Located on the foothill of a sandstone hillock, the city of Jodhpur seems like an oasis in the vast desert. Jodhpur is one of the favorite tourist destinations in Rajasthan. People from India as well as all over the world visit Jodhpur every year. There are a number of tourist attractions in Jodhpur, enchanting the tourists.

Jodhpur tourist spots stand as a living proof of the splendor, traditions and culture of the Jodhpur. The glorious past of Jodhpur is personified through the various forts, palaces and other monuments of Jodhpur. The main places to see in Jodhpur Rajasthan are:

Mehrangarh Fort
The most magnificent fort in Jodhpur is the Mehrangarh Fort. It is situated on a 150m high hill. Rao Jodha, the then chief of Rathore clan, constructed it in 1459. There are a number of attractions within the fort like several palaces, galleries, a museum, temples and so on.

Umaid Bhavan Palace
One of the fascinating palaces of Jodhpur is the Umaid Bhavan palace. Maharaja Umaid Singh constructed it in 20th century. A part of the palace has now been converted into a hotel and a museum.

Jaswant Thada
Jaswant Thada lies to the left of the Mehrangarh fort complex. It is a royal cenotaph made up of white marble. It was built to commemorate Maharaja Jaswant Singh. Some rare portraits of the former rulers of Jodhpur are also displayed here.

AROUND JODHPUR
Balsamand Lake -located about 9km northeast of the city is a picturesque lake surrounded by beautiful gardens. An idyllic spot for excursions. A splendid Summer Palace built in 1159 stands by the lake side. The palace has been converted into a heritage hotel.

Mandore - located about 9km north of Jodhpur, this was the capital of Marwar prior to the foundation of Jodhpur. Today with its extensive gardens with high rock terraces and royal cenotaphs make it a popular local attraction. The Hall of Heroes contains 15 figures carved out of a rock wall. The brightly painted figures represent Hindu deities and local heroes. There is also a shrine of 33 Crore (330 million) Gods painted with figures of deities and spirits.

Rohet - is a fortified desert village located about 40km south of Jodhpur. The Fort, the home of the descendants of the Rathores has been converted into a heritage hotel.

Luni - is another desert village and the site of Fort Chanwa, a red sandstone fort , which has now bee converted into a heritage hotel. The surrounding village offers interesting walks.

Sardar Samand Lake - located 66km southeast of Jodhpur, this is a wildlife centre and the route to it from Jodhpur passes through a number of colourful villages. Some of the wildlife to be seen include black bucks, chinkara and a variety of bird life.

Osian - is an ancient Thar Desert town located about 65km north of Jodhpur. It was a great trading centre between the 8th and 12th centuries when it was dominated by the Jains. It is an oasis in the desert, situated on the diversion off the main Jodhpur-Bikaner Highway. The wealth of Osian's medieval inhabitants allowed them to build lavish and exquisitely sculptured temples, most of which have withstood the ravages of time. The sculptural details of the temples rival those of the Hoysala temples in Karnataka and the Sun Temple of Konark in Orissa. Of these temples the most notable are the Sun Temple, the Kali temple, Sachiya Mata Temple and the main Jain temple dedicated to Lord Mahavira.

Nagaur - located 135km northeast of Jodhpur has the imposing AhhichatrAgrah fort with beautiful murals. It is also the venue for a week long cattle fair held in January/February every year.