Located as it is at the edge of the vast Thar desert and atop a sandstone foothill, Jodhpur appears as an oasis surrounded by sand. The city and its surrounding area is a favourite destination for visitors to Rajasthan. A number of attractions in Jodhpur stand as reminders of the splendour of this area’s past, its traditions and its culture. In particular, the city’s forts, palaces, exotic temples and other monuments demonstrate major achievements in architectural design – and of local stone carvers.

Achal Nath Shivalaya
This temple, important to Shiva devotees, was built in 1531 by order of Nanak Devi, the queen of Rao Ganga. The Ganga Bawari, a large reservoir, was constructed near the Shivlinga. Chhitar stone was used in the building of parts of the temple, including the Garbh Griha, Kirtan Bhawan and Mandap.

Ganesh Temple
The area where this temple to Ganesh is found is known as Ratanada, named after a dog known as Rata. In the mid-19th century, Radidas, a teacher from Gorunda, came across a statue of Vinayakji in this area and the temple was built to encompass this statue.

Jaswant Thada
Near the Mahrangarh Fort complex is the 19^th century white marble royal cenotaph called Jaswant Thada. This memorial, constructed to commemorate the life of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, stands next to three other cenotaphs built on the site. The main cenotaph contains a collection of rare portraits of former maharajas of Jodhpur, who are still revered by many local people.

Mehrangarh Fort
Placed on a steep hill and spreading for more than 5kms, Mehrangarh fort was built in 1490, and is one of the largest still standing in India. Numerous palaces are found within the fort that are quite grand in scope and maintain much of their original beauty – particularly in the chiselled sandstone sculptures that were the product of Jodhpuri artisans. You’ll find several noteworthy collections here, featuring Rajasthani musical instruments, royal costumes and furniture. The views from the fort are majestic.

Rai-ka-Bag Palace
This palace was ordered built by Queen Hadiji in 1663, and is located near the railway station bearing the same name. King Jaswant Singh II favoured this particular palace, frequently staying in the octagonal bungalow here. Swami Dayanand Saraswati visited Jodhpur in the late 19^th century and preached his sermons from the public grounds surrounding the palace. Today the palace houses the income tax office.

Raj Ranchhodji Temple
Queen Jadechi Rajkanwar arranged for the building of this temple following the death of King Jaswant Singh, her husband. The main parts of the structure were executed in red sandstone, which was carved with lovely filigree detail by local craftsmen. In the centre of the temple stands an impressive black marble statue of Ranchhodji.

Siddhnath Shiv Temple
To reach this temple, access is gained from the Jodhpur-Chopasani road in the Takhat Sagar hills by crossing the stairs carved out of the rock found here. At one time the site was a lonely place that had attracted a hermit known as Veetragi Narain Swami. He was one of several saints who were revered by locals, and in fact, a hermit called Nepali Baba created the large temple here by carving stones – even though he was handicapped by missing a finger on both of his hands.

Rajasthan offers up a wide variety of things to do ranging from cultural events and entertainment to desert adventures. Camel caravans take tourists across stretches of the Thar desert, following centuries-old routes of early adventurers; and the Palace on Wheels takes visitors on a luxurious journey from the magnificence of Rajasthan to Delhi. In addition, there are local performances of cultural and folk singing and dance that make for colourful spectacles.

Cross the desert on a camel caravan Crossing the Thar desert by camel has been a popular activity for visitors for many years, including Sir Edmund Hillary, of Mt Everest fame, who felt a thrill undertaking a crossing on camel back. With a guide and the company of others on a caravan, a trip into the mysterious desert can certainly be a highlight of your visit to the area.

Entertain yourself with Bollywood films or traditional song and dance
Options are more focused on cultural activities and cinema here than on the typical night out at a bar or club. There are opportunities to take in traditional folk dancing and musical performances, exhibitions of traditional handicrafts and cinemas offering up the best of Bollywood, films set in the romance of Rajasthan’s glory days, and the latest Hollywood blockbusters as well.

Relax with a spa treatment
The approach to health care in Rajasthan has long been based on naturopathy and Ayurveydic practices. Massage, yoga and natural cures are at the heart of this system of maintaining and restoring health. Natural cures, along with yoga, massage and spa treatments that include steam and mud baths are all important elements in this holistic approach to promoting health. It is believed that massages, herbal treatments, and the ancient practices of Ayurveda and yoga provide benefit to both the mind and the body.

See a fort from an elephant’s back
This is considered the best of all ways to begin a visit to a Rajasthani fort: arriving on the back of an elephant certainly helps to set the scene for what it might have been like centuries ago when these animals and camels were the main means of transport. Once you’ve arrived, a stroll around the grounds will give you an appreciation of the architectural and artistic achievements of the designers responsible for the creation of the magnificent forts.

Take a ride on the Palace on Wheels
One of the world’s great train rides takes passengers on a magical journey across the north of India from Rajasthan to Delhi and back, stopping at some of the country’s most noteworthy attractions in Rajasthan. The attractions include: Jaipur’s pink architecture; Jaisalmer’s great sand dunes and golden fortress; Jodhpur’s majestic Mehrangarh Fort; Udaipur’s stunning lake palaces; the magnificent tigers at Ranthambore; the lovely birds at Bharatpur; and the astonishing Taj Mahal at Agra.