Impressive Exteriors of Mehrangarh Fort

In many Asian countries you get an overdose of temples.  In India, what you get to see as a prime tourist attraction in most places are forts.  Easily the best among the many forts that I saw in India is the Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur.  Its exteriors are impressive, interiors are beautiful, and the views of the city from the fort are incredible.

The staff of Mehrangarh Fort are also very courteous and helpful.  As part of the admission fee that I paid I was provided with an audio guide which was supposed to be returned at another exit area of the Fort.  But I ended up exiting at the same place where I entered the fort.  But the staff were so nice that they offered to return the audio guide to the designated area and retrieve my identification card instead of me walking a long away to the correct exit area.  First time that some kindness was showed to me by locals and this was very much appreciated!

Mehrangarh Fort: Night and Day

Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur is not only the largest fort in Rajasthan but the best as well.  Sitting on top of a 150m hill, it magnificently stands guard over the Blue City of Jodphur.  Its facade is an awesome sight, night and day!

We arrived around  8pm in Jodhpur after a seven hour train ride from Jaipur and I was dead tired. But when I was greeted by the incredible view of the Mehrangarh Fort from our hotel's rooftop restaurant, I knew that I was in the right place!   The sight of the Fort held a promise of a truly delightful stay in Jodhpur!

Jaswant Thada: Memorial in Marble

Located next door to Jodhpur's prime attraction the Mehrangarh Fort, is the marble memorial Jaswant Thada.  It is actually a royal cenotaph, a tomb of a dead person but the actual remains are buried elsewhere.

Since the memorial is entirely made of marble, it is cool inside.  This works well in a country which has a really hot climate. Visit Jaswant Thada and marvel at its beautifully hand carved marble walls and ceilings.

Umaid Bhawan: Jodhpur's Magnificent Palace

Umaid Bhawan is the last great palace built in India. It was completed in 1944 and  presently operates as a luxury hotel.  There is a museum and  a collection of vintage cars on display.

Not much to see here but the Palace is magnificent and is worth a visit.

Jodhpur: The Blue and the Beautiful

 Jodhpur was not really part of my itinerary in India.  I intended only to visit the golden triangle (i.e. New Delhi, Jaipur and Agra) the most popular tourist route in India.  But I had two extra days so I asked a friend who has traveled extensively what was the best place he visited in India and he declared Jodphur and so Jodhpur became part of my travel plan.

It took a seven hour train ride from Jaipur to reach Jodhpur and got there around 8pm.  It was a good time to arrive because the hotel where we were staying had a spectacular view of  Jodhpur's prime attraction, the Mehrangarh Fort which was beautifully lighted at night.

Unlike Jaipur which is billed as the Pink City but did not really have a lot of pink structures, Jodhpur lives up to its fame as the Blue City.  The panoramic view of the old city of Jodhpur from Mehrangarh Fort is an awesome sight with all of the city's houses and buildings painted in blue.  Jodhpur was truly blue and beautiful!

Jantar Mantar: If You Are Into Astronomy...

If your are into astronomy, you will most likely have a great time in Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory.  This Unescco World heritage site observatory has fourteen major geometric devices for measuring time, tracking stars, ascertaining declinations of planets, etc.

However, if you visit expecting to see impressive structures, then you will be in for a disappointment.  The observatory structures are not awesome, and paint on its walls are faded and peeling off.

City Palace: Fine Architecture in the Old City

Imposing in its presence in Jaipur's Old City is the City Palace.  Done in traditional Indian architecture the palace complex is divided into courtyards, gardens and buildings.

Do not miss out on this beautiful  Palace which is well maintained inside and out.

Hawa Mahal: Ladies by the Windows

A stunning sight in central Jaipur is the Hawa Mahal or the Palace of  Breeze.  The five storey high redstone building has over 900 windows. Its many windows allows  the breeze to circulate into the structure.  This is where the royal ladies viewed from the windows life outside of the palace without being seen.

At present you can not enter the Palace and will only be able to appreciate its beauty from the outside.

Jal Mahal: Beauty in the Lake

On the way to Amber Fort, sits in the middle of Lake Man Sagar, the pretty Jal Mahal or the Water Palace.  It is worth a brief stop for photo opportunities and to enjoy the lake breeze and fine architecture of Jal Mahal.

There are scenic views of this Water Palace from Nahargarh Fort and on the mountain road going to the three forts of Jaipur.

The Other Forts of Jaipur

Inside Nahargarh Fort

View of Amber Fort

Views of the Mountain and Lake

We almost walked away from Nahargarh Fort because there is really nothing much to see inside. But a good thing we continued our exploration and ended up at the end of the Fort where there are spectacular views of Amber Fort, the City of Jaipur, and the mountains and lake.

This made our visit of the Fort worthwhile!

Entrance of Jaigarh Fort with its famous cannon

Jaigarh Fort Ramp

Views from Jaigarh Fort

Jaigarh Fort is the strongest of the three forts in Jaipur since it has never been conquered in battle! The Fort was the site of the world's largest cannon. There are also awesome views of the city of Jaipur and Amber Fort from this fort.

Amber Fort: Beautiful Outside and From a Distance!

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Jaipur's main attraction is the Amber Fort.  This fort is impressive from the outside with its massive walls.  Inside the fort, it has sprawling grounds but there is nothing much to see as the rooms of the fort/palace are bare and stripped of any adornments and fixtures.

Amber Fort is also not well maintained with  paint of the walls  peeling off and I did not see any efforts at restoration.  Nevertheless, it continues to be a major tourist attraction in India and is a popular site for shooting bollywood films.  At that time that of my visit they were filming what looked like an epic bollywood movie in the fort grounds.

Humayun's Tomb: An Oasis of Calm

Another Unesco World Heritage Site in Delhi is Humayun's Tomb.  With its immaculately maintained large garden, this tourist spot is a refreshing oasis of calm in crowded and chaotic Delhi.  The structures will remind you of the Taj Mahal.  This is because Humayun's Tomb was actually the prototype for the Taj Mahal.

The tomb was built by a grieving wife for a beloved departed husband while it was the other way around for the Taj Mahal.  Humayun's Tomb is principally made of red sandstone which makes it a more colorful attraction than the Taj Mahal which is a white marble monument. The Taj Mahal in Agra is the grander tomb but the Humayun's Tomb is still worth a visit.

Qutub Complex: Of Ticket Sellers and A Grand Site

Good thing I did not allow yet another attempt by the ticket seller at the ticket admission booth to short changed me to ruin my enjoyment of Qutub Complex. I was cheated of my change for my admission ticket at the Red Fort. And I remembered that there is a warning in my guide book about the prevalent practice of shortchanging foreign tourists by ticket sellers at India's famous tourists spots. So this time, I was alert and called the ticket seller's attention that he gave me the wrong change.

Anyway, a must see in Delhi is the Qutub Complex, a Unesco World Heritage Site in Delhi. The place has awe inspiring minaret, the Qutub Minar, and a grand mosque, the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque. It also has well preserved ruins which will remind you of the famous ancient ruins of Greece. This was the best place that I visited in Delhi.

Jama Masjid... Yes The Largest (period!)

Claim to fame of Jama Masjid in Old Delhi is that it is the largest mosque in India. It is impressive indeed but makes for a very stressful visit. There was fairly large crowd when we visited the place at noon time. And there were also many locals who will pester you with offers to serve as your guide. Although admission to the mosque is free, you have to pay Rupees 300 if you bring with you a camera.You also have to leave your shoes at the entrance and at 12 noon, floor was really hot and almost unbearable to walk on!

If you are going to Agra and going to Fathephur Siri, you can opt to give Jahid Masjid a miss. The mosque in the Fathephur Siri complex is prettier with fewer people and provides for a more relaxed visit.