Padhaaro MHAARE DES...
... or
`welcome to our city' exemplifies the spirit of Jodhpur
a canvas of Rajasthani culture
Ever
thought the colour used by lo cals to paint their homes -in a bid
to wardoff insects -would become synonymous with the city? In the past, Jodhpur suffered from a major termite problem so the residents started adding copper sulphate to their whitewashes, which lent the city its pristine blue-indigo hue.
The
Blue City is really blue! Modern Jodhpur stretches well beyond
the city walls, but it's within the walled city that you find the Rajasthan of your imagination the hustle-bustle, the colours, and the larger-than-life Mehrangarh Fort. At the base of the mighty fort is a jumble of blue cubes that stretches out to the 10 km-long, 16th-century city wall.
Inside
are vibrant, entangled and bustling medieval streets all of
which never seem to lead where you want them to... The shops sell everything from vintage home decor items and temple decorations to colourful clothes
and
accessories. The colourful rickshaws here are super slim since they
have
to squeeze through the narrow streets.
They make for a great travel option.
RAJPUTANA SPLENDOUR
The
colossal and grand Mehrangarh Fort, which rises 400 sq ft above the city,
looks nothing less than a page out of a
fairy tale.The imprint of Jodhpur's
erstwhile
royal family, built by Maharaja Jaswant Singh in the 17th century,
it is
the defining feature of this otherwise low-rise landscape. If you aren't
visiting Jodhpur in winter, make sure you
reach the fort early to skip the
midday sun. You don't need a ticket to enter
the fort; only the museum
section
requires one. Packed with history, Mehran garh Fort houses one
of the
bestkept collections of regal parapherna lia in the country.
What
you see is a magnificent collection of silver elephant howdahs,
gilded
palanquins, carved ivory, weapons inlaid with gold and jewels,
rare
pieces of textile, and some of the world's finest miniature paintings.
You'll
be amazed to see elaborate cradles of infant princes and the extensive
zenana (where maharanis lived) with dainty
filigree windows. Make sure
to
hire a guide to take you through the palatial labyrinth, great hallways
and
long corridors and hear fascinating stories about the heroism of the
legendary
Rajput warriors of Marwar. You can also consider spending
the
afternoon in its small cafe, sipping chilled beer or wine, lounge under
shady
trees reading a book or simply enjoy the spectacular views of the city.
There
are some curio shops too; you can take back valuable merchandise
like a Jodhpuri earring or a maharaja pen as
memento. For adventure seekers,
there's the flying fox zipline tour, which
runs below the fort.
When
in Jodhpur, a visit to Umaid Bhavan is a must. If your budget doesn't
permit you to stay there, go for dinner or
drinks at its scenic restaurant
where the verandah offers a lavish view of
the palace gardens.
Indulge
in some Rajasthani delicacies (ker sangri and laal maas)
generously
spread on silver platters. Visitors aren't admitted during
all
seasons, so call in advance to make a reservation. Again, casual
visitors
are not allowed inside the palace as the current royal bearer
Gaj
Singh II still lives in the premises. But you can certainly visit the
museum
by paying a nominal entry free. Pictures of artistic palace interiors,
a collection of antique clocks and the
maharaja's vintage cars are eye-catching.
ALL THINGS ETHNIC
You'll
find steps leading to the marketplace all around the Ghanta Ghar.
The
area somehow creates an aura that is hard to resist. Though loud,
dusty
and a tad dirty, the bylanes sell wares, spices, metal bangles,
Jodhpuri
jootis, Rajasthani turbans, and loads of mithais and snacky
items
you can munch on during a shopping spree. The city is popularly
known
for its antique furniture emporiums. There are a few near Ghanta
Ghar
too. If you love investing in retro, unique home decor pieces and
furnishings
in Indian prints, it's impossible to leave empty-handed.
From coloured-glass lanterns and vintage
posters to jaali-work wooden
frames and quirky painted metal trunks,
you'll find them all.
As a
souvenir, you can pick a signature Jodhpuri reversible block-print
quilt
that is known to have a cooling effect in summer and acts as an
insulator
against the cold in the harsh winter cold.[
MUST-EAT
Your
trip would be incomplete if you leave Jodhpur without biting into
the
fiery mirchi vadas (king-size green chilli stuffed with spicy potato
filling,
dipped in gram flour batter and fried), kachoris and makhaniya lassi.
The
busy area around the Clock Tower market has a number of street stalls
offering freshly-fried versions of the
eatables.
Try
Janta Sweet Home at Nai Sarak, a favourite among the locals.
FESTIVAL ALERT!
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shikha
shah
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TL8NOV15
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