History
Majestic jewel in the crown of Rajasthan, Jodhpur is a prominent city situated in the Jodhpur district towards the west. From the fringes of the enigmatic Thar desert emerges the princely town of Jodhpur. The second largest city of Rajasthan has once remained the capital of erstwhile Marwar state.Surrounded by the majestic Mehrangarh fort, grand palaces,monuments, temples and gardens Jodhpur is the epitome of multi-faceted grandeur. Tie-dyers, puppet makers and traditional spice makers add o the ethnic flavourof the city.Geographically, the city is located between 26.29° North latitude and 73.03° East longitude at a height of 232 metres (761 feet) above mean sea level. The old city of Jodhpur is bounded by a stone wall which has eight massive gates. The gates are named as Nagauri gate, Merati gate, Sojati gate, Jalori gate, Siwanchi gate and Chand pol. Located almost in the center of Rajasthan, Jodhpur is well connected by road, rail and air to the other important cities in the state.
Jodhpur was founded by Rao Jodha, a Rajput chief belonging to the Rathore clan in 1459. Rao Jodha appropriated the surrounding territories and established a state which came to be known as Marwar. Strategically located on the road linking Delhi to Gujarat, Jodhpur was made the capital of the state.During the Mughal rule in India, the state became a fief. The rulers of Jodhpur paid allegiance to the Mughal rulers and at the same time enjoyed some internal autonomy. Jodhpur was a princely state during the British rule in India. In fact it was the largest state in Rajputana in terms of size. It was one of the most flourishing states because of the native merchant class, the Marwaris. When India became independent in 1947 the princely state of Jodhpur became a part of the union of India and subsequently of Rajasthan.
Jodhpur has an industrial and an agricultural base. The major crops cultivated in the district are wheat and Mathania red chillies.The city is an important trading center for wool and agricultural products. The major industries in the city are textiles, metal utensils, ink and sporting goods.A number of cottage industries are also present in Jodhpur which includes glass bangles, cutlery carpets and marble products. The handicraft and tourism are the two other flourishing industries of Jodhpur.The Indian census report published in 2001 states that Jodhpur had a population of 846,408. Males constitute 53% of the population and females account for the remaining 47%. In Jodhpur, 14% of the population is less than six years of age. The average literacy rate of this ancient city is 67% which is higher than the national average literacy rate which is 59.5%. Out of it, the male literacy rate is 67% and the female literacy rate is 58%.The ancient forts, palaces, temples, havelis imparts an antique look to the city which makes it an exciting tourist destination. The rich cultural heritage of this erstwhile princely state is manifested in the exquisite sculpture of the monuments.The major attractions in the city are Umaid Bhavan Palace, Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, Osiyan Temple. Mandore, Kalinga Lake and Garden, Balsamand Lake, Dhawa (Dholi) forest area, Khichan and Osian are some major excursion sites.
Jodhpuri cuisine also offers certain mouthwatering delicacies which is a bonus for those visiting Jodhpur. Some sumptuous meals include Pyaaj kachori, Mawa Kachori, Makhaniya Lassi, kachar mircha cury and many more.The folk music, the fairs and festivals and the flamboyant costumes of the people lends vibrancy to the city. Numerous festivities of Jodhpur marks the historic grandeur of the city and one such festival is the Marwar Festival. Shopping in Jodhpur can be a memorable experience where exclusive tie and dye fabric, embroidered jutis, velvet can be picked.The important attractions include the Mehrangarh fort situated at the heart of the city , Jaswant Thada a cluster of royal cenotaphs in white marble built in the memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II,Umaid Bhawan,government museum and Rai-ka-Bag palace.