Jodhpur : the bustling blue city

17 years.

That’s the amount of time I have spent living under the sky of the blue city, Jodhpur.

I’ve been to a bucket full of places but this particular city never gets replaced by any place else.

Maybe it’s because I am used to being here or my home is here or because the heritage and the traditions of this city draws me back each time I leave it.

Well obviously it’s my favorite city otherwise why would it even reserve its place in the “New York times's list of best places in the world”?

(Giggles)

If you ever pay a visit to Jodhpur, ditch the guide while you are in the streets of the old city.

Purposefully, throw the map in your bag and set off to a confusing, blissful, sweaty (Yeah its way too hot here), aromatic journey in the labyrinth.

Yes.

The streets are so confusing that if you don’t have GPS in your hand then you’ll probably end up nowhere.

And that’s the real fun. Getting lost in the maze is real fun.

You’ll get to see the traditions that still breathe in those lanes. Every narrow street has a smell of its own. From the flowery scent of marigold garlands to the disgusting scent of sewage water,

from humble ladies in their ghagras feeding the stray animals to the long mustached, turban wearing old man smoking a cigar.

You will see and feel everything.

The rush, the bazaar, the sound of those huge bells ringing every now and then in those shrines that are present at every corner of the streets, the bustling traffic and the crowd are what makes Jodhpur and especially India worth remembering.

Talking about blue city, there are several reasons why we call it that.

1. The houses and the lanes are painted blue because this colour keeps their homes cool during summer.

2. Many Brahmins lived in the old or blue part of the city and the color represents Lord Shiva.

Before walking our way into the city let me take you to its flashback.

If we put some light on the history of Jodhpur then we’ll come to know that it was also known as the period of the kings. (I guess it all sums it up to why we call it a royal place)

It’s fully jam packed with histories, culture and traditions.

This city was founded by the member of the Rathore clan, Rao Jodha who was the Rajput Chief. He conquered the territory of Mehrangarh (Yeah I think you’ve already pictured the fort in your mind because it’s the city’s centre of attraction) and even built a temple there which still stand even now.

The temple was meant to protect them from a curse rendered by the saint who lived in the hill before Rao conquered them.

Rao Jodha had made Mandore which was his hometown to serve as the capital, but later he shifted the capital to Jodhpur.

Jumping ahead under the Mughal Empire, the state owed fealty to the Mughal kings hence exposing Jodhpur to new architectural styles. The Mughals Lords were tough and so Jodhpur had no other option but to submit. Veer Durgadas Rathore restored the throne to its rightful owner-Maharaja, Ajit Singh after Aurangzeb presided for a short period.

Years later, the Mughal Empire declined and as a result, Marwar kingdom experienced some conflicts. The State was aided by the Marathas who helped it to sabotage and overthrow state Mughal lords from power. After independence, Jodhpur remained as a princely state under the British and joined the Union of India after being convinced by Sardar Patel.

In the year 1956, Jodhpur was made part of Rajasthan.

Hope you didn’t sleep. Did you?

My apologies.

But one should always know someone’s story before walking into it.

Wake up! We are in today.

Okay so what is my favorite thing about Jodhpur?

The fort and the food.

The two favorite Fs of my life.

Let’s talk about the food first.

If you visit a traditional hotel or restaurant and you feel mesmerized by looking at the menu then just order a rajasthani thali.

For those of you who have unfortunately never had a thali before then let me tell you that it’s basically a platter with tiny little array of different dishes. In a nutshell, it’s the short story of a menu put on a plate.

The idea behind the thali is that you get 6 different flavours in one plate: sweet, salty, bitter, sour, astringent and spicy. It’s basically a party for your taste buds, which makes it very fun to eat!

Caution – your taste buds have to be strong enough to bath in the spice of the red chilli.

Now grab your shoes, put on a hat take a water bottle and come with me.

This is Jodhpur!

Mehrangarh fort :

Mehrangarh Fort rises 125 meters over Jodhpur making it the city’s main landmark. The walk itself is a little steep, but you’ll be stopping to take pictures and stare at the grand doorways and balconies so often that you’ll hardly notice the incline.

To see how the rathores lived visit the museum showcasing various artifacts like elephant howdahs (seats that would have been used to ride elephants), palanquins (covered day beds used to transport the nobility), as well as paintings, turbans, textiles, armor and wood crafts.

Sardar market :

If you are a shopaholic then this is just the right place for you.

Whether it's an antique or a present day vase, you will find everything here.

Sardar Market comprises the labyrinthine bazaars surrounding the Clock Tower in Jodhpur.

The beautiful shops have products that range from lakhs to hundreds. That’s the measurement of diversity of the bazaar.

Fun fact - Some of the furniture for Game Of Thrones were manufactured here.

Umaid Bhawan palace :

This 347 roomed massive palace is named one of the largest private residencies in the world.

This is where the royal family still resides.

Don't forget to see the vintage cars which will definitely leave you dreamy.

Inside, you’ll see various courts, old discussion halls, artifacts, lamps and all the things that still have an importance even after hundreds of years.

Jaswant thada

This is a beautiful memorial in marble often described as the “Taj Mahal of Marwar”.

It was built by Maharaja Sardar Singh of Jodhpur State in 1899 in memory of his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, and serves as the cremation ground for the royal Rajput family of Marwar.

When you’ll step in, the tranquility of the enchanting architecture will fill your mind and body.

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As far as I’ve seen and travelled these were my favorite places.

When the day nears to its end, the best way to sum up your trip is to witness the sunset from the fort area and absorb the beauty of those little blue houses and your whole time that you had for which you’ll eventually feel grateful.