Jodphur, The Blue City sight seeing

Jodphur is known as the Blue City because the city is dotted with blue painted houses.  They belong to the Brahmin (caste) families.  Why? My guess it helped to cool down their houses but no it is even more practical than that. The blue paint is a copper solution which prevents termite infestation. The Brahmin are a well off caste with royal connections and can afford the blue paint. Nothing romantic or historical about that.

The blue looks amazing from viewing points around town.

After breakfast Deepak drove us to three places for sight seeing Mehrangarh Fort (1459 AD), Jaswant Thada (1906 AD) & Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum.

The fort is run by a trust set up by the current royal family.  It was well organized and enjoyable to walk around because you do not get harassed as the trust doesn’t allow touts (sellers) only approved guides and employees to work there.  It truly was an awesome sight.

Just below the fort sits the Jaswant Thada.  It is a cenotaph sitting near a lake overlooking the city.  There were amazing views of the city.

The last sight was the Umaid Bhawan Palace.  The current king resides there so only a part of it (museum) is opened to the public.  

Deepak says we will see important cars there, Jim says “what's an impotent cow”.  Something lost in translation!

For lunch Deepak took us to a famous restaurant for foreigners called “On the rocks”.  It was an oasis in a dust bowl of a city.  We shared a yummy vegetarian tandoori platter, something we hadn’t had before.

Spent the afternoon relaxing at the haveli.  Had dinner at the roof top restaurant to the sound of more fire works, another wedding somewhere in the distance.  The fort sits behind the haveli and at night it is lit up.  Great backdrop.

Menhrangarh Fort

Jaswant Thada

Umaid Bhagwan Palace

"On the rocks" restaurant lunch stop