Jodhpur
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Tips
8 places on the map
Instagrammable
- 1
Massive hilltop fort above the Blue City with a fine museum.
- Tip: Go early
3 tips
- Audio guide is included in the ticket
- Allow three hours
- Wear comfortable shoes for steep paths
📷 Photos
- 2
White marble cenotaph near the fort, often called the Taj Mahal of Marwar.
- Tip: Go early
- Tip: Dress code
2 tips
- Small entry fee
- Pair with Mehrangarh
📷 Photos
- 3
Round-pillared Nath temple with ornate carved pillars.
- Tip: Dress code
3 tips
- Remove shoes
- Quiet outside festivals
- Take a cab
📷 Photos
- 4
18th-century stepwell restored with geometric steps.
- Tip: Sunset
4 tips
- Free entry
- Golden hour is lovely
- Cafes nearby
- Look for the symmetrical steps
📷 Photos
- 5
Maze of blue-painted houses below Mehrangarh.
- Tip: Go early
3 tips
- Respect residents; ask before photographing
- Use a local guide for lanes
- Wear sturdy shoes
📷 Photos
- 6
Cluster of medieval Hindu and Jain temples in the Thar desert.
- Tip: Go early
- Tip: Dress code
2 tips
- About 65 km from Jodhpur
- Combine with a desert safari
📷 Photos
- 7
Twin lakes below Mehrangarh with views of the fort.
- Tip: Sunset
4 tips
- Walk along the edges at sunset
- Quiet compared with the bazaars
- Good photo angles of the fort
- Take an auto
📷 Photos
- 8
Palace near the railway station, now a hotel with gardens.
4 tips
- Visit for a meal or tea
- Dress smartly
- Easy to reach by auto
- Photograph the garden courtyards
📷 Photos
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Before you go: Jodhpur tips
Transportation
- Walk the Blue City: The old town lanes between the clock tower, Brahmpuri and Navchokiya are narrow and twisting, so exploring on foot is the best way in.
- Book autos with apps: Use Uber, Ola or Rapido for autos between Sardar Market, Umaid Bhawan and Jodhpur Junction, or agree the fare clearly before you get in.
- Climb up to Mehrangarh: Instead of driving the long road around, walk up to Mehrangarh from the old town; the path near Navchokiya is steep but scenic.
Security
- Beware copycat shops: Shops around the clock tower claim to be the famous original spice or omelette seller; compare prices and buy only what you want.
- Decline unsolicited tours: Friendly strangers offering to show you a blue house or a family workshop may lead you to a commission shop; say no politely.
- Mind traffic in lanes: Motorbikes and cows share the narrow lanes, so keep to the side, watch your step and be careful at night when lighting is poor.
Saving
- Eat street snacks: Stalls around Sardar Market sell mirchi vada, pyaaz kachori and makhaniya lassi for very little; busy stalls mean fresh food.
- Stay in the old town: Havelis and guesthouses near the clock tower and Navchokiya cost far less than palace hotels and many have rooftop views of the fort.
- Enjoy fort views for free: Rooftop cafes in the old town offer views of Mehrangarh for the price of a chai, so you do not need a paid viewpoint.
Weather/Clothing
- Visit in winter: October to March has warm, sunny days and cool desert nights; pack light clothes for daytime and a sweater or shawl for evenings.
- Handle the summer heat: April to June is extremely hot, so wear loose cotton, a scarf and hat, drink plenty of water and visit the fort early in the morning.
- Pack sturdy shoes: Mehrangarh has steep ramps and the old town is full of uneven cobbles and stairs, so bring comfortable walking shoes with good grip.
Cultural
- Dress modestly at temples: Cover shoulders and knees and take off your shoes at temples such as Chamunda Mata inside Mehrangarh and in the old town.
- Taste Marwari food: Try dal baati churma, ker sangri made from desert beans and berries, and spicy laal maas, a red mutton curry from Rajasthan.
- Ask before photos: The blue houses of Brahmpuri are homes; ask residents before taking close-up portraits and keep noise down in quiet lanes.
Local Hacks
- Rent the Mehrangarh audio guide: The fort's audio guide is excellent and explains the palace rooms, weapons and history better than most local guides.
- Walk Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park: The park below Mehrangarh has trails through restored desert plants and great fort views, with far fewer people.
- Time your visit for RIFF: The Rajasthan International Folk Festival at Mehrangarh in October brings folk musicians from across Rajasthan and beyond.
1-day itineraries in Jodhpur
Only have a day? Each one keeps you in one area, from morning to late afternoon, with lunch nearby.