A Road Trip to The Sun City
Days required– 2 days
Nearby places to go – Jaisalmer, Osian
Best time to visit – winter season(October to February). As the name suggests, the city burns like the sun in summers so it is better to avoid March to June.
How to reach–
By air – Jodhpur has a domestic airport with direct flights from Delhi, Jaipur, and Ahmedabad.
By train – Jodhpur is well connected to all major cities in India by rail route.
By road – you can easily find state-run and private buses from all major cities in North India.
Self-drive – roads in Rajasthan are perfect for road trips.
How we traveled – We did a road trip to Jodhpur twice. One was with family and another was for the conference. The route to Jaisalmer is via Jodhpur so anyone with few more days to spare can extend their trip to Jaisalmer.
Where to stay – You have plenty of options to stay in Jodhpur. From Heritage Hotels like Umed Bhawan and Ajit Bhawan to hostels like Zostel and Moustache. Paota circle area and Ratanada have most of the accommodation options(Here it is easy to get accommodation, transportation, and all attraction are only a few km away).
How to go around – Jodhpur is a small city. You can easily get a shared auto or rickshaw here. Ola/Uber is also there.
Places to visit
- Mehrangarh Fort – One of the major tourist attractions in Jodhpur. Built over the hilltop, it gives a panoramic view of the city. 2-3 hours are needed to explore it. There are a museum and restaurant inside the premises. It is advisable to come here early morning(less crowded and good weather).
- Jaswant Thada- Visit to Mehrangarh fort is incomplete without coming here. These beautiful Cenotaphs are built with white marble. Fort looks majestic from here.
Jaswant thada - Umed Bhawan palace- one of the most beautiful and largest private residences in the world. You will be amazed to see the place. The royal family of Jodhpur still resides here. Most of the Palace is converted to Hotel and closed for the general public. They have a small museum and vintage car collection for display. It is said that it was built during the drought period by the king to employ his people.
Umed Bhawan Palace - Osian is 90 min road trip from the main city and is home to many Hindu and Jain temples. Most of them are ruined.
- There are two lakes in the desert city – Balsamand and Kailana. Balsamand is an artificial lake with a heritage hotel(once a summer resort of the king) built over it. Kailana lake is more popular among the general public and is a favorite picnic spot for the locals.
Kaylana Lake - One can also visit Mandore Gardens and Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park if time allows.
Things to do
- Zipline – must-do activity if you are not afraid of heights. It is managed by Flying Fox inside the Mehrangarh fort. Charges are Rs.2000 per person for 6 ziplines. It can be booked online through the flying fox website. Wear sports shoes and jeans. Book morning or evening slots. Bring your camera for videos and photos. The crew is very friendly. Ask them to make videos of yours.
- Dinner with a view – There are numerous restaurants in the old city where you can dine and enjoy the view of the Mehrangarh Fort in the backdrop. The Fort is illuminated till 10 pm(just guessing). Have a Candlelight dinner at a famous Indique restaurant at Pal Haveli with the breathtaking view of the Fort.
- Tour of the old city – You must have seen the pictures of Jodhpur Old city on Instagram- Houses painted in blue. It is not so much blue now as people have started to paint their houses in different colors but still view from Mehrangarh is stunning.
Where to eat
You get to try authentic Rajasthani cuisine in Jodhpur. There are many fine-dining restaurants like Jharokha, Baradari, and Darikhana.
Try Rajasthani thali at Gypsy.
Visit Shandar sweet home and Janta sweet home for the Mirchi vada and Kachori and traditional Rajasthani food at very reasonable prices.
Quick tips for fellow travelers –
- It is always better to ask the locals for directions if you are exploring the old city. Google will not help here.
- Be hydrated. Take water with you everywhere.
- Wear comfortable clothes. The weather is usually hot and humid there. Carry sunglasses, cap, and sunscreen with you.
Ratings (it is subjective and my personal opinion)
Destination overall rating 8/10 – The people, food, and the culture make this place a must-visit destination during the Rajasthan trip.
Travel Expense 1/10 – Nothing is expensive here. There is everything for everyone here.
Travel ease 9/10 – It is very easy to travel to the city and travel within the city.
Food 9/10 – You will love the food here. Be it the royal delicacy or the Mirchi vada at the street corner.