The second largest city in the state of Rajasthan, Jodhpur is an oasis in the parched Thar Desert. Called by the names of “Sun City” and “Blue City” for the bright, sunny weather it enjoys all the year round and due to the vivid blue-painted houses around the Mehrangarh Fort. Jodhpur has a rich history that lures the discerning tourist. Forts and palaces, temples and havelis, culture and tradition, spices and fabrics, color and texture, Jodhpur has them all and in plenty. Positioned in the western part of Rajasthan, Jodhpur has always attracted both the domestic and international tourist. The hospitality of the locale, the decorous women, and the colorful turbans -all set against the unmerciful desert is something to feel, not just see. Every stoma of Jodhpur narrated its own tales of heroism that made legends out of kings and soldiers, romances that continue to warm the heart and a time when epics were lived out on the streets by everyday man. Geography and Climate Jodhpur is located at 26°17'N 73°02'E / 26.29°N 73.03°E an average elevation of 232 metres (761 feet). The climate of Jodhpur is generally hot and arid but with a rainy season from late June to September (Köppen BWhw). Although the average rainfall is around 360 millimeters (14 in), it is extraordinarily variable. In the famine year of 1899, Jodhpur received only 24 millimeters (0.94 in), but in the flood year 1917 it received as much as 1,178 millimeters (46.4 in). Temperatures are extreme throughout the period from March to October, except when monsoonal rain produces thick clouds to lower it slightly. During these periods of heavy rain, however, the generally low humidity rises and this adds to the normal discomfort from the heat. Demographics As per provisional reports of Census India,[5] population of Jodhpur is 1,033,918 in 2011; of which male and female nearly constitute 52.62 percent and 47.38 percent respectively. Average literacy rate of Jodhpur city is 81.56 percent of which male and female literacy was 88.42 and 73.93 percent respectively. Total children under 6 years of age constitute nearly 12.24 percent of city population. Jodhpur city is governed by Municipal Corporation which comes under Jodhpur Urban Agglomeration. The Jodhpur Urban/Metropolitan area includes Jodhpur, Kuri Bhagtasani, Mandore Industrial Area, Nandri, Pal Village and Sangariya. Its Urban/Metropolitan population is 1,137,815 of which 599,332 are males and 538,483 are females. History of Jodhpur The area where Jodhpur is situated was part of the Gurjara - Pratihara empire and until 1100 CE it was under the rule of a powerful Bargujar King. Jodhpur City was built in the year 1459 by Rao Jodha, a Rajput chief of the Rathore clan. Jodha succeeded in conquering the surrounding territory and thus founded a state which came to be known as Marwar. As Jodha hailed from the nearby town of Mandore, that town initially served as the capital of this state; however, Jodhpur soon took over that role, during the lifetime of Jodha. Strategically located, Jodhpur road links Delhi to Gujarat which enabled it to gain profits from a flourishing trade in opium, copper, silk, sandals, date palms and coffee. Early in its history, the state became a fief under the Mughal Empire, owing fealty to them while enjoying some internal independence. During this period, the state endowed the Mughals with several distinguished generals. Jodhpur and its people benefited from this exposure to the wider world and new styles of art and architecture made their emergence and opportunities opened up for local craftsmen to make their mark across northern India. Aurangzeb briefly confiscated the state in the year 1679 on the red herring of a minority, but the rightful ruler was restored to the throne after Aurangzeb died in 1707. The Mughal Empire declined gradually after 1707, but the Jodhpur court was beleaguered by conspiracy; rather than benefiting from circumstances, Marwar descended into dissension and invited the intervention of the Marathas, who soon superseded the Mughals and ruled the region. This did not make for stability or peace, however; 50 years of wars and treaties dissipated the wealth of the state, which sought and gratefully entered into subsidiary alliance with the British in 1818. During the British Raj, the state of Jodhpur had the largest land area of any in Rajputana. The city prospered under the peace and stability that were a hallmark of this era. In 1947, when India became independent, the state merged into the union of India and Jodhpur became the second largest city of Rajasthan. At the time of partition, ruler of Jodhpur Hanwant Singh did not want to join India, but finally due to the effective leadership of Sardar Vallab Patel the then Home Minister at centre, the princely state of Jodhpur was included in Indian Republic. Later after State Reorganization Act, 1956 it was made part of the state of Rajasthan. Culture of Jodhpur Rich in history and cultural heritage, Jodhpur is one of the most pulsating places to explore. The city offers a perfect blend of music, food, art and language, making the region distinct from other. The city is famous for its food, especially with shops named 'Jodhpur Sweets' being a very common site in many of the cities spread throughout India. Being at the aground of Thar desert, life has been influenced with ways of the desert folks and gypsies can be found in many parts of the city. The city displays the colorful and vivid culture of the State. Tourist Places in Jodhpur One of the most popular tourist destinations in Rajasthan, Jodhpur is frequented by travelers from different parts of the country. The city houses several places of tourist interest, which include forts , palaces, temples and havelis. Some of the must-visit tourist places in Jodhpur are: Mandore Mehrangarh Fort Ghanta Ghar Umaid Mahal Jaswant Thada Nehru Park Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum Jaswant Sagar Dam Kailana Lake Osian Luni Fort The Dhawa Balsamand Lakes & Gardens Mahamandir Temple Transportation The city of Jodhpur has a well developed ail, road and air networks connecting it to other major cities of the country. Road Jodhpur is connected by road to all major cities in Rajasthan and neighbouring states like Delhi, Ahmedabad, Surat, Ujjain, Agra etc. Besides deluxe and express bus services to cities within the state, Rajasthan Roadways provides Volvo & Mercedes Benz bus service to Delhi, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Udaipur and Jaisalmer. Recently, Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) is launched in the city with low floor and semi low floor buses, which operates on major routes. Air One of the major airports of Rajasthan is the Jodhpur Airport named Jodhpur Civil Aerodrome, which is located about 5 km from the city centre. It is connected by direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Udaipur and Jaipur. As the airport is located in the cantonment area, it is managed by the Indian Air Force. At present, there are daily flights from Delhi and Mumbai to the city operated by Air India, Spicejet, Jet Airways and Indigo. Railways Jodhpur is the divisional headquarters of the North Western Railways (NWR) and is well connected with railways to major Indian cities. To lessen the crowd of the main Jodhpur station (JU), the suburban station Bhagat ki Kothi (BGKT) is being developed as the second main station for passenger trains. At present 70 passenger trains originate from both the stations. Travelers can experience the splendor and royal luxury by travelling by luxury trains Palace on Wheels and Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, which are run jointly by RTDC and Indian railways and Jodhpur is one of the destinations of both of the trains.
