Mehrangarh Fort
Give this most of a morning. It's described as Rajasthan's largest fort, on a hill about 150 m above the city.
2 daysHow long to stay
Budget to luxuryRough cost
Couples, Families, Friends, SoloWho it suits
RajasthanRajasthan
Is this for you?
Jodhpur is the Blue City, with a huge fort on a hill above a maze of lanes. Two days is plenty. Couples like it, and it makes sense if you're building a route west towards Jaisalmer. If forts and old lanes don't excite you and you aren't heading west, skip it.
When to go
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Go in the coloured months. The black ones are best avoided.
What to do
Jaswant Thada
A memorial (cenotaph) open to the public, and a short stop from the fort.
Umaid Bhawan Palace museum
See the museum in one part of Umaid Bhawan Palace. The rest of the palace is a luxury hotel and the city's top splurge.
Clock tower market
Go at dusk. One source says Sardar Market, the old market around the Ghanta Ghar clock tower, is lively then.
Sources differ on this, or we have only one, so check locally.
Mandore
Mandore is about 7 km out of town. Go for the evening light and sound show.
What to eat
Jodhpur eats best on the street, within a short walk of the Clock Tower. Plan on snacks more than sit-down meals, and bring an appetite for chilli and sugar in the same hour.
Makhaniya lassi
A rich, thick sweet yoghurt drink. Have it near the Clock Tower.
Vegetarian
Mawa kachori
A sweet pastry filled with khoya, or reduced milk, and nuts, then fried and soaked in syrup. Share one. It's rich.
Vegetarian
Mirchi vada
A big green chilli stuffed with spiced potato, battered and fried. Eat it hot from a stall near the Clock Tower.
Vegetarian
Pyaaz kachori
A fried pastry stuffed with spiced onion. A proper Jodhpur breakfast, and a good balance for the sweet stuff.
Vegetarian
Shahi samosa
A fried potato pastry with chutney and spices mixed into the filling and cashews added. Shahi means royal.
Vegetarian
Where to go
Gypsy Vegetarian RestaurantCentral Jodhpur
A sit-down thali with dal baati churma and gatte ki sabzi, gram flour dumplings.
Mid-range, vegetarianJanta Sweet HomeNear the Clock Tower
Mawa kachori and mirchi vada, the two snacks to try first.
Cheap eats, vegetarianShahi SamosaNear the Clock Tower
Samosas and mirchi vada at a busy snack shop.
Cheap eats, vegetarianShri Mishrilal HotelNear the Clock Tower
Makhaniya lassi, a thick sweet yoghurt drink.
Cheap eats, vegetarian
Getting there
Fly into Jodhpur airport (JDH), about 5 km from the centre. A day Vande Bharat (fast modern train) leaves for Ahmedabad's Sabarmati station at 06:05, six days a week. A day train to Jaisalmer takes about 5h35 to 7h20, and Jaipur is 4h15 by the evening Vande Bharat. Times come from booking websites, so check on IRCTC, the national site.
Where to stay
Old town and fort area One guide points you to guesthouses around Navchowkiya, Makrana Mohalla and the clock tower. Take this if you want to be in the lanes on a budget.
Sources differ on this, or we have only one, so check locally.
Ratanada and Residency Road One guide says you'll find a wider choice of mid-range hotels here. The catch is that you're further out.
Sources differ on this, or we have only one, so check locally.
Umaid Bhawan Palace One guide calls it the top splurge in the city, so book it if you're after a big treat.
Sources differ on this, or we have only one, so check locally.
