Jodhpur, the “Blue city” of Rajasthan, is the second largest city by population in Rajasthan. Historically the capital of the Mawar kingdom, it has remained the cultural centre of Rajasthan for over 500 years since its founding in the 15th century. Today, Jodhpur is a cultural and historical marvel to explore. From its ancient forts and historic buildings, to its vast bazaars and artisan craftsmen, Jodhpur has something for everyone to discover. Read on for our list of the top 8 things to do in Jodhpur.
- Interactive Map
- 8 things to do & places to visit in Jodhpur
- 1. Marvel at the Meharanga Fort
- 2. Visit the “Mini Taj Mahal”, Jaswant Thada
- 3. Step into Toorji Ka Jhalra Bavdi, the ancient “step well”
- 4. Visit Ghanta Ghar, the historic clock tower
- 5. Get lost in the blue streets and discover the local graffiti
- 6. Watch the sunset over the city from a scenic viewpoint
- 7. Try some Rajasthani delicacies at a historical restaurant
- 8. Go shopping for some silver jewellery at one of the local jewellers
- Where to stay in Jodhpur
- How to get to Jodhpur
- Best time to visit Jodhpur
- Jaipur or Jodhpur: Which one should I visit?
Interactive Map
8 things to do & places to visit in Jodhpur
1. Marvel at the Meharanga Fort
Perched atop the hill at the centre of the city, Meharanga Fort dates all the way back to the 14th century and has been a vital defensive and cultural location for the Mawar kingdom that ruled this area of India. It was the home of the Mawar Rajput clan until around 100 years ago, and now is open to visitors. Featuring grand entertaining halls adorned with hand-carved marble, the fort is truly a must-visit if you come to Jodhpur.
Meharanga Fort is the number 1 thing to do when you visit Jodhpur, and is well worth the price of entry. Foreigners pay 600 rupees (roughly 6 euros) to enter, which includes a free audio guide available in multiple languages. It will take around 2 hours to tour the fort completely. We recommend visiting in the morning or afternoon to avoid the heat of the midday sun and the crowds of people!
Top tip: Foreign students can pay a discounted price of 400 rupees / 4 euros if they can show a valid student id. This applies to most tourist attractions in India, so don’t forget to bring yours if you want to save some money!
Why not see all the sights of Jodhpur with a full-day sightseeing tour? Check out this full-day sightseeing package on GetYourGuide.com
2. Visit the “Mini Taj Mahal”, Jaswant Thada
Just a short 10-15 minute walk from the entrance to the Meharanga fort is Jaswant Thada, commonly referred to as the “Mini Taj Mahal”. Built as a memorial to the late Maharaja Jaswant Singhjill by his son Maharaja Sardar Singhjill in the late 19th century, this temple is now open to the public and costs 50 rupees / 50 cents to enter. Carved from white marble and sat next to a small lake, it offers great views of the city of Jodhpur and the fort from above.
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3. Step into Toorji Ka Jhalra Bavdi, the ancient “step well”
Nestled in the old historic centre of Jodhpur is Toorji Ka Jhalra Bavdi. This ancient well, or “step well” was a place for locals to get fresh drinking water all throughout the year. Carved out of sandstone in the 18th century, this traditional well is over 4 meters deep and features ornate carved steps that snake their way down to the base where the water is accessible. This “step well,” traditional to this part of India and Rajasthan in general, stands out as one of the best-preserved and meticulously maintained examples you can explore. The step well is free to visit, and if you’re feeling daring, you can even join the locals for a swim at the bottom!
4. Visit Ghanta Ghar, the historic clock tower
Built in the late 19th century by the Maharaja of Jodhpur at the time, Ghanta Ghar, also known as the clocktower of Jodhpur, was built at the centre of the city at the time. Used by locals it was the single source of time tracking available to people then living in the city, and was used to plan their days. Now at the centre of a large market, you can shop for souvenirs whilst you visit. For a small fee you can visit the top of the clocktower for panoramic views of the local area.
Don’t miss Shri Mishrilal Hotel at the base of the clock tower. A famous lassi and sweet shop in Jodhpur that is over 50 years old! They are famous for their “Makhaniya” lassi which is spiced with saffron and cardamom and can only be found in the city of Jodhpur! Make sure you try it if you have the chance.
5. Get lost in the blue streets and discover the local graffiti
For people who have been to Chefchaouen in Morocco, this part of the city of Jodhpur will be very familiar. Originally locals painted their homes blue to help regulate the inside temperature and to deter insects such as mosquitos. Now mainly to attract tourism, the blue buildings of Jodhpur are iconic and very beautiful to explore on foot. Some parts of the city are more blue than others, and feature some local graffiti. You can check out the blue corridor and Moroccan house map markers for some of the best maintained areas and photography hot spots. Just a short walk away from these areas is the start of the sunset viewpoint trek, which we talk about in the next point!
6. Watch the sunset over the city from a scenic viewpoint
Sunset point Jodhpur is just a short 15-20 minute hike up from the main blue part of the city. It offers views to both the west and the east as it is perched atop a ridgeline, so from here you can also watch the sunrise if you are so inclined!
At the top there is a small cafe run by a local Rajasthani woman, offering cups of chai and some basic snacks which you can enjoy on the top of her roof terrace as the sun sets over the horizon. This is the best place to view the sunset from in Jodhpur and is not to be missed!
7. Try some Rajasthani delicacies at a historical restaurant
Whilst maybe not as famous as other India regions for its food, Rajasthan has some special delicacies and dishes that you can only really find in this part of India. If you have the chance whilst in the city you should try them if you have the time. Dal Baati Churma are small wheat flour dumplings and Mirchi Vada are deep fried chillies stuffed with a spiced potato mix.
One good place to try these dishes is Vijay Restaurant situated about a 10 minute walk away from the clocktower. It is really a local spot and with prices that match. We had a full meal of 2 curries, 2 breads and a bottle of water for around 300 rupees / 3 euros.
8. Go shopping for some silver jewellery at one of the local jewellers
Rajasthan, and in particular Jodhpur and Jaipur are famous cities for the design and production of jewellery. With traditions stretching back centuries, gold and in particular silver jewellery is made by artisans in Rajasthan. With exquisite designs and often using precious gemstones, Rajasthani jewellery is very unique and highly prized.
Some of the jewellery shops in Jodhpur will create custom rings or bracelets for you if you have a few days to wait for them to be produced, and it is one of the cheapest places in the world to have custom jewellery made. If you have the time we recommend visiting some jewellers if only just to witness the craftsmanship of the manufacturers.
Our recommendations of which ones to visit are:
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Where to stay in Jodhpur
Most of the guesthouses or “Havelis” as they are known locally, are situated in the Gulab Sagar district of Jodhpur. This area is perfect for exploring the city on foot as almost everything is within a 20 minute walk away. We stayed in Hotel Bawarri Haveli at the northernmost part of Gulab Sagar, just a 15 minute walk to the Mehrangarh fort and 10 minutes from the step well and the clocktower! We recommend anyone visiting Jodhpur to stick to hotels or hostels within this area otherwise you may find yourself having to take tuk-tuks or public transport to see all the sights.
All our recommendations below are rated over 8+/10 on booking.com and most come with free breakfast!
Hotels in Jodhpur View all
How to get to Jodhpur
Jodhpur is well connected by road and rail from most other large cities in Rajasthan.
From Jaipur: Several trains leave every day connecting Jaipur to Jodhpur and take around 5 hours. There are also many bus services connecting the two cities, with journey times taking around 6 hours. Check bus and train timetables and ticket availability between the two cities here.
From Udaipur: There are no direct trains between Udaipur and Jodhpur, so the only option here is to take a bus. The journey takes around 4-5 hours. Check bus timetables and ticket availability between the two cities here.
From Jaisalmer: Jaisalmer and Jodhpur are connected by both trains and buses. Trains take around 5 hours and buses 6-7 hours depending on the operator. Check bus and train timetables and ticket availability between the two cities here.
From New Delhi: If you want to reach Jodhpur directly from New Delhi, there are a number of options. First you can take a direct flight to Jodhpur airport from New Delhi. This is the quickest but most expensive way to reach Jodhpur. Alternatively you can take a bus or train, with journey times taking around 12-14 hours. When traveling these long distances in India we tend to take a sleeper bus, but a sleeper train is also an option. Check sleeper bus and train timetables between New Delhi and Jodhpur here.
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Best time to visit Jodhpur
✅ The best time of year to visit Jodhpur is during the cooler months between November and February. Temperatures range from 25-30°C in the day and 10-15°C at night. March to June is the hottest part of the year, with temperatures often soaring close to 45°C, so depending on how you handle the heat, this season may or may not be for you. We visited at the end of March and whilst temperatures we’re as high as 40°C in the midday sun, it was pleasant to explore the city in the morning and evening!
❌ Between July and September is the monsoon season, with rain most days and temperatures of 35°C+. Lots of hotels and homestays are closed during this period also, with tourist buses operating a reduced timetable. This is the worst time of the year to visit so we advise against doing so!
Jaipur or Jodhpur: Which one should I visit?
In our opinion, if you have the time, you should visit both! Both Jaipur and Jodhpur offer many tourist spots and attractions to visit. If we had to choose one it would have to be Jodhpur. Jodhpur is calmer and more relaxed to explore than the hustle and bustle of Jaipur, and we really enjoyed the freedom of exploring most of the old city on foot. In Jaipur the main attractions are more spaced out and the roads more chaotic to walk around, and you will need to hire a tuk tuk to take you between them. Want to visit both and make your own mind up?
Need to know! Your FAQs about Jodhpur answered
Why is Jodhpur called the “Blue City”?
Because many of it’s houses are painted blue! Originally locals painted their homes blue to help regulate the inside temperature and to deter insects such as mosquitos, and nowadays it is a symbol of the city.
Is 2 days enough for Jodhpur?
We think 2 days is perfect to see everything that Jodhpur has to offer. You could easily spend more if you have the time though!
Where does royal family of Jodhpur live?
They live in the Umaid Bhawan Palace in the south of the city. It is also a 5 star luxury hotel and spa for people who have the budget. You can expect to pay over 500 euros per night!
Which part of India is Jodhpur?
Jodhpur is situated in the region of Rajasthan in central West India. With the province of Punjab to the north, Gujarat to the south and Delhi to the east, Rajasthan is landlocked and has no coastline. It also borders neighbouring Pakistan on the West.
Which language is spoken in Jodhpur?
The majority of people speak Rajasthani, with many others speaking Hindi and English.
Like our list of the top things to do and places to see in Jodhpur? Why not drop us a comment below! If you’ve been to Jodhpur, or are planning your own trip in India, we’d love to hear about it!
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