Old city
First-timersBelow the fort.
Jodhpur city guide
Things To Do In Jodhpur
The blue city, spread beneath Mehrangarh, one of the most imposing forts in India, with a stepwell in the old town and the Thar desert beyond.
29
Hostels in the city
8.6
Average, from 2,528 reviews
1459
Jodhpur founded
Blue
The old city houses
5 h
To Jaisalmer
The blue city
Jodhpur was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha, and Mehrangarh Fort, built on a sheer rock outcrop, towers over the old city. Below it, many of the houses are painted blue, giving Jodhpur its name.
The old city is a maze of lanes and markets around the clock tower, and a restored stepwell, Toorji ka Jhalra, sits in the middle of it.
Jodhpur is the gateway to the Thar desert. Two days is right.
Where to stay
Stay in the old city, below the fort.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 5 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Jodhpur
Jodhpur, the 'Blue City', spreads around the foot of Mehrangarh, one of India's largest and most impressive forts, rising from a sheer rock above a maze of blue-painted houses.
Mehrangarh's museum, with its palaces, carved windows and collections of palanquins, weapons and paintings, is one of the best in Rajasthan; the audio guide is excellent. A zipline course flies over its walls.
Walk down through the old city's blue lanes to the Clock Tower and the Sardar Market around it, full of spices, textiles and street food. Toorji ka Jhalra, a restored eighteenth-century stepwell, is a lovely place to sit.
Jaswant Thada, a white marble memorial, has views back to the fort. Umaid Bhawan Palace, built in the 1930s and 1940s, is part royal residence, part hotel, with a museum open to visitors.
Bishnoi villages, where a community has protected wildlife and trees for centuries, can be visited on a half-day tour, and Osian has desert temples and dunes.
Free things
Free things to do in Jodhpur
Wandering the blue lanes of the old city, the Clock Tower and Sardar Market are free, and so is Toorji ka Jhalra.
Views of Mehrangarh from the old city rooftops and Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park's edges cost nothing.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Jodhpur
Jodhpur's street food is famous: mirchi vada, a large chilli stuffed with spiced potato and fried, pyaaz kachori, and makhaniya lassi, a thick, saffron-flavoured lassi. Mawa kachori is a sweet.
A meal is €1.50 to €5.
Nightlife
Going out in Jodhpur
Jodhpur is quiet at night, with rooftop restaurants looking up at the lit fort, and a few hotel bars.
A beer is €3 to €5.
Getting around
Getting around Jodhpur
Jodhpur Airport is about 20 minutes away. Trains reach Jaisalmer in about five and a half hours, Jaipur and Delhi, and buses reach Udaipur.
The old city is walkable; autos cover the rest.
Costs
What Jodhpur costs
Jodhpur is cheap. Dorms start around €5 and a careful day is €18 to €28.
Mehrangarh is about €7 including the audio guide, and the zipline about €20 to €25.
The currency is the rupee (INR), at roughly 95 to 100 rupees to the euro; prices here are euro equivalents. UPI phone payments are everywhere, and some apps now accept foreign cards; carry cash for small shops, autos and markets.
Safety
Staying safe in Jodhpur
Jodhpur is safe. The old city's lanes are steep and narrow, shared with motorbikes and cows; walk carefully.
Women travellers often face staring and comments, and sometimes groping in crowds; dress conservatively, use women's carriages on metros and trains, and book cabs through apps. Drink only bottled or filtered water, and be wary of raw salads and ice; stomach upsets are common.
Most visitors need an Indian e-Visa, applied for online before travel. Since 1 April 2026, all foreign nationals flying in must also submit the free e-Arrival Card online within 72 hours before landing; screenshot or download the QR code, as it cannot be retrieved later.
Emergency number is 112.
Day trips from Jodhpur
The desert and temples.
Jaisalmer
The golden fort.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The Rajasthan International Folk Festival is held at the fort in October.
Staff pick
22–26 October
Jodhpur RIFF (Rajasthan International Folk Festival)
Experience the vibrant cultural tapestry of Rajasthan at the Jodhpur RIFF (Rajasthan International Folk Festival), a five-day extravaganza celebrating traditional music, dance, and arts.…
Hostels
Where to stay in Jodhpur
The top-rated places to stay in Jodhpur right now, live from Hostelworld.
When to go
October to March.
Jan
Peak
Feb
Good
Mar
Holi
Apr
Hot
May
Extreme heat
Jun
Extreme heat
Jul
Monsoon
Aug
Monsoon
Sep
Hot
Oct
Folk festival
Nov
Excellent
Dec
Peak
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in rupees locally; these are euro equivalents.
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Jodhpur travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Why is Jodhpur blue?
Many houses in the old city are painted blue; theories include caste, heat and insects.
Is Mehrangarh worth it?
Yes, one of the best forts and museums in India; take the audio guide.
What should I eat?
Mirchi vada and makhaniya lassi.
How do I get to Jaisalmer?
By train, about five and a half hours.
How many days do you need?
Two.
When is the best time to visit?
October to March.
Is there a zipline?
Yes, over Mehrangarh's walls.
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