Tuesday, 25 February 2020

JODHPUR Eclectic Blue




The huge Mehrangarh fort sits looking down on us in our colourful Jodhpur haveli hotel and a blue city floats around the western part of its shores.


The city spreads out from the busy clock tower and Sadar market. Remove tourists and traffic and you could be a hundred years in the past.











From our hotel, we wandered for a few hours into the winding streets, through to the blue part of the city - blue hues supposedly keep away mosquitoes - past some fantastic crumbly shops and houses, temples and lakes.













Again, time had stood still here - it was fascinating - a great photo at every turn.


A half day out took us to Mandore Garden for mausoleums and monkeys, with a corny zenana*-cum-museum attached.



We spent a good few hours within the Mehrangarh fort walls and visiting the excellent museum, seeing some staggeringly ornate riches and lots of ab fab fancy decor.













A short walk took us out to the tranquil Jaswant Thada mausoleum and garden to give our eyes a rest.



Back in town, we had a coffee by the old Stepwell, the recently rejuvenated ancient city watering hole, a beautiful piece of architectural engineering.



For character alone, Jodhpur just edges Udaipur for me, but Rajasthan is proving a step up in the wow factor.


Where next? I smell camels...




*zenanas are a part of the big houses, where the courtly ladies used to live in purdah - veiled behind latticed screens.

1 comment: