The Umaid Bhawan Palace at Jodhpur, India's last great Palace, was constructed between 1929 and 1944. Constructed in what can loosely be described as the Indo-Art-Deco style, this magnificent edifice with 347 rooms is the world's largest private residence when it opened its doors as a royal residence in 1944. Named after The Late His Highness Maharaja Umaid Singhji, the palace has been the residence of Maharaja Umaid Singhji and his successors. The Central Dome soars 110 feet overhead, and provides spectacular centerpiece - a focal point for all the visitors to the property . The view from the Pillars, especially at sunset, are spectacular. Landscaped gardens adorn the exteriors of the building and the spacious lawns at the rear of the Palace create an ambience which is at once serene, restful and yet spectacularly royal.
The impregnable Mehrangarh Fort, which rises above the city, is one of the largest forts in India. As impressive as it is, as a well preserved heritage structure, there's so much more to discover inside. One of the highlights is the museum, which houses an outstanding collection of fine and applied arts from the Mughal period of Indian history. It even has the only professional museum shop in India.
Mandore was the capital of the Marwar region before Jodhpur was founded but now it's in a miserable condition. There's an old fort, as well as an eclectic collection of temples and cenotaphs, and a small museum, in the Mandore Gardens. It could be a really attractive tourist spot if it was properly maintained. The monuments are in ruins and garbage is often scattered around. It's still worth a visit though, for the amazing architecture and history of a bygone era.
To the left of the Mehrangarh Fort compound is the Jaswant Thada of Jodhpur, Rajasthan. It is a 19th century royal cenotaph built in commemoration of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, the 33rd Rathore ruler of Jodhpur. The son of Maharaja Jaswant Singh, Maharaja Sardar Singh, in the memory of his father, built the Jaswant Thada. The cenotaph has two more tombs within it. Near to this are the royal crematorium and three other cenotaphs.
India is an example of architectural brilliance and famous Jaswant Thada, situated in Jodhpur occupies a miraculous place in the domain of architect. It is a white marble memorial, built out of intricately carved sheets of marble. The carving shows the genius of the sculptors. These stones are extremely thin and polished.
Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park was created in 2006 to try and restore the natural ecology of a large, rocky wasteland next to Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur. It had suffered years of neglect and was overrun by baavlia (Prosopis juliflora), an invasive, thorny shrub introduced from central America almost a century ago. The challenge was to eradicate the baavlia and create a suitable home for native rock-loving plants that we would bring back from the desert.