Last Updated on: 7th January 2026, 07:59 pm
With a population of around 1.6 million, Jodhpur may be Rajasthan’s second-largest city, but it’s also one of the state’s most charming. Known as the ‘Blue City’ thanks to its vibrant blue houses, Jodhpur is also known for Mehrangarh Fort, one of India’s most impressive. But there’s still plenty more to see, and for those staying several days or more, this guide to the top things to do in Jodhpur has you covered.
Before being absorbed into modern-day India, Jodhpur was the capital of the mighty Rajput Kingdom of Marwar. It was established in 1459 by Rao Jodha, after whom the city was named. And Jodha’s descendants would continue to rule the city for centuries, gradually adding more eye-catching structures.
Though not always the most laidback place, there’s a reason why so many architecture and culture enthusiasts include Jodhpur in their itineraries.
Following this guide to the city’s top sites, you can learn more about where to stay and how to reach Jodhpur at the end of the article.
Around The Old City
The best way to start your explorations of Jodhpur is to explore the Old City on foot. Near the entrance, you’ll find the iconic Clock Tower, known locally as Ghanta Ghar. It was constructed in the 19th century by Maharaja Sardar Singh.
A bit deeper into the district, you can find Toorji Ka Jhalara, a free attraction and popular gathering point. It was added in the 18th century by Queen Maharani Toorji.
As we’ll cover shortly, Jodhpur is centered around Mehrangarh Fort. But before or after your visit, don’t miss the chance to explore the narrow and colorful alleyways on either side of it.
It’s here that you’ll find some of Jodhpur’s best street art, which you can learn more about in our dedicated guide.
Without paying the entry ticket and going inside the fort, visitors can walk along the top of the hill outside of it for free. And from here, one can easily see why Jodhpur is known as the ‘Blue City.’
But why blue?
The general area surrounding the fort has traditionally been known as Brahmapuri. And in Rajput times, it was common for local Brahmins to paint their houses blue to signify their status.
Interestingly, the blue paint also worked to cool the homes in the intense summer heat, and so it became a longstanding tradition.
Also be sure to explore the west side of the fort, which is a bit more authentic than the rather touristy east side. With that said, most visitors would be best off staying reasonably close to the Clock Tower (more below).
Mehrangarh Fort
As mentioned, Jodhpur is centered around Mehrangarh Fort, which sits atop a 125 m-high hill. And exploring it is arguably the top thing to do in town. The fort is open daily from 9:00-17:00 and cost Rs 600 for foreigners.
Getting there at 9:00, I encountered dozens of tourists already lined up, but the crowds would be much worse upon my exit a few hours later.
This was actually my second visit to Mehrangarh Fort, the first time being roughly fifteen years prior! Back then, you could mostly have it all to yourself at any time of day, but India’s recent domestic tourism boom has really changed things.
Before visiting Merhangarh Fort, bear in mind that as huge as it looks from a distance, you’re essentially just paying for the palace in the center. Most other parts of the grand fortress are inaccessible to visitors, with the exception of a temple which we’ll talk about below.
Be that as it may, the palace within is easily one of Rajasthan’s – and India’s – finest.
Established by Jodhpur’s founder Rao Jodha in 1459, many of the fort’s contributions can be dated from the mid-17th century to the mid-19th century.
Upon entering the main palace area, the first room features a collection of howdah, or elephant seats. They date to an era when elephants were regularly used in both warfare and religious ceremonies.
Among various smaller artifacts, you’ll also find palanquins for royal women who would be carried around by as many as eight men!
Also on display are some examples of Marwar miniature style paintings. Each medieval Rajput kingdom developed its own painting style that was in turn inspired by the Persian miniature techniques that had been imported by the Mughals.
Venturing further, you’ll encounter the Sheesh Mahal, or Mirror Palace. Sheesh Mahals are common at Rajput palaces, though this is a particularly impressive example.
Like miniature painting, these halls were another feature borrowed from ancient Persia via the Mughals. But the style was adapted to the local culture and customs, with various Hindu deities making appearances in the art.
One of Mehrangarh’s most impressive rooms is the Phool Mahal, or Palace of Flowers. Built in the 18th century, the whole room is intricately decorated with various colors, but primarily gold. Visitors can’t enter the room, but only view it from a distance.
Another major highlight is Sardar Vilas, an 18th-century palace room that now features excellent examples of 19th-century woodcraft. The views from the nearby terrace, meanwhile, are some of the fort’s best.
Near the end of your visit, you’ll walk through the Jhanki Mahal. Built in 1860, it was intended as a space from which royal women would be able to observe important ceremonies while keeping distance from the men.
The room now displays traditional jhulas, or cradles. Interestingly, while most were used for actual infants, others were used for the worship of Krishna in his Baby Krishna form.
After admiring the architecture from a peaceful open courtyard, you’ll find the Moti Mahal, or Pearl Palace. Interestingly, it was built in the 16th century, making it one of the palace’s oldest surviving rooms.
Finished with the palace, visitors can also visit the Shree Chamunda Mata Temple at the far southern end of the fort. It’s a bit of a walk to get there and the temple itself is tiny. But from behind it, you can get more great views of the Blue City down below.
Jaswant Thada
Upon exiting Merangarh Fort, another one of Jodhpur’s architectural highlights is within relatively short walking distance. From the fort exit, expect to reach Jaswant Thada within 15-20 minutes.
Alternatively, for those who want to take photos without (or at least with fewer) people in the shot, save it for another day and get there when it opens at 9:00.
At the time of writing, entrance to Jaswant Thada costs just Rs 50.
Jaswant Thada functions as the cenotaph of Jaswant Singh II, who ruled Marwar from 1873-95. And it also houses smaller cenotaphs various other members of the Rathore dynasty.
Interestingly, until Jaswant Singh II’s reign, the royal cremation grounds had remained at the original capital of Mandore (see below), despite Jodhpur already having been 400 years old by this point.
The main structure is known for its intricate marble latticework, while visitors are free to step inside and admire the elegant interior.
Also nearby is a small lake, while on your walk over, you can also spot a statue of Rao Jodha, the city’s founder.
Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park
Speakng of Rao Jodha, an interesting nature park named after him can also be found in the general area of Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant Thada.
But for those who are short on time, the Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park is far from an essential thing to do in Jodhpur.
Spread over 72 hectares, the ecological park has been open to visitors since 2011. But had I not read this, I would’ve thought it had just opened.
While, in theory, visitors have four trails to choose from, only two were recommended at the time of my visit: a walk through a gulley and a walk along an ancient wall.
Nevertheless, I decided to explore the park further, hoping that I’d be able to exit via one of the multiple exits featured on the local maps.
But each one I encountered was closed, and I spent quite a bit of time backtracking to get back to where I’d started.
While it’s a nice way to escape Jodhpur’s hectic traffic, it doesn’t quite feel like you’re in a desert. With that said, entry costs a mere Rs 100.
The Government Museum
Located about fifteen minutes on foot from the Clock Tower, visitors with an interest in the history and art of the region should be sure to visit the Government Museum, also known as the Sardar Museum.
Entry costs Rs 100, and the museum opens at 9:45 every day except Mondays. Unfortunately, cameras are completely forbidden, though smartphone photography is allowed.
The spacious museum features an impressive collection of miniature paintings and stone sculptures.
Arguably the most interesting of the bunch is a pair of massive carved pillars discovered in Mandore (see below) that were likely part of torana gate. Dating as far back as the 4th century AD, they’re adorned with various images of Krishna.
Mandore Garden
Located 9 km north of central Jodhpur, Mandore Garden is an essential side trip during your stay in the city. A tuk tuk from town should set you back just a couple hundred rupees, while entrance to the main park area seems to be free.
You could think of it as a mix of a historical site and a modern park, and one could spend anywhere between a couple of hours and half a day here. The grounds also host numerous cafes for a reasonable price.
Well before the founding of Jodhpur, Mandore was originally ruled by a dynasty known as the Pratiharas of Mandavyapura since as early as the 6th century AD. But the area is believed to have been inhabited since at least the 4th century AD.
But much later in the early 15th century, the Rathore chief Rao Chunda received Mandore Fort in dowry upon marrying a local princess. He was also helping protect the region from the encroaching Delhi Sultanate.
The Rathores would then continue to rule out of Mandore until 1459, when, as mentioned above, Rao Jodha went on to found Jodhpur.
Notably, even after the founding of Jodhpur, Mandore would continue to serve as the cremation grounds for the Rathore clan. A prominent part of the park features various red sandstone chhatris (cenotaphs) as well as elaborate Hindu temples.
But as mentioned above, that eventually changed upon the construction of Jaswant Thada.
For those who’ve already been to Chittorgarh Fort, Rama Kumbha of the Mewar dynasty would capture Mandore at one point, and so would Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
But Mandore would largely remain in the hands of the Rathores since they first took control.
Aside from the cenotaph area, visitors can pay Rs 100 to enter Janana Palace. Built during the reign of Maharaja Ajit Singh (r. 1707-1724), it’s now home to a museum that houses various sculptures and artifacts discovered in the area.
Also be sure to head up to Mandore Fort, Mehrangarh Fort’s predecessor. Archaeologists have discovered various artifacts here dating back to Mandore’s earliest days.
Various temple remains have been found as well, with some of them still active.
Umaid Bhawan Palace
Umaid Bhawan Palace, the most recent attraction in this guide to Jodhpur, was constructed during the reign of Maharaja Umaid Singh (1918 -1947).
The palace currently functions as a luxury hotel (and home to Umaid Singh’s grandson). But there’s also a museum section that ordinary visitors can enter, and architecture enthusiasts should find it worth the journey from central Jodhpur.
The museum currently costs Rs 100 for foreigners with no extra fee for cameras.
The elaborate palace was designed by English architect Henry Vaughan Lanchester, and it seamlessly fuses together Indian Rajput and British architecture.
The stone was quarried from nearby, and it took three thousand workers over fifteen years to complete.
The museum displays various artifacts from the late Rajput era, as well as information about the life of Maharaja Umaid Singh, not to mention the palace’s construction process.
The palace’s interior was designed by Polish artist Stefan Norblin. Interestingly, he was immediately called to action after a ship importing Art Deco furniture from London tragically sunk!
Not only was Norblin tasked with handling the furniture, but also the paintings.
Fascinatingly, the Imperial Throne Room features the artist’s Art Deco renditions of scenes from the Ramayana. They’ve recently been restored thanks to a team of Polish conservationists, and are probably the world’s only such works in existence.
Additional Info
Jodhpur is well-connected by train with other cities throughout Rajasthan, including Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, and Ajmer. Oddly, however, you can’t reach Jodhpur directly from Udaipur, so you’ll have to transfer in Ajmer, a city near Pushkar.
Coming from further away, you can reach Jodhpur directly from major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and more.
Jodhpur can also be reached by plane from Delhi or Mumbai.
If you’re doing a long trip through India, it’s best to create an account on the official Indian Railways (IRCTC) website. But that’s much easier said than done!
If you’re just doing a shorter trip, it’s best to book train tickets through 12GoAsia. You’ll pay a significantly higher fee, but it’s a much smoother experience.
The above link is an affiliate link, but I did use 12GoAsia a few times before I got my IRCTC account set up and I had no issues.
With a population of over 1 million, Jodhpur is Rajasthan’s second-largest city. But most of its touristic attractions are located around Mehrangarh Fort, an area generally referred to as the ‘Old City.’
As a whole, the Old City is quite large. But it would be wise to stay toward the east, within easy walking distance of the Clock Tower (Ghanta Ghar). The reason is that you can’t hire an Uber from within the Old City, with the app making you walk out of the gate on Clock Tower Road in order to get picked up.
If you stay within the Old City, many attractions will be accessible on foot, but there are still some more remote landmarks that you’ll definitely want to use Uber to see.
The downside of the Old City is that reckless motorbike drivers make walking highly unpleasant, while I had to deal with groups of people gathering in the streets and shouting well past midnight. Furthermore, Jodhpur’s Old City is home to some of the priciest restaurants I’ve encountered in India, with very few budget options in the area.
Nevertheless, it’s still the best location for shorter stays. I stayed at Madhur Villa Guest House which is situated within a family home not far from the fort. The family was very kind and the location was great (it was right by a coffee shop), though I did experience the noise issues mentioned above.
Other highly-rated budget options in the Old City include Dev Kothi – Boutique Heritage Stay and Krishna Prakash Heritage Haveli. And for those able to splurge, Khamma Heritage has excellent reviews.
You may instead decide to stay in a more modern section of Jodhpur and commute to the Old City. In that case, Aashirwad Homestay and Baijoo Niwas both seem like good options.