Situated at an altitude of about 125 metres, the Mehrangarh Fort is spread over an area of 5 sq. km in the heart of the city. The fort has seven gates of which the noted ones are the Jayapol, built by Maharaja Man Singh in 1806; Fatehpol or the Victory Gate built by Maharaja Ajit Singh; and the Lohapol or the Iron Gate. The 15 handprints, the sati marks of Maharaja Man Singh/'s widows
who threw themselves upon his funeral pyre in 1843, can be seen beside the Lohapol. On the wall, one can see the strategically located cannons. Inside the fort, a series of courtyards and palaces greet the visitor. The palace apartments house a splendid collection of the trappings of the Indian royalty. The fort is visited by thousands of tourists every year who come to have a glimpse of the artillery system of the Rajput warriors. One can have a bird/'s eye view of the city from the fort.
Sardar Samand Lake & Palace
As you go up to the shimmering lake and palace, a meandering and interesting drive will keep you entraced. The countryside with its lively villages and smiling, gay village folk of Jhalamand and Goora, will make you stop by and taste a bit of their hospitality. Photographers and adventurists can have day packed with enthralling excitement. Freely roaming herds of Chinkaras and Black Bucks can be seen here in large numbers.
MANDORE GARDENS
About 8 km from Jodhpur, Mandore, the ancient capital of Marwar, has cenotaphs of the Jodhpur rulers. The beautiful gardens with high rock terraces make it a popular picnic spot. The garden has a gate known as the Ajitpol, which is decorated with paintings of the gods and goddesses of Indian mythology.
UMAID BHAWAN
Made of marble and pink sandstone, the construction of the Umaid Bhawan started in 1929 and it took 16 years to complete it. It is believed that the palace was constructed to give employment to the famine-struck population of Jodhpur. This majestic building is presently the residence of the former rulers with a part of it running as hotel and remaining part as a museum.
Osian
This ancient town of Thar Desert, was a great trading center between 8th - 12th century. Today, it is a desert oasis with sixteen Brahamanical and Jain temples, beautifully sculpted and designed, most of which have stood ravages of time. The largest of these are Sachchiya mata temple and Mahavir Jain temple, which are both functional. This medieval town is surrounded by rows of sand dunes on western end. While in Osian watch out for lovely sunsets and camel rides.
