m

Tip: Both the Ranikhet Express and the Corbet Park Link continue past Jodhpur, eventually ending in Jaisalmer.

The Evening Option

There is an evening service, the Shalimar Malani Exp, which departs Jaipur at 05:45 PM and is scheduled to arrive in Jodhpur at 10:45 PM.

However, based on personal experience, this train is frequently delayed. A one- or two-hour delay can easily push your arrival past midnight. Unless your itinerary is very tight, we suggest sticking to the morning trains to avoid landing in a new city in the middle of the night.

Travelling in AC 3-Tier (3A) somewhere between Jodhpur and Jaipur in Rajasthan.
The AC Waiting Room at Jodhpur Junction (JU) Railway Station.

Travelling by Train: Jaisalmer to Jodhpur

Similarly, it is possible to go from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur by road or rail.  

But, the train journey comes with a specific logistical quirk.

Because Jaisalmer sits at the very end of the railway line, the scheduling can be a bit challenging (for travellers who value a good night’s sleep!).

Since Jaisalmer is a terminal station, trains are often timed to maximise their long-haul routes back toward major hubs like Jaipur or Delhi.

Why the Bus Might Be Better

For this specific leg of your Rajasthan trip, we actually recommend taking the bus instead of the train.

Buses run frequently throughout the day, allowing you to enjoy the desert scenery and arrive while the sun is still up. For the long hauls from Delhi or Jaipur it is worth it by train. But for this leg, we vote the bus.

A typical Indian sleeper style bus with berths and seats departing from Jaisalmer.

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. 

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 for Things To Do in Jodhpur? 

Ideally, plan to spend at least two days in Jodhpur.  

It isn’t a huge city (by Indian standards). So with two days of exploring you can see all the following things to do in Jodhpur. 

Appreciating the blue streets of India’s fabulously Blue City.

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.  

Perched atop a sheer, rocky cliff 120m above the city, its massive perpendicular walls look like a natural extension of the hill itself. The view from the ramparts—a sea of indigo houses stretching toward the horizon—is one of the most iconic sights in all of India.

While Rajasthan is famous for its forts, Mehrangarh stands out for its sheer scale and preservation. Though interestingly, it feels less claustrophobic than the more famous forts in Jaipur or Udaipur. It is a more relaxed (but no less grand) exploration of Rajput history.

Getting There

The main entrance is the Jai Pol (Northeast Gate).

You have two main ways to reach it:

Visitor Info

Tip: Try to arrive right when the gates open at 9:00 AM. You’ll beat the midday heat and the majority of the tour groups, giving you a chance to photograph the “Blue City” views in the soft morning light.

Views to Mehrangarh Fort from our breakfast stop in the old city.

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.

Visitor Info

Tip: The area surrounding the stepwell has been recently revitalised with some of Jodhpur’s trendiest cafes and boutiques.

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. 

Steps down to Lake Dev Kund just below the impressive fort.

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 Fort and we made our way on foot back down towards the base.

Covering nearly 72 hectares, the Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park is a shining example of Indian eco-tourism. This land was once a neglected part of the fort’s outer grounds, but it has since been meticulously restored. The park is now filled with native desert plants, showcasing the surprising biodiversity of the Thar region.

It is seriously impressive! 🙂

There are several well-marked walking trails that criss-cross the rocky park. As you walk, you’ll find yourself following the ancient city walls and strolling around the serene Dev Kund Lake. It’s a peaceful escape with different angles of Mehrangarh Fort that most tourists miss.

Visitor Info

Tip: Go as early as possible! The park is at its most magical (and coolest) at 7:00 AM.

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.

A huge kitchen heating milk for chai and sweets in Sadar Bazaar.
A man selling perfumes in the bazaar.

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. 

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. A wander through the network of blue laneways is one of the best things to do in Jodhpur. 

Blue, blue and more blue.
With a bit of purple and a splash of typically Indian colour as well.

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. 

Thus, all her life, without fail, the queen would make the journey from the Mehrangarh Fort to the temple in her palanquin to pray. 

Appreciating the cool of the white courtyard floor in the heat.
The intricate colours and carvings of Shri Gangshyam Ji Maharaj Mandir.

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. 

Our boutique room at Raj Mandir Boutique Homestay.

Have More Time in India?

Travel Planning for India & Beyond

These are the companies we use while traveling fulltime as a family and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel. 

Exit mobile version