Wherever you are in Jodhpur, it's hard not to be drawn in to the magnificence of the Mehrangarh Fort, which sits imperiously on an outcrop high above the city. Established by Roa Jodha (giving his name to the city) in the 11th century, the fort is the embodiment of the royal story of Rajasthan: the warrior kings of Merwar (the land of death), their many wives and concubines, courtiers and family feuds. Under the current Maharajah of Jodhpur, the fort has evolved in to a well-preserved monument with a better-than -average audio guide giving you a real insight in to its rich history.


Looking down from Mehrangarh, it becomes obvious why Jodhpur is known as the Blue City. Historically, only the Brahmin caste was permitted to paint their houses in the pale-blue indigo, but these days the colour is in widespread use, particularly as it has the practical result of deterring mosquitoes and termites!

Other royal sights include the mausoleums of the royal family, and opposite the fort, the fairly recent (in Indian terms!) Umaid Bhawan, which was in fact designed by an Englishman and bears very strong resemblance to the Royal Pavillion in Brighton. The current Maharajah ordered the palace to be built at a time of severe famine, giving much needed work to thousands and was later to become his official residence which it still is today.

At the heart of the city you will find the busy market place, which despite the high levels of pollution is worth perusing for the many stalls selling an array of aromatic spices. At it's centre, the ornate victorian clocktower seems somehow misplaced but is a striking reminder of the days of the British Raj.