Jodhpur India – Top 10 Tourist Attractions and Activities

Jodhpur is on of the most popular travel destinations in Rajasthan, a desert Indian state bordering on Pakistan in the west. Rajasthan itself is full of picturesque forts and palaces painting the classic picture of an exotic fairy-tale. And therefore the main tourist attractions mostly involve these interesting places, witnesses of history. It depends on the time you decided to come to Jodhpur but here are the highlights of the area, top tourist attractions and activities.

1. Mehrangarh Fort

The main must see attraction of Jodhpur is definitely the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort. In our opinion, if you are choosing among the forts of Rajasthan because of time or whatever reason, be sure not to miss the grandiose Mehrangarh as it is one of the most impressive forts not only from the outside but also from the inside which unfortunately cannot be said about all of them. Visible from the distance on arriving to Jodhpur, it nicely forms the landscape and panorama or the city. It rises above the old parts of the city on an enormous rock and welcomes the visitors climbing up the hill along the path.

At the entrance you can buy the entrance ticket for which foreigners are charged 600 INR. This includes an audio guide you can listen to while walking through the exhibitions. That is really a great opportunity as you can keep your pace, breathe in the atmosphere and get more details.
If you wish to use a camera, the fee will be 100 INR, the rate for the video is 200 INR.
We really appreciate that this fort has a nice museum exhibition inside and also the already mentioned audio guide that helps a lot.

The access to the fort is open from two sides: either from the Clock Tower side or the Blue City side. On the way to the fort you can pop into the local houses, enjoy the views and feel the atmosphere. There is a parking lot just by the entrance gate so you can easily reach it by car as well. Nevertheless, if you have time, and the distance to your accommodation allows it, we absolutely recommend walking.

2. Jaswant Thada

Those who come to Jodhpur without a proper itinerary and just want to go where the river takes them, may wonder what that white building near the lake, just a short distance from the Mehrangarh fort, is. That is the Jaswant Thada, a beautiful white marble building serving as the cenotaph for one of the rulers. It stands in the middle of a lovely garden with stunning views over the Mehrangarh Fort and the city below. We recommend visiting this place of interest just before sunset. It gives the marble and the garden impressive colours and it feels very peaceful compared to the city.

The entrance fee for foreigners is 30 INR, the camera fee is 25 INR and the video costs 50 INR.

3. Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park

We think that everyone visiting India is in search for a quiet area at least once a visit. This interesting desert park just by the Mehrangarh Fort provides walking and the insight into the desert nature at the same time. It is quite new and was open for preservation of desert plant species and their presentation. There are paths to follow and enjoy various species of flora and fauna. If you decide to spend more time inside, do not forget to take sunscreen cream and plenty of water as you are already close to the desert and the sun gets super strong.

Entrance fee is 100 INR.

4. Flying Fox

This is another attraction in Jodhpur, at least its starting point, which is located within the Mehrangarh Fort. If you wonder what the name indicates...well it is a popular zip line, one of presently existent in India. There are 6 lines to try during approximately 1 hour long tour. It is not the greatest zip line ever but for India it is still unusual and may be a fine chance for the people with children.

The fee is 1599 INR including the entrance to the fort so you do not have to pay twice.

5. Umaid Bhavan

In India, there are many royal palaces rebuilt into heritage hotels, sometimes with museums within that are open for a visit. Umaid Bhavan is one of them. At first sight, it is a relatively modern building – from the first half of the 20th century and the touching moment is that it was built to prevent the people of Jodhpur from famine by providing employment to them. A small museum houses photographs, textiles, a car exhibition etc. Most parts of this massive building are used as a luxury heritage hotel.

Entrance fee to the museum is 100 INR.

6. Blue City

The famous name given to Jodhpur, which is well known, describes the Old City in rather a literal way – the Blue City. The name becomes evident without a doubt if you look down the Mehrangarh Fort from the big canon close to the entrance gate. The blue coloured houses, that have become a symbol of Jodhpur, were once painted to show Brahmin (priest cast) families.

If you have spare time, you can roam the streets of the Old City and walk along (not only) the bright blue houses and observe the life around.

7. Clock Tower and the Market

Travel destinations in Jodhpur are mostly circulated around the Mehrangarh Fort and within the Old City. The Clock Tower with its surroundings is one of the dominants of the area and for visitors an important orientation point. The area around the Clock Tower is well known for its local market, especially worth visiting in the evening. You do not have to buy but it is nice to see the locals roaming along the stalls where local sellers offer bangles, saris, traditional coloured fabriques, or spices.

The Clock Tower area is a hub for budget travellers and from here there is only a short walk to reach the Mehrangarh Fort.

8. Mandore Gardens

Mandore is a town located about 10 km from Jodhpur and once it used to be the centre of the Rathore rulers who then moved their centre to Jodhpur. There are charming gardens with the mementos of the old royal seat – a fort, temples, cenotaphs etc. Jodhpur visitors often skip the Mandore Gardens but try not to be one of them.

The entry fee is 100 INR.

9. Balsamand Lake

Balsamand Lake can be visited easily on the way to the Mandore Gardens as it is located almost in the middle of the route. This water reservoir was originally built in the12th century and served as the water source for the Mandore area for a long time. At present, it is one of the favourite spots when it comes to picnics and getting away from the city. The scenery is natural with some temples around and the heritage hotel constructed within the old palace building.

10. Camel Safari

This is not the only Jodhpur activity but in Rajasthan in general, it belongs to the most popular things to do. Since a huge part of Rajasthan state is covered by the Thar Desert, there are many providers who offer various types of camel safari, not only in Jodhpur but practically in all the parts of Rajasthan. And now it depends on your choice and adventurous nature. Usual trips include an overnight stay in a desert camp with accommodation in desert tents, a camel ride and often a cultural program. That usually consists of local folk music and dances. Desert tents are normally furnished as a classic hotel room, they even have attached bathrooms.

To enjoy the desert more, it is possible to get a full day camel ride and even spend the night in the middle of the desert in very simple conditions.

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In general, in our opinion, Jodhpur has lots to offer especially to the lovers of history and culture and the shopping lovers would surely appreciate it, too. Many sights are within walking distances so the time is not wasted on transportation. When including Jodhpur into your itinerary you should count a full day for the main sights of the city centre (the Mehrangarh Fort, the Jaswant Thada, Umaid Bhavan and the Clock Tower area). If you wish to visit Mandore and other places or you are planning some other activities, add at least one more day.