Explore Three unique Destination in Blue City, India

Jodhpur is situated in the heart of the Great Indian Thar Desert. Jodhpur is the gateway of the Thar Desert and also a historically important place in the Indian desert. This location offers you a desert landscape experience. The oldest town in Jodhpur’s buildings is painted in blue, which is why it is also known as a “Blue City”. The brahmin community paints their home in blue colour. They believe this colour offers them “High social status” and it also builds a connection with lord krishna and lord Shiva. Jodhpur provides you with stunning architecture, culture and history. One of the most famous architectural sites in Jodhpur is Mehrangarh Fort. Mehrangarh Fort 📍is a landmark of this city. This city reminds you of the Indian Royal life.

Helpful website and Apps :

Quick Facts

• Flight: Skyscanner and MakeMyTrip
• Train: IRCTC (Reservation Ticket Book), UTS (Unreserved Ticket Book), and Where is my train (check train schedule).
• Bus: MakeMyTrip*, Redbus
• Cab: Uber (Website and app for Android and iPhone)* and Ola (Website, app for Android and iPhone).
• Accommodation: MakeMyTrip, Goibibo and Booking.com.
• Hostel Accommodation: Hostelworld, Hostelz.com, Booking.com.

Quick facts (Rental vehicle company)

•  Self-drive rental car: Zoomcar, Revv, Myles and Avis India.
• With a driver rental car: Savaari Car Rentals.
• Two-wheeler vehicle for short distances: Bounce.
• Two-wheeler vehicles for daily, weekly and Monthly: Royal Brothers, ONN Bikes, RenTrip.
• SIM card: Airtel and Jio. (Best operator in India).

Accommodation:

There are several options for accommodation in Jodhpur. Everything depends on your comfort level. On one side, some tourists like More security and Luxury while on the other hand, some tourists complete their tour with cheap options. We share with you expensive and budget accommodations in Jodhpur.

Expensive: 

• We are going to share the most expensive and comfortable accommodation in Jodhpur.
• You can use MakeMyTrip, Goibibo and Booking.com websites and applications to book your hotel.
• Some Luxury and femous Hotel in Jodhpur positivelye reviews and experiences by other tourists are:  RAAS Jodhpur, Umaid Bhawan Palace, Ajit Bhawan, Taj Hari Mahal, Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, and The Ummed Jodhpur Palace Resort & Spa.  Jodhpur Heritage Haveli. These are all the expensive and comfortable options in Jodhpur.

Solo or Budget:  

Hostel : 

• There are several types of hostels that support budget tourists. The Average stay charge of the hotel is 1000 or Less per Night.
• The Hosteller Jodhpur, Zostel Jodhpur (Clock Tower), Moustache, BlaBla Hostel, Zostel Jodhpur (Ratanada).
• Otherwise, you can use Hostelworld, Hostelz.com, and booking.com to find and book your hostel. All platforms are trusted.

 

Guest houses:

Royal Heritage Guest House, Jee Ri Haveli, Restaurants Hotel and Jodhpur Heritage Haveli Guest House. 

Unique Spot:

Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada and Umaid Bhawan Palace are all value-for-money places. Additionally, you can also explore Toorji Ka Jhalra (Stepwell), Blue, Mandore Gardens, Blue City Alleys and Ghanta Ghar & Sardar Market.

If you have an interest in wildlife and gardening, you can explore Machia safari park for Natural destinations and Masuriya hill garden.

 Mehrangarh Fort:

Mehrangarh Fort is one of the largest historic forts in Jodhpur. This fort is standing 400 feet (122 meters)  above the city, and it was built in 1459. Outside of the Mehrangarh fort, you have a stunning view of blue houses and the Thar desert. Inside this fort are an attractive Courtyard, Grandplace, a temple, and a museum that offer royal paintings, artefacts, textiles, and weapons. The massive fort gate offers insight into Rajput culture and strength.

Ticket book: You can book tickets directly from their Ticket counter. Otherwise, you can book tickets online via a website.

Ticket cost : 

•  Indian adults pay 100 to 200 rupees, and Indian senior citizens/students pay 50 to 100 rupees.
• Foreigners pay 600 to 800 rupees, and foreign students pay 400 to 500  rupees.
• Photography permit (Still) is 100 rupees, while photography permit (video) is 200 rupees.
• An audio guide (Optional) is included for foreigners at 180 rupees.

Jaswant Thada:

The nickname of Jaswant Thada, “Taj Mahal of Marwar”, refers to its white marble construction. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Jodhpur. It was made with the help of a thin marble sheet in 1988, which is why it glows in sunlight. You will observe the beautiful carving on the wall. While inside the Monument, you will see several portraits of the Jodhpur Rules.

How to book:

• You can purchase a ticket from the ticket counter (Entrance). There is not Facility to purchase a ticket online in advance at the current time.
• Cost of ticket: Indians 30, foreigners 50 and an additional fee for a photograph of 25 rupees and a video camera of 50 rupees.
• Timing: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Daily).
• If you want to know the history of this beautiful monument, then you can book a guide; the fees for the guide are: 1-4 tourist fees are 150 to 200 rupees, 4-15 tourists, fees are 200-250 rupees and 16-30 tourists, fees are 250-300 rupees.

Umaid Bhawan Palace

Basic Information:

• Umaid Bhawan Palace is one of the most luxurious and beautiful places in India. It is the largest private residence in the entire world.
• This Place is made in 1943, and the total construction cost of the Place was about 11 million or 1.1 crore.
• The duration of the construction of this place is from 1929 to 1943. At the present time, the value of the Place is 22400 crore in indian rupees. It is one of the largest private residences in the world.

Building Information:

• This monument was constructed from golden yellow sandstone. There are 347 rooms in this monument.
• It has the largest central dome, which is about 105 feet high. inside the palace, severe photographs, potraits and old royal weapons are present.
• You will also see the history of Jodhpur and the royal family inside the palace. It is a symbol of the great architecture and royal history in Jodhpur.
• There are three segments of the palace: one segment still in use by the royal family, 2nd segment converted into a museum for tourists, and 3rd segment converted into a hotel.  This hotel is very luxurious and Expensive.

Explore Umaid Bhawan Palace:

• Ticket price: The ticket price to explore the Museum for indian is 30 rupees and for foreigners is 100 rupees. The best option is to purchase a ticket in person at the Entrance gate.
• Opening Hours: 9 am to 5 pm.
• Best time: The Ideal duration to explore this palace is from August to March. You can enjoy exploring the Museum in the morning, when there are fewer tourists and the light is soft.

Our Plan For Jodhpur:

One day is enough for exploring these beautiful and unique places. Our plan, in the Morning at First explore Mehrangarh Fort, then explore Jaswant Thada from about 11 am-12 pm, and lastly explore Umaid Bhawan Palace.

How to explore with a map:

First Destination: Your hotel or lodge to Mehrangarh fort by Ola, Uber or taxi. Ask the driver of the vehicle to drop you on the Fort Entrance road. You need to give 2 to 3 hours to explore this palace. If you want to know the in-depth knowledge of the fort, then try to book the audio guide.

Second Destination: The distance between Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant Thada is about 500 Meters. You need 10-15 minutes on foot, while 5 minutes by vehicle. The duration to explore Jaswant Thada is 30 to 45 minutes enough.

Third Destination: After Jaswant thada try to have lunch. Jaswant Thada to Umaid Bhawan Palace distance is about 6 kilometres. You can book a cab (Ola or Uber) for Umaid Bhawan Palace in the Afternoon. The fare from Jaswant Thada to Umaid Bhawan Palace is 150-250 rupes.

Note or Tips:

• If you are new or Unfamiliar with this place, then try to avoid auto and select Ola and Uber. Ola and Uber fares are fixed.
• Always on your Google map to track your destination and your position. It is important to confirm the final fare before starting the journey of auto-rickshaw; otherwise, you risk being scammed.
• An auto-rickshaw is the cheapest option, if you can bargain. Before you start your journey, you can use Google Maps to know your current place to destination distance and fare basic information. It will give you a basic idea of the actual fare information.

Scam :

Travel means a person who is interested in visiting a new place. If you want to explore Jaisalmer and any other place in India, then you need to know this environment. Most Indians are Honest, but some people try to target tourists for a source of income. These people use different tactics to scam and take money from tourists. Tourists are Unfamiliar with the new environment, which is why they usually do not understand what is happening. I share with you some information about a scam in Jaislamer.

Why :

• Most tourists are unfamiliar with new places. In particular, they are totally unfamiliar with local costs and customs.
• Some tourists say “NO” too politely, and it gives opportunities to the scammers.
• One of the negative aspects is the language barrier. It is one of the major reasons for scams.
• Tourists are not able to verify on the spot due to the large crowds of tourists at hotspots.
• Not collecting proper information before travelling to the new place.

How :

They are using different tactics or strategies to take more money from tourists.

Transport: The Driver refuses to use the Meter and claims that the Meter is broken. They charge fares 3 to 5 times the actual price. Sometimes, they increase fares after reaching the destination (Especially Railway stations, airports and bus stations).

Suggestion to avoid: Always prefer ride-hailing platforms like Ola and Uber. You can book a pre-paid taxi from the Airport and the Railway station. Before boarding, you can check on Google Maps, and it will give you an idea of the expected fare.

Use a closed trick: Some taxi drivers tell you very honestly that today, due to some reason, this place is closed. He will prefer some other place. He prefers some private tours or some shops where they take a commission.

Suggestion to avoid: Say them politely, thank them and continue it yourself. Before visiting any place, try to verify it on Google Maps and its website.

 Fake Currency: When you pay a large amount in cash, and at that time, some vendors change your Note into a Fake note. They told you that you gave it to the cashier.

Suggestion to avoid: Always try to pay in small denominations and watch the cashier while counting it.

Fake tourist agencies and offices: 

How to avoid: Try to book packages from trusted agencies or official government websites. Before purchasing, check the oldest review, the new review and the number of reviews.

Jewellery and Gemstone scam: It is one of the common scams in Jaisalmer, Jaipur and other cities in India. Sellers offer you rare gemstones, and they try to sell them as soon as possible. They promise to you that you can sell it in your home country at a large profit.

How to avoid: Try to avoid a seller who is in a hurry and too friendly. Always avoid purchasing expensive products from strangers. Always prefer to buy anything from a certified, reputed shop with a proper bill (GST Number and Address mentioned in the bill). Always try to pay via a credit card.

Overpriced selling: Maximum sellers quote the product cost for tourists more than 5-10 times as compared to local rate.

How to avoid: Try bargaining for always 30% off the asking price of the seller. Always prefer a shop where more locals are purchasing products.

Fake ticket: You see that some strangers sell monument entry tickets outside. This ticket will be expensive or Fake.

How to avoid: Always purchase tickets from the online or official counter.

Blessing and holy man scam: Some holy men offer you ties or a blessing thread, but after that, they will charge money.

How to avoid: Avoid them politely and walk away.

ATM card and WiFi Skimming: Scammers, with the help of a skimmer (a discrete device), steal data of your atm and they also set up the hidden camera or fake keypad to know your PIN. They also steal your data from the WiFi network.

How to avoid: Always prefer to use an ATM which is inside the Bank. Otherwise, before use atm, try to check for any loose change and cover your PIN with your hand or wallet.

Note : 

• Always try to keep copies of your original documents.
• Before visiting the place, research it.
• If you want to pay in cash, then use a small amount of denominations.
• Trust in yourself. If you feel something is wrong, then go away.
• Always prefer a trusted platform to book your accommodation and transport.

Emergency contact :

• Police: 100
• Helpline number for tourists: 1800-11-1363 (Multiple languages, 24×7).
• Medical Emergency: 108
• Women’s Helpline: 1091.

In my personal experience, most people are not happy with scammers. It is destroying Indian culture. The Original behaviour of India is honesty, helpfulness, and kindness. These scammers are demolishing our culture day by day. It creates a negative image in front of the world.