The Royal Family

Mehrangarh Fort

The foundation of this fort was laid on 12 May 1459 by Jodha himself on rocky Bhakurcheeria, only six miles away from Mandore. Rao Jodha constructed a citadel using a sum of nine hundred thousand rupees. However, the current Maharaja of Jodhpur, Gaj Singh II, who inherited the citadel four hundred and ninety-three years later in 1952, received a much larger version. Jodha only built one of the present-day seven gates. As the Rathores grew more powerful, Mehrangarh, which was a reflection of their glory and the basis of their strength, expanded. Each ruler left their mark on the fort, resulting in a magnificent blend of different reigns, ages, styles, influences, compulsions, and dreams. This... The foundation of this fort was laid on 12 May 1459 by Jodha himself on rocky Bhakurcheeria, only six miles away from Mandore. Rao Jodha constructed a citadel using a sum of nine hundred thousand rupees. However, the current Maharaja of Jodhpur, Gaj Singh II, who inherited the citadel four hundred and ninety-three years later in 1952, received a much larger version. Jodha only built one of the present-day seven gates. As the Rathores grew more powerful, Mehrangarh, which was a reflection of their glory and the basis of their strength, expanded. Each ruler left their mark on the fort, resulting in a magnificent blend of different reigns, ages, styles, influences, compulsions, and dreams. This unique beauty of the fort can still be seen today.

Behind it the natural rock-face of Bhakurcheeria, The Mountain of Birds, from which the fortress is hewn, rises a hundred and fifty feet high; giving way first to intimidating man-made battlements and then, suddenly, to exquisite palaces.

Its towering battlements, a hundred and twenty feet high, and stone walls, in places six metres thick, testify to the might of Maldev (1532 – 1562) in whose reign the Rathores reached the zenith of their power. The palaces, extravagant edifices of peace and prosperity, whisper a thousand secrets; stories of machiavellian intrigues, dazzling riches and royal pleasures under the Mughal umbrella (1583 – 1739). The main gates, Fateh Pol and Jai Pol, sing of great victories, against the Mughals in 1707 and the Jaipur forces a hundred years later; while the ramparts, fiercely brandishing Maharaja Abhaya Singh’s cannons (1724 – 1749), proudly proclaim these victories to the world.

The temple was raised in honour of an old hermit called Cheeria Nathji, the Lord of the Birds, by the fifteenth Rathore ruler Rao Jodha in 1459; in the same year that he began the construction of Mehrangarh and laid the foundation of the city of Jodhpur.

Indeed the story of the city of Jodhpur begins with Cheeria Nathji, the city’s first citizen who had lived here in contemplative isolation for many years when Jodha’s masons shattered his tranquil world.

Jaswant Thada

Jaswant Thada is a cenotaph located in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. In honour of his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, Maharaja Sardar Singh of Jodhpur constructed it in the late 19th century. The construction of Jaswant Thada was completed in 1899 and it is made entirely of white marble. The cenotaph is built out of intricately carved sheets of Makrana marble. These sheets are extremely thin and polished so that they emit a warm glow when illuminated by the Sun.

The cenotaph's grounds feature carved gazebos, a tiered garden, and a small lake. There are three other cenotaphs in the grounds. The cenotaph of Maharaja Jaswant Singh displays portraits of the rulers and Maharaja... Jaswant Thada is a cenotaph located in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. In honour of his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, Maharaja Sardar Singh of Jodhpur constructed it in the late 19th century. The construction of Jaswant Thada was completed in 1899 and it is made entirely of white marble. The cenotaph is built out of intricately carved sheets of Makrana marble. These sheets are extremely thin and polished so that they emit a warm glow when illuminated by the Sun.

The cenotaph's grounds feature carved gazebos, a tiered garden, and a small lake. There are three other cenotaphs in the grounds. The cenotaph of Maharaja Jaswant Singh displays portraits of the rulers and Maharajas of Jodhpur. The structure is adorned with intricate carvings and is often referred to as the "Taj Mahal of Marwar." The cenotaph houses the portraits of several rulers of Jodhpur.

The Jaswant Thada is also home to the memorial of a peacock that flew into a funeral pyre of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, and it is believed that the bird sacrificed its life to honor the king. Today, Jaswant Thada is a popular tourist attraction and a place of worship for the royal family of Jodhpur. Visitors come from all over the world to the cenotaph because of its beautiful architecture and serene atmosphere.

Ghant-Ghar (Clock Tower)

The Heartbeat Of The Blue City Ghanta-Ghar, In 1911, Maharaja Sardar Singh Of Jodhpur Had Made The Clock Of The Clock Tower From The Company Of London, The Price Of A Watch Of 1 Lakh But Gave Two Lakhs To The Company So That The Company Does Not Make Any Other Clock Of This Design.

This clock of Ghantaghar is the only one of its kind in the world. The special thing about the watch is that it has four dials which are connected to different parts of a machine and move together. Hundred feet high bell tower, clock installed for Rs 3 lakh. The historical clock in Jodhpur's Ghantaghar has stopped due to neglect.

There are three hammers on these bells, which are f... The Heartbeat Of The Blue City Ghanta-Ghar, In 1911, Maharaja Sardar Singh Of Jodhpur Had Made The Clock Of The Clock Tower From The Company Of London, The Price Of A Watch Of 1 Lakh But Gave Two Lakhs To The Company So That The Company Does Not Make Any Other Clock Of This Design.

This clock of Ghantaghar is the only one of its kind in the world. The special thing about the watch is that it has four dials which are connected to different parts of a machine and move together. Hundred feet high bell tower, clock installed for Rs 3 lakh. The historical clock in Jodhpur's Ghantaghar has stopped due to neglect.

There are three hammers on these bells, which are five kilos each. When these hammers fall on the bell, the sound of tinkers is heard, which tells the time. Every 15 minutes the hammer falls on the hour and the trumpet sounds. Every 15 minutes, 2 tankores, 4 tankores in half an hour, 6 tankores in a quarter of an hour and 8 times in one hour. The great feature is that the sound of each tankore comes differently.

Umaid Bhawan

Umaid Bhawan was laid on 18 November 1929 by the Maharaja Umaid Singh himself on rocky Chittar Hill south-east of the city. Three thousand men and women worked on Chittar Hill for fifteen years; the supervising archetect, Goldstraw, recieving a thousand rupees a month while unskilled workers took home fifty paise a day.

A pink-tinged, cream coloured stone was used which came from the quarries ten miles away and the marble came from Makrana. A special train brought up the massive blocks of stone after skilled workers below had chiselled them into shape, for each piece had its assigned place in the drawings.

The interiors were designed by Maples of London in the A... Umaid Bhawan was laid on 18 November 1929 by the Maharaja Umaid Singh himself on rocky Chittar Hill south-east of the city. Three thousand men and women worked on Chittar Hill for fifteen years; the supervising archetect, Goldstraw, recieving a thousand rupees a month while unskilled workers took home fifty paise a day.

A pink-tinged, cream coloured stone was used which came from the quarries ten miles away and the marble came from Makrana. A special train brought up the massive blocks of stone after skilled workers below had chiselled them into shape, for each piece had its assigned place in the drawings.

The interiors were designed by Maples of London in the Art Deco style that was then the height of fashion in Europe and America. But the ship caryying them to Bombay in 1942 was sunk by the Germans. Frantic efforts were then made in Jodhpur to manufacture the interiors in the style required. Fortunately Umaid Singh discovered in Stefan Norblin, a well known Polish artist who had fled war-torn Europe, an amateur interior designer well-acquainted with Art Deco. Norblin’s murals superbly complement his decorations

The entire project cost Maharaja Umaid Singh, Rupees 94,51,565/-. The last of India’s great palaces, Umaid Bhawan is one of the largest in the world. Set in twenty-six acres, of which fifteen are gardens, its central cupola a hundred and five feet high, with three hundred and forty seven rooms, a Throne Room for private audience, a Durbar Hall for public audience, a banquet hall, an auditorium, a ballroom, a library, an indoor swimming pool, a billiards room, four tennis courts, two unique marble squash courts, a marble pavilion, a nursery and garages for twenty motor cars, Umaid Bhawan is unabashedly magnificient.

Historical Places of Jodhpur