Why visit Jodhpur
- The majestic Mehrangarh Fort
- The largest residential palace in India, Umaid Bhawan Palace
- Jodhpur is famous for beautiful wooden furniture
- Home of the Bishnois community
Located strategically on the overland trade route, Jodhpur houses the most recent and one of the largest residential palaces in India, the Umaid Bhawan Palace. Constructed over a span of 15 years from 1929 to 1943, now partly a luxury heritage hotel, the project was conceived initially as a public relief and employment works project during a long period of drought. The Mehrangarh fort that towers over the city is perhaps the most majestic of Rajasthan's forts. The forbidding ramparts are in sharp contrast to the flamboyantly decorated palaces within. The Jaswant Thada, a white marble memorial built in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II is an architectural land mark in Jodhpur, built out of intricately carved sheets of marble. At the outskirts of Jodhpur is Rohetgarh, the 17th century palace fort, now a hotel, surrounded by villages of craftsmen and Bishnois. The Bishnois are followers of a 15th century sage and are passionate environmentalists. Their creed is contained in 29 (bis noi) principals. Their faith bids them to protect every living being, if necessary with their lives. The other villages are inhabited by expert weavers, known for weaving rugs in traditional geometrical patterns and vegetable colour.
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