Tourist Places in Jodhpur

Umed Bhawan Palace is one of the largest private residences in the world. This is only palace to have a working elevator in India. Located in Jodhpur, a part of this palace is a heritage hotel today. The palace has 347 rooms, which were occupied by the royal family of Jodhpur royals in the past. Today, it is one of the best luxury hotels in India and has been recognized for the same by numerous entities. The palace was built in Beaux Arts Style in a mixture of western and eastern architectural styles. No trip to Jodhpur is complete without spending a few hours at this palace. If you wish to enjoy the real beauty of the palace, visit during winter mornings.

Balsamand Lake is a lake situated 5 km from Jodhpur on Jodhpur-Mandore Road. This lake is a popular picnic spot, built in 1159 AD by Gurjara-Pratihara rulers. It was designed as a water reservoir to provide water to Mandore. The lake has a length of one km, breadth of 50 m and a depth of 15 m. The Balsamand Lake Palace was built later as a summer palace on its shore. The lake is surrounded by lush green gardens that house groves of trees like mango, papaya, pomegranate, guava and plum. Animals and birds like the jackal and peacock also call this place home.

To the left of the Mehrangarh Fort complex is the Jaswant Thada of Jodhpur, Rajasthan. It is a 19th century royal cenotaph built in commemoration of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, the 33rd Rathore ruler of Jodhpur. The son of Maharaja Jaswant Singh, Maharaja Sardar Singh, in the memory of his father, built the Jaswant Thada. The cenotaph has two more tombs within it. Near to this are the royal crematorium and three other cenotaphs. Famous Jaswant Thada in Jodhpur, India is an example of architectural brilliance in India. It is a white marble memorial, built out of intricately carved sheets of marble. The carving shows the genius of the sculptors. These stones are extremely thin and polished. As a result, the outside surface of the monument emits a warm glow when the sunrays fall on its surface. There is also beautiful marble jali work on the cenotaph. You can have some nice views from the terrace in front of the cenotaph. The cenotaph of Maharaja Jaswant Singh displays portraits of the rulers and Maharajas of Jodhpur. The main memorial has been built like a temple. To visit the Thada you have to go through the rocky hills. This also lends a mystic aura to the whole visit. Do make sure to visit this architectural delight while on a tour to Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

Osian is an old town situated in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. This place is known by another name which is Khajuraho of Rajasthan because of its various temples. This town is a combination of Jain and Brahmanical temples and is a famous religious site visited by many tourists from all around the country. The area of the town is surrounded by hamlets and golden sand dunes. It is a famous pilgrimage site for the Jain communities but today most of the temples are in ruins. There are about 18 shrines in the group out of which the famous ones include the Sachiya Mata temple, the Sun Temple and the main Jain Temple which is built in dedication of Mahavira. These temples attract tourists by their grace and beautiful work of art. The Sachiya Mata temple is dedicated to the ninth incarnation Of Goddess Durga who is also known as the Mother of Truth. The interior of the temple has beautiful paintings and sculptures and is a perfect example of the medieval period of art and architecture. The Surya temple dedicated to the Sun God also houses the idols of Goddess Durga and Lord Ganesha. On the ceiling of the temple you will get to see images of serpents that are coiled around the lotus flowers. The temples in Osian also comprised of the Harihara temples which were built in the 9th century. Lord Harihara is said to be the union of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. These temples exhibit a complete different form of architecture as compared to the other temples in the city. The Mahavira temple which is a famous Jain temple here also symbolizes stunning architectural design and is adorned with beautifully carved pillars. Although many temples here have been destroyed over the period of time but the charm of the city still attracts the visitors from far and wide.

Ramdevra Temple was built by the ruler of Bikaner, Maharaja Ganga Singh in 1931 to pay homage to a Hindu folklore saint, Baba Ramdevji. As the legend goes Baba Ramdevji dedicated his entire life to helping the downtrodden, and he took Samadhi in the year 1442. Osiya is situated about 25 miles (40 km) from Jodhpur. It is connected by roads and trains with Jodhpur and Pokharan.

Kaylana Lake is 8 kilometres to the west of Jodhpur City on the road to Jaisalmer. This is a manmade lake built by Pratap Singh in 1872. It is a huge lake which is spread over a vast range of 84 square kilometres and has a range of depth between 35-50 feet depending upon the level of water. Birdwatching enthusiasts are in for a treat as sedge of Siberian Cranes stopover the lake in winter season. Kaylana Lake acts as the sole source of consumption water to the city of Jodhpur and neighbouring areas.

The century-old clock tower is an old city landmark surrounded by the vibrant sounds, sights and smells of Sardar Market, which is marked by triple gateways at its northern and southern ends. The narrow, winding lanes of the old city spread out in all directions from here. Westward, you plunge into the old city’s commercial heart, with crowded alleys and bazaars selling vegetables, spices, sweets, silver and handicrafts.