THE BLUE CITY

JODHPUR is know as the ” THE BLUE CITY ”.

Meetali Soni

Jodhpur is second largest city of Rajasthan. It is a popular destination among international tourists featuring many palaces, forts, temples and landscape of the Thar Desert. Jodhpur was historically the capital of the Kingdom of Marwar, which is now part of Rajasthan. The city was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha, a Rajput (one of the warrior rulers of the historical region of Rajputana). The city is called the “blue city.”because it is a well-planned city with blue colour . Thar desert, the largest desert of India, is situated here. The city surrounds the historical Mehrangarh Fort. Jodhpur city was a princely state and was also the capital of the Kingdom of Malawar in Rajasthan.The old town is a wonderful example of vivid colours providing a photogenic backdrop to everyday life. The majority of Rajasthani women wear long, colourful skirts and you can see this while visiting the shops of the Nai Sadak and examining wares on the stalls of the Sardar Market. Eye-catching, bright oranges and yellows are popular colours for their fabrics. And the Rajasthani tradition for women to cover their heads.local men wearing sizeable turbans. The yellows and reds of their traditional headgear is just as much a draw to the eye as women’s garments.The old city circles the Mehrangarh Fort and is bounded by a wall with several gates.[11] The city has expanded greatly outside the wall, though, over the past several decades. The city is also home to several educational institutions, the most prominent being All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Dr. Sampurnanand Medical College, DSRRAU Jodhpur, and National Law University, Jodhpur, and many research institutes, such as Indian Space Research Organisation, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Arid Forest Research Institute, and Desert Medicine Research Centre are also located in the city. The old city of Jodhpur is surrounded by a thick stone wall. The wall has six huge gates called Nagauri gate, Merati gate, Sojati gate, Jalori gate, Siwanchi gate and Chand pol.

Sojati Gate: The walled city of old Jodhpur has main entrance from Sojati Gate on the south which was named on the road that takes to village named Sojat, but now it has been occupied by the busiest commercial centers around it. At the left of circle is the statue of Rajiv Gandhi.

Jalori Gate: Another gate is Jalori gate, to the southwest of Sojati Gate along Station Road named as the road leads to Jalore village. It is near to Jodhpur Railway station .Jalori Gate, which is the best way into the old city. Station Road, leading off to the right towards Sojati Gate, is lined with cheap hotels and restaurants. Main Jalori Gate circle has shops of Surya Namakin the one of oldest and delicious mirchi vada server, and many fruit seller and lime water vendors. Also, among the major book providers like buuklo, second hand book depot, book world etc, few are located here

Merti Gate: Waking down to the nai sarak cycle market you may discover an old gate called Merti Gate named as the road leads to the village called Merta. Just before this you will find many namkeen and sweet shops that are there from times when raja used to rule.

Nagori Gate: One of the best place in Jodhpur is nagori gate named on the road leading to nagore village. From the circle goes roads in five different direction, one which is towards the gate takes you inside the city where you may find many jewelry shops, famous city namkeen shops and chai wala.

Siwanchi Gate: This gate is been preserved as being the most traffic intensive place. Now it has been a city bus stop and at the same place, Jodhpur child hospital is there called Janana hospital or ummed hospital and a famous temple of Shani god so the area nearby known as shanishcher ji ka than (place of god Shani). As you walk down the road inside the city at the center is a temple of god Hanuman and few namkin, flower and fruit shops.

20 BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN JODHPUR.
MEHRANGARD FORT
JASWANT THADA
TOORJI KA JHALRA
ROA JODHA ROCK PARK
UMAID HERITAGE ART SCHOOL
UMAID BHAWAN PLACE MUSEUM
CHAUHAN ART GALLERY AND ART SCHOOL
SARDAR MARKET
GHANTA GHAR
MANDORE GARDEN
PHOOL MAHAL
BALSAMAND LAKE AND GARDEN
MACHIA BOILOGICAL PARK
KAYLANA LAKE
MASURIYA HILL GARDEN
MAHAMANDIR
SHRI GANESH MANDIR
ROA JODHA JI STATUE
BABA RAMDEV TEMPLE
MAHARISHRI DANDHICHI GARDEN