Jodhpur Things to Do Tips by atufft Top 5 Page for this destination

Even more great views of Jodhpur Palace

The Ramparts wind their way out to remote corners of the citadel, where it must have been lonely to be on watch. Also, I have here a view from somewhere in Jodhpur, either a rooftop restaurant or our hotel, I can't recall which.

Mehrangarh--Citadel Walls

Interestingly, while west side of the fortress is immersed in the city of blue, the northeast side is exposed to the open desert. The walls on the desert side are lower, but there's a rocky and difficult approach that may have made assault from the side difficult for those conducting the siege. The entrance road to the fortress winds up along part of this side. In one photo here, in the distance can be seen the Jaswant Thada, a white marble memorial built in 1899 in memory of Maharja Jaswant Singh II. Note also, that in this type of fortress the walls surround the water supply.

Mehrangarh--Citadel Ramparts

Perhaps the most outstanding views of the city are from the Ramparts, which have canons on them dating back to the 18th century. The canons were probably never used, but were at the time state of the art defense.

Mehrangarh--Palace Architectural Details

There is a museum here that includes a fine collection of weaponry, such as steel swords, but the architectural details still stood out for my camera. Check out these details. The first image shows the window screens chiseled from stone without error. The second photo shows a cast iron staircase. The Mewar Rajput had the latest technology of the times, not taken from Europe, but rather crafted on their own. The Indians were masters of iron and steel manufacture well before the Europeans, and even as late as the 17th century, Indian natural and astronomical science was the envy of the world.

Mehrangarh--Citadel of the Sun

Within a year of his accession Rao Jodha decided to build a new capital. The fort in Mandore, already over a thousand years old, was no longer considered strong and safe. So the rock of Jodhpur was found just six miles south of Mandore, and a city was built around it beginning in 1459. The hill is a hundred and twenty meters high, and had been known as Bhakurcheeria, the Mountain of Birds, or Cheeriatunk, the Bird's Beak. Even today the fort is home to thousands of birds, particularly the Cheel or Kite, the sacred bird of the Rathores. We were stunned by the palace defenses of sheer cliff, and the defensive road leading up to the main fortress gate. From the palace windows, the mewar prince and his family could watch as the battle raged below, hopefully outside the city walls. The most outstanding military architecture was built during the reign of Rao Maldev (1532-1562), the most succesful leaders of the Rathores clan.

Website: http://www.maharajajodhpur.com/fort/fort_hist.htm

Mehrangarh--Citadel of Palaces

Most of the most ornate palace construction dates back the period of Mughal rule (1582-1739), when palace intrigue and decadent entertainment of visiting Mughal rulers was paramount for the survival of the host royal families.