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Jodhpur, City of the Sun

(aka: The Blue City)
from a visit in February, 2000

This is the impressive Maharanghar Fort, the most daunting in India. Amazingly, it was conquered in battle several times. I don't see how. It looks completely indomitable.

It is even more impressive close up.

Traditional stonework/architecture inside the fort.

The view from the battlements. The reason for Jodhpur's nickname "the blue city" is readily apparent.

It is so quiet in the fort, you can hear the sounds of daily living from the blue city below.

So WHY is Jodhpur painted blue? Some say to keep away mosquitoes, some say for religious reasons, some just say tradition.

Looking the other direction, you can see beyond the blue city to more modern Jodhpur, including the 50 year old Umaid Bhawan Palace on the horizon, the residence of the former Maharaja and a 5 star hotel.

Enormous vultures live in the fort walls and wheel above all day long.

Indian tourists in the fort.

A field trip to the fort.

A temple just outside the fort.

Negotiating the narrow streets of the blue city.

Down in the blue city, we chanced upon a ceremony (an engagement ceremony for the boy in the red turban?) with an elephant!

Is the woman in the center the intended bride?

Three members of the celebration wanted their picture taken.

The idyllic courtyard of the Ajit Bhawan Hotel. Because it was so pleasant and quiet, I tried to spend my last evening in Jodhpur just relaxing here, and thus met Sher.

It is also about as kitsch as you can get. Yes, the waterwheel turns, and a sheet of water pours from the terrace over the statues. There is also a waterfall just off to the left.