JODHPUR WITH SARDAR SAMAND LAKE (FROM JODHPUR)

At a distance of 6 km from Jodhpur Junction, Mehrangarh Fort is an ancient hill fort situated in Jodhpur City. It is one of the renowned historical forts in Rajasthan, and among the must include places in Jodhpur sightseeing packages.

Situated at 410 feet above the city, Mehrangarh Fort was built by Rao Jodha in 1459 AD when he transferred his capital from Mandore to Jodhpur. The fort was named Mehrangarh, meaning 'Fort of the Sun'. Though the fortress was originally started in 1459 by Rao Jodha, most of the fort which stands today dates from the period of Jaswant Singh of Marwar (1638 -78). Today, this fort is preserved and owned by Maharaja Gaj Singh II - the current Rathore ruler.

According to popular folklore, it is believed that to develop the Mehrangarh Fort, the Rao Jodha displaced a hermit called Cheeria Nathji (The lord of birds), who was the hill's lone human occupant. Being angry upon this forced displacement, .....

At a distance of 1 km from Mehrangarh Fort and 5 km from Jodhpur Junction, Jaswant Thada is a royal cenotaph located near Mehrangarh Fort entrance in Jodhpur city of Rajasthan state. It is famed as one of the most beautiful white marble cenotaphs in Rajasthan and also one of the popular Jodhpur tourist places.

Jaswant Thada was built by Sardar Singh of Jodhpur in 1899 CE in memory of his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. This cenotaph is an example of architectural brilliance in India. Famed as the Taj Mahal of Marwar, Jaswant Thada is a perfect example of Rajputana style of architecture. It is a white marble memorial, built out of intricately carved sheets of marble. These sheets are extremely thin and polished so that they emit a warm glow when illuminated by the sun.

The main memorial has been built like a temple with intricately marble stone carvings, and impressive sculptures, frescos, domes and pillars. The cenotaph has two more tombs within it. The cenotaph of Maharaja .....

At a distance of 3.5 km from Jodhpur Junction and 6 km from Jodhpur Fort, Umaid Bhawan Palace is a royal palace located on Chittar Hill in Jodhpur City of Rajasthan, India. It is one of the world's largest private residences and also one of the popular Jodhpur tourist places.

Umaid Bhawan Palace is named after Maharaja Umaid Singh, grandfather of the present Maharaja Gaj Singh. Maharaja Umaid Singh had laid the foundations of this opulent 347 room edifice on 18th November 1929. However, the construction work started in 1943. It took 16 years to complete. This sandstone monument is the only 20th-century palace that was built for a noble cause. The purpose was to give employment to the people of Jodhpur during a long period of drought and famine.

Situated on Chittar Hill, the highest point in Jodhpur, the palace is a blend of Indian and European architectural influences. Edwardian architect Henry Vaughan .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Jodhpur Junction and 3 km from Jodhpur Fort, Ghanta Ghar, also known as clock tower, is situated in Jodhpur city of Rajasthan. It is one of the major landmarks in Jodhpur and also one of the top places to visit in Jodhpur.
Ghanta Ghar was constructed by Maharaja Sardar Singh Ji of Jodhpur. Beside the tower, there is the Sardar Market that is frequented by tourists on shopping spree. From this market, tourists can purchase Rajasthani textiles, clay figurines, miniature camels and elephants, marble inlay work and classic silver jewellery. One can also shop here for the finest variety of spices. It is a great place to ramble around at leisure.

Timings: 10 AM to 9 PM

At a distance of 61 km from Jodhpur and 173 km from Bikaner, Osian is an ancient town located in the Jodhpur district of Rajasthan in India. It is an oasis in the Thar Desert, and has been known as the 'Khajuraho of Rajasthan' for its temples. This is one of the popular pilgrimage sites in Rajasthan and also one of the top places to visit as part of Jodhpur tour.

According to early history, Osian was a center for Brahmanism. It was a major stop for camel caravans during the Gupta period. The city was a major religious center of the kingdom of Marwar during the Gurjara Pratihara dynasty. Tradition states that, after being abandoned for a time, the village was re-established by Utpaladeva.

Osian is famous as home to the cluster of 18 ruined Brahmanical and Jain temples dating from the 8th to 11th centuries AD. The shrines are renowned for artwork and carvings. These temples, which include the Sachiya Mata Temple and Jain Temple, are built using red sandstone with Mahavira as .....

At a distance of 8 km from Mehrangarh Fort and 9.5 km from Jodhpur Junction, Mandore Garden is situated at Mandore, the former capital of Maharajas of Marwar before the establishment of Jodhpur. This is a popular picnic spot for the people of Jodhpur.

The extensive Mandore Garden has high rock hill terrace, making it a popular local attraction. The cenotaphs of former rulers of Jodhpur can also be seen inside the Mandore Garden. These cenotaphs are not of usual shape and are built along the lines of a Hindu temple. These are built of red sandstone and are four stories high, with fine columns and an elegant spire. The cenotaphs of the Maharani are set on a rocky outcrop over the hill. One of the most prominent cenotaphs is that of Maharaja Ajit Singh which was built in 1793 CE.

The garden also has a hall of heroes which holds idols of various folk heroes of the past. Their statues, carved out of rocks and enhanced with brilliant bright colors can be found in this hall. Adjacent .....

At a distance of 8 km from Mehrangarh Fort and 10 km from Jodhpur Junction, Balsamand Lake is an artificial lake situated at Mandore on Jodhpur - Mandore Road. It is one of the prominent places to visit in Jodhpur.

Balsamand Lake was built in 1159 AD by Gurjara-Pratihara rulers as a reservoir to supply water in the Mandore region. The lake has a length of one km, breadth of 50 m and a depth of 15 m. The lake is surrounded by lush green gardens that house groves of mango, papaya, pomegranate, guava and plum. An artificial cascading waterfall brings water from the reservoir to the gardens. The embankments of the lake, in front of the palace, have domed structure that offers fabulous views of the lake. Visitors can also see animals and birds like peacock, jackal and blue bull roaming in the area.

On the banks of the lake is the Balsamand Palace that was built by Maharaja Sur Singh in the 1936. The palace used to be the summer resort of the Maharajas of Jodhpur and the palace .....

At a distance of 52 km from Jodhpur, Sardar Samand Lake is an artificial lake situated on Jodhpur - Pali road in Rajasthan. It is one of the major picnic places to visit as part of Jodhpur trip.

This artificial lake as well as the route to the lake is a virtual treat to nature lovers and photographers. The lake attracts several migratory and local birds such as the yellow-legged green pigeon, Himalayan griffon, and Dalmatian pelican, making it a bird watcher's paradise. On the way to the lake, there is a wildlife area, where one can spot animals like Blackbuck, Neelgai, and Chinkara.

The summer palace of Maharaja Umaid Singh, Sardar Samand Palace stands on a hill overlooking the Sardar Samand Lake, among the best places to visit near Jodhpur. The palace is a magnificent Art Deco hunting lodge that was built in 1933. It remains the Royal Family's .....

At a distance of 2.5 km from Jodhpur Junction and 3 km from Mehrangarh Fort, Sardar Government Museum is located in the middle of the beautiful Umaid Public Gardens on the High Court Road in Jodhpur. It is one of the most famous museum of Rajasthan and also one of the best places to visit in Jodhpur.

Sardar Government Museum was established in 1909 and formally opened to public on 17th March, 1936. Only a century old, the museum was built during the rule of Maharaja Umaid Singh under the able guidance of Edwardian architect, Henry Vaughan Lanchester. The museum is named after Maharaja Sardar Singh of Jodhpur.

The museum is renowned for its fascinating exhibition of the historic items of the bygone era. There are various exhibits and galleries inside the museum which comprise miniature paintings, textiles, stuffed animals like birds, weapons, and local crafts. The museum also exhibits paintings of the rulers, scriptures and images of Jain Tirthankars. The military section of .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Jodhpur Junction and 4 km from Mehrangarh Fort, Umaid Garden or Umed Garden is a public garden situated in the heart of Jodhpur city. It is one of the popular gardens of Jodhpur and also one of the top places to visit in Jodhpur.

Spread over an area of 82 acres, the famous Umaid Garden was developed by Maharaja Umed Singh and is named after him only. The garden has five separate gates around it to facilitate entry to the garden from different directions. It has lush green lawns with beautiful roses and other seasoned flowers. A walk in the lush environs is refreshing and rejuvenates mind and body. There is also a museum, artistically designed fountains, a library and a zoo inside the garden.

Viceroy Willington of the British Raj had inaugurated the zoo. The zoo is home to tigers, lion, zebra, ostrich and an emu. Monkeys are also seen swinging from trees. A 'Walk-in Aviary' in the zoo was constructed on the garden in 1978. The aviary houses different .....