Day 2
 We
drove some 40 miles (64 kms) to the pleasant ancient town of
Osiyan. Once a great religious centre, its ruins
today present one of the finest depictions anywhere of how Indian
temple architecture evolved between the 8th and 12th centuries.
On our return to Jodhpur, we strolled the bazaars past the
mandatory clock tower and sampled some local
sweets - given their fondness for sweets, the people here, without
exception, must be severley diabetic!
This photograph of the
Blue City of Jodhpur
was taken from
Mehrangarh Fort. |
If Jaipur is the "Pink City", Jodhpur can be called
the "Blue City". The traditional homes
are all painted a pale indigo - this colour is supposed to ward
off mosquitoes. Frankly, I didn't buy it!
Jodhpur's royal contibution to the world has been, if I might
say so, a horsy one - what else but "Jodhpurs"
or riding breeches, as we know them today. It was born out of
necessity as the remarkable Sir Pratap Singh got tired of the way
his traditional Rajput riding pyjamas would get frayed on the
inside of his knees, as he rode. This inventive maharaja also came
up with the ankle-length Jodhpur boots and the
close-collared princely Jodhpuri coat.
In the evening, we visited the gigantic Umaid Bhawan
Palace - a stately mansion based on the Western model.
With nearly 350 rooms, it has the distinction of having been one
of the largest private residences of the world. Today, it houses
an excellent little museum of some of the royal
family's possessions and a luxury hotel and
the present Maharaja's residence.
 But
what is probably even more remarkable is the reason it was built
in the first place. There was a major famine in Jodhpur in the
early 1920's and the 15 years long construction of this enormous
palace was one of the public works project devised to offer
employment to the people of the kingdom. This seems to be a
standard practise that has been followed since long in various
other parts of Rajasthan too.
We walked wonder-struck around this magnificient palace which
simply has to be seen to be believed. Had a royal dinner in the
hotel itself before leaving for our humbler hotel.
- Full day excursion to Balsamand and
Sardar Samand Lakes.
- Full day excursion to Nagaur, famous for
its cattle fair.
- One night stay at Khimsar Fort.
 Trip
to Kheechan village, home to thousands of
migratory demoiselle cranes in winter feeding on the grains
donated by the villagers. The place falls enroute to
Jaisalmer.- Trip to the blood-red coloured fort at Pokharan,
which lies midway to Jaisalmer.
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