Jodhpur, or the Blue City, exudes a rich aura of royalty, harsh desert life and  lively, colourful people

The moment one lands in the city of Jodhpur, one wonders why it is called Blue City. Unlike the Pink City (Jaipur), where every other house is painted in pink, here in Jodhpur, the blue colour is not so omnipresent. To know the answer one will have to exert a little and reach the top of Mehrangarh fort. A panoramic view from here will show how almost every house around this fort is painted blue, interspersed with splashes of white and golden. There are several explanations to the choice of colour ~ possibly to keep them cool in summer or give a uniform look. Located on the foothill of a sandstone hillock, the city of Jodhpur seems like an oasis in the vast desert. Moreover, its glorious past, several forts, monuments, tradition, culture and of course food makes the place enchanting and a huge lure for tourists.

Also read: A living legend (travellernook.com)

Royal fusion
Needless to say, the whole city of Jodhpur has a royal presence at every corner. With its glorious past, theBlue City is dotted with palaces, forts and other monument . Notable among them are Mehrangarh Fort, Ranbanka Place, Jaswant Thada and Umaid Bhawan Palace.

Royality in Ranbanka
 Owned by Rajkumar Karan Vijay Singh and Kunwarini Shweta Rathod, Ranbanka recently became the first hotel in Jodhpur to be classified as a Classic Heritage Hotel. The Ranbanka Palace has recently been renovated to increase the royal touch. From its architecture to food or events, the heritage hotel will make a visitor feel like a king. The palace walls are adorned with pictures of kings and queens as well as royal guests, including Princess Diana and Prince Charles, taking one to a bygone era.

Royal wedding
To marry like a king go to Jodhpur. The city has some exclusive royal wedding venues that recreate the pomp and elegance of a royal era. Be it Ajit Bhavan, Umaid Bhavan or Ranbanka Place, each will leave no stone unturned to create a unique royal wedding. The culture of hospitality blends with contemporary modern facilities. “We organise around 20 to 25 marriage in a year," said the wedding planner at Ranbanka Hotel. "We could organise all functions ~ mehindi, sangeet, sehra bandi, the wedding ceremony and the reception. Be it elephant, horse or camel, we arrange everything to make a wedding royal.”

Also read: Elephant catwalk in Rajasthan (travellernook.com)

Umaid Bhawan palace

Built entirely in sandstone, the magnificent Umaid Bhawan is one of the most popular palace complexes in the country. The palace can be seen from all parts of the city. The current Maharaja and his family occupy a part of the palace while a portion has been opened to the public as a museum. The rest is managed by the Taj group as a beautiful hotel. Constructed on a grandiose scale, in an art-deco style, the sandstone palace is one of the world’s largest private residences. The Maharaja had commissioned it in  1929 as part of relief efforts when a terrible famine had ravaged Jodhpur.

Also read: Mandawa: A desert jewel (travellernook.com)

Local market

Whatever one is hunting for ~ Jodhpuri juti, shawls, saree, handicraft or spices ~ the local market has it all. Surrounding the clock tower in the Old City, a trip to Jodhpur wouldn't be complete without visiting this bustling part of the city. The market retains a traditional village bazaar feel, even though it is little bit chaotic but colourful. Even a non-shopaholic will find it hard to get away from this market.

Tasty cuisine
The city of the Sun not only gives a royal feeling but pampers the taste buds too. A number of Indian delicacies have originated in Jodhpur, such as Mawa Kachori, Pyaz Kachori, Hot and Spicy Mirchibada, Junglee Murg and Laal Maans. The tradition in Jodhpur is to first have something sweet and then proceed to the main course. Some popular sweets are Mave ki Kachori, Besan ki Chaaki and Makhan Vade.