 Nestling within the depths of the
Thar Desert, is the stronghold of the Rathore clan - Jodhpur, once the capital of the
former princely state of Marwar, the second largest city of Rajasthan, after Jaipur . The
town was once known as Marwar, which means 'Land of Death', probably, referring to the
harsh desert climate. It is an island of marble palaces, cordoned off from the desert by
an immense wall, with eight gates facing different directions.Flanked on its western
side by the Mehrangarh fort, and on the eastern side by the stately sandstone Palace of
Umaid Bhawan, the monuments, temples and gardens of Jodhpur depict a multi-faceted
grandeur.
Founded in 1459 AD., by the Suryavanshi Rao Jodha, Jodhpur gradually grew around the
towering Mehrangarh fort. A flourishing trading centre in the 16th century, Jodhpur is
still one of the leading centres of wool, cattle, camels and salt . It showcases some very
fine mementoes of its glorious past - palaces, temples and other elegant monuments of
architectural and historical value.
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