Page 386 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

384  WESTERN INDIA

t Jodhpur

With the majestic Mehrangarh Fort towering over opulent
palaces, colourful bazaars and the sands of the Thar Desert,
Jodhpur epitomizes all the romance and feudal splendour of
Rajasthan. Now the second-largest city in the state, Jodhpur
was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha, the Rathore ruler of the
kingdom of Marwar. Strategically located on the overland trade
route, it soon became a flourishing trade centre. Its merchant
class, known as the Marwaris (see pp376), have retained their
entrepreneurial skills and continue to run many of India’s leading
business houses. The special riding breeches, known the world
over as jodhpurs, were designed here.

T Mehrangarh Fort lined with henna artists who Blue-washed houses around Jodhpur’s
See pp386–7. decorate women’s palms with Mehrangarh Fort
intricate, lacy patterns.
= Sardar Bazaar An interesting building in carving is the chhatri (cenotaph)
Open daily. this area is the early 17th- of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II
Jodhpur’s bazaar lies in the century Taleti Mahal, its carved (r.1873–95), whose innovative
heart of the old city, which is balconies supported by temple irrigation schemes brought
surrounded by a 10-km (6-mile) pillars. Built for a favourite royal water and prosperity to this
wall, pierced by eight gates. concubine, it now houses a parched land. Local people,
Clustered around a clock tower school. There are several other who believe the maharaja
(built in 1912), the bazaar is a beautiful houses in the bazaar has retained his healing touch,
fascinating area to explore, area, mostly made of red sand- come regularly to offer prayer
with its little shops selling silver stone and heavily carved. and flowers at his shrine.
jewellery, lacquer bangles, tie- Cenotaphs of subsequent
dyed fabrics, soft camel-leather T Jaswant Thada rulers and members of the royal
shoes, puppets, clay figurines Open daily. & families are also located here,
and colourful heaps of sweets This elegant pillared marble though earlier rulers have
and spices. The pavements are memorial with fine lattice their memorials at Mandore.

Jodhpur City Centre
1 Mehrangarh Fort
2 Sardar Bazaar
Jaswant
Thada Nagauri 3 Jaswant Thada
Gate 4 Umaid Bhavan Palace
R O A D MANDORE,
OSIAN &
Balsamand
Padamsar Ranisar OLD CITY
Talab Talab M A N D O R E
Mehrangarh
Fort
R O A D Sardar Clock Tower Mertia JAIPUR
N O V E C H O K I YA Bazaar Gate M E R T I A G A T E Paota
Bus Stand
Umaid
N A I
Gardens Rai ka Bagh
Station
Sojati S A R A K RAI KA
Gate
BAGH
M.G.H OSPITAL ROAD STATION RD
Jalori
Gate G A U S A L A R O A D
Jodhpur ROAD UMAID BHAVAN ROAD
Station Umaid Bhavan
AI R P ORT Palace
Sardar
0 metres 500 Samand Lake RATANDA ROAD
0 yards 500 Airport
5 km (3 miles)
For keys to symbols see back flap
384-385_EW_India.indd 384 26/04/17 11:46 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.4)
Date 25th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm