Ever seen a city where everything is blue? Let me take you to the Blue City of India. Where every house in the city is Blue. The Most beautiful and most attractive city I have seen till now in my journey.
Maybe you know about the Blue City of India, but here I will tell you more about this city. Everything you need to know will be served to you here.
Let’s deep dive and explore.
Facts about Jodhpur
Before anything else, it is very important for you to get a basic understanding of the city. Basically, Jodhpur is the second largest city in Rajasthan and is a popular tourist destination among all travelers around the world. Also, the city is featured in the New York Times 52 locations to go in 2020. Carrying the Heritage of the Marwar Kingdom, the City has many tourist locations like Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, Turji Ka Jhalara, the Blue City, and many more. The most Instagrammable place I have ever witnessed in Rajasthan is Jodhpur. You might know this place by names like Jodhana, Suncity, Blue City, or simply Jodhpur.
Jodhana is the real and original name known by the local people and Sun City simply just because of the sunny weather all around the year and Blue City because of its blue colorful houses.
Which city is known as Blue City?
Before answering this let’s have a look at this image below. Isn’t it amazing?
Now imagine, That every next house is painted in this blue color and looks so mesmerizing and beautiful. Only Jodhpur could have the title of Blue City.
The city has an old fort named Mehrangarh Fort and on the outskirts, behind the walls of this fort lies the dwellings of the local people, interestingly all the houses surrounded by this Fort are painted in a special blue color.
Not all Jodhpur city has blue houses, only the old city near the Fort has blue-colored houses. Not only the houses, stairs, roofs, and even the streets are painted in this blue color. But the cherry on the cake is the paintings of the local people representing their culture on street walls. This makes it more interesting because it gives you a glimpse of the local culture, the attire, and the artistic approach of the people and the City.
When I walked on one of the streets I found paintings on the walls, some of them showed women working with camels or an old guy joining hands and saying Khama Ghani to me. Not only that if you go upstairs near the walls of the Fort, there will be a lot of paintings devoted to the Deities of Lord Rama Vishnu Ganesha and others also.
So if you are an art lover you will find a lot to see in the Blue City of India, Jodhpur.
Jodhpur Junction
If you are traveling by train then obviously the first interaction with the city you are going to have is with the Jodhpur Junction Railway Station. Now you might be wondering why I mentioned the railway station here but let me tell you, Jodhpur Junction is not only a railway station but more than that. Where you can see a lot of paintings and sceneries of local culture available right at the railway station.
Also at night, the building lights up with 1000 different lights which makes the building more pleasing and beautiful to see at night. Just have a look at the below images.
Why are houses in Jodhpur Blue
The moment I returned from my tour, I wondered why Houses in Jodhpur were blue. I even asked some of the locals but unfortunately, I didn’t get any satisfactory answer.
Even one of the locals said that it is to showcase the local art and culture to foreigners and outsiders.
But I still need a satisfactory answer, something that is more logical to me and you also. So I took the help of the internet and I found some legends about this Blue City concept.
The most common Legend among the people and over the internet is to prevent the buildings from termites. Now I don’t understand, how a blue color prevents the building from termites or any other microorganisms but yeah this is one of the legends behind it.
One another legend is that the blue color is directly linked to the Samudra Manthan & the gulping of Poison by the Shiva and turning of the neck color into the blue. So in respect of Shiva people turn their house colors into blue.
One another theory says that blue is something that attracts less heat and keeps the buildings at a lower temperature than the outside. This actually seems more logical and rational to me because if you see the geography of Jodhpur, it lies near the Thar Desert and the weather here is too hot in summer. So, in my opinion, I think this would be the more acceptable reason behind the blue color of the houses in the old city of Jodhpur.
Do let me know if you know any other Legend or anything related to that in the comment section.
But anyway whatever the reason it could be the city has its own unique identity which takes it to the world level and makes it the most commendable place to visit.
Places to visit in Jodhpur
Now that you have all the information about the city, you might be wondering, OK what are the best places to visit in Jodhpur? so I have compiled a list of the best places that you can visit while you are traveling to this city.
- Mehrangarh Fort
- Jaswant Thada
- Tur ji ka Jhalara
- Clock Tower
- Blue City
- Umaid Bhawan Palace
- Mandore Garden
The some of the best places that I recommend to you that you should never stop visiting. Although there are other places you can go and experience the city I but think these are the actual soul of the city.
The Mehrangarh Fort will leave you with majesty elegance royalty architecture and much more.
The Jaswant Thada also known as the Taj of Jodhpur will force you to stay with it while offering its beauty to you.
Turji ka Jhalra is a step well near the Fort and the clock tower is the newly built building in the center of the city in the Rajasthani architecture.
Now how can you forget the beauty of the Blue City and Umaid Bhawan Palace?
One special fact about Umed Bhavan Palace is that it’s a combination of two to three architectures combined, the British, the Royal Rajputana, and Mughal architecture combined.
While Mandore Gardens showcases all the memorials of the Royals of the Rajput family of the Jodhpur.
Conclusion
In my last words, I would only say visiting Jodhpur will be one of the most memorable memories with you. The culture, & people will accept you as a Traveller with both hands open. So colorful, vibrant, Majestic, and attractive the environment here is. Whether you want photography or study some historical structures, want to witness some architectural beauty or, want to go deep dive into the cultural heritage of the Marwar.
The city has everything to offer to you as a Traveller.
Welcome to the Blue City of India, Jodhpur.
