India's Blue City - BEST Things to Do in Jodhpur

3/20/2023

**Updated : April 2023**
Use the map to see a visual of all our recommendations - click the arrow next to our photo to have a pop up list! This post may also contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you purchase a product via these links, with no extra cost to you!

During our month in India we had the pleasure of visiting Jodhpur with our Intrepid group, although it was only a short stay, it immediately became one of our favorite places in India! Known as the Blue City of India or The Blue Heaven by some, this city is infamous for its indigo painted homes and buildings. Originally, these houses were only painted blue for a variety of reasons - if a priest of the followers of Lord Shiva lived there, to keep mosquitos at bay, and to keep houses cool in the summer heat. Scroll to the end of this post to see our best recommendations of what to do in Jodhpur!

Where to Stay in Jodhpur

During our short time in Jodhpur we stayed at the Jagat Vilas Heritage Home Stay - which was perfect for us in a variety of ways. The location was great, a bit out of town but we'll take the trade for the peace and quiet we experienced there. The wifi worked well, breakfast was great, and the rooms were spacious and clean (not always common in India) with a beautiful garden courtyard in the middle of the building. Depending on the dates you visit, the price can range from about $18 per night all the way up to $80 per night. Some other places we would recommend are :

Kankariya Heritage - a cheap ($22+ per night) hotel that is centrally located
The Ummed Jodhpur Palace Resort & Spa - a mid-range hotel ($60+ per night) with a great pool and spa
Radisson Hotel Jodhpur - a mid-range hotel ($80+ per night) with great amenities
RAAS Jodhpur - another somewhat spendy lodging option ($200+ per night) with a great pool
Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur - the most expensive place ($400+ per night) we'll ever recommend, BUT staying in the Palace of Jodhpur would be pretty cool if we say so ourselves

Places to Eat in Jodhpur

If you're exploring the Old City of Jodhpur (where the blue part of the Blue City is) then you'll see PLENTY of small cafes that are great for grabbing a bite to eat or just to get a drink! There are two spots we would recommend finding and stopping at though that are just outside of the Old City near Ghanta Ghar. The first is supposedly the BEST Lassi place in ALL OF INDIA, too good to be true? Maybe. If you're not sure what Lassi is, then we should share that Lassi is basically a yogurt based drink with a smooth consistency that comes in different flavors like strawberry, mango, or just plain. Head to the bottom of the Shri Mishrilal Hotel and try one of their 50 ruppee ($0.61!!) Lassi drinks and decide for yourself! Looking for something with more spice? Head across the street to Shahi Samosa to try one of their fresh (and cheap) samosas! For only 20 ruppee ($0.24!!) you can try their famous samosas - which may or may not be a little spicy...see the video below. LOL.

If you're looking to try some of the cafes in the Blue City, we recommend the following :

Open House Cafe - great veg fried rice with a view of the local step well
Indique Restaurant & Bar - the rooftop of a hotel overlooking the palace with North Indian cuisine
The Almond Grove - a modern cafe and pizzeria
Cafe 651 - great food from a globally inspired menu
Sparrows Pizzeria - great wood fired pizzas and right next to the Jagat Vilas Heritage Home Stay!

Things to Do in Jodhpur

Jaswant Thada

Old City of Jodhpur

Toorji Ka Jhalra Bavdi Step Well

Although our time exploring Jodhpur was short, we put together a list of our favorite things to do in the area! We highly recommend checking these out whether you're here for a long time or a short time - we even added a few extra things our guide recommended that we didn't quite have time for!

Toorji Ka Jhalra Bavdi Step Well - what used to be used by local women as a place to get fresh water, it's now used as a spot for local boys to go swimming and cool down! Tyler didn't have his swimsuit with him, and our guide recommended not to go swimming because of bacteria as the water is never cleaned, however we did see a few tourists jump in and have a great time!
Mehrangarh Museum Trust & Fort - also known as the Jodhpur fort, this is one of the most well preserved forts in Rajasthan. It is a bit of a steep incline and walk up to the top, but well worth it as there is an incredible amount of artifacts throughout the property. With a Student ID card the entrance fee is 400 ruppees otherwise a general admission tickets for adults is 600 ruppees ($7.32).
Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur - the same hotel we mentioned above for lodging, this Palace is also open to visitors! You'll more than likely need to take a TukTuk here as the walking directions take you past a point guarded by security with guns - and although we didn't have time to visit ourselves, we heard the exterior is stunning! However, there aren't many artifacts inside compared to the Mehrangarh Museum Trust.
Jaswant Thada - located near the Mehrangarh Museum Trust, this is a great place to get a big picture and view of the Fort, it's also a beautiful place that houses the cremation grounds of the Royal Rajput Family of Marwar - however now a days its often used as a music and festival concert venue.
Rao Jodha Desert Rock - located in the same area as Jaswant Thada, we didn't have time for this stop ourselves, however, we highly recommend heading here if you're looking for a peaceful walk through the garden and rock formations
Ghanta Ghar - a clock tower famous in Rajasthan that marks the center of Sadar Bazar, a very busy market for locals. while you're here try the famous Lassi or Samosas we mentioned above!
Mandore Garden - a beautiful, abandoned garden located about 9 km out of town, explore here to see tomblike structures, ruins and statues
Blue City Heritage Walk - what the city of Jodphur is most known for, BLUE. explore the old city by walking down from the Mehrangarh Museum Trust & Fort towards the Toorji Ka Jhalra Bavdi Step Well and then on towards the Ghanta Ghar clock tower