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All India Jodhpur The Blue City of Jodhpur

The Blue City of Jodhpur

Once an indicator of social class, the color blue has come to define this city on the edge of the Thar Desert.

Jodhpur, India

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David Doochin
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Overlooking a sea of blue. (Photo:   Premaram67/CC BY-SA 4.0)
Overlooking a sea of blue. (Photo:   Premaram67/CC BY-SA 4.0)
An elevated view of the city of Jodhpur. (Photo:   fabiogrigri70/CC BY 2.0)
A street view of a home in Jodhpur. (Photo:   A Vahanvati/CC BY-SA 2.0)
A view of the city from Mehrangarh Fort. (Photo:   Premaram67/CC BY-SA 4.0)
  enis / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Elephant and motorcycle in the old city   jayla / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Mehrangarh Fort   deveshjoshi1990 / Atlas Obscura User
Folk music in Mehrangarh fort   deveshjoshi1990 / Atlas Obscura User
Inside a building in Jodhpur   deveshjoshi1990 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan, this “Blue City” is a mesmerizing collection of azure abodes that soothes and delights anyone that beholds it.

In the city of Jodhpur, a sea of boxy indigo houses stretches for more than 10 kilometers along the walls of the historic walled old city. A blue pigment coating on a house used to indicate that a Brahmin—the priests of the Indian caste system—dwelled there, but over time the color became a badge of identity for non-Brahmins, too. It’s also said to have insect-repelling abilities.

Situated on the edge of the Thar Desert, Jodhpur is also called the “Sun City,” named for the overwhelming amount of bright and sunny days it experiences. It is home to famed forts, palaces, mausoleums, gardens, lakes, and towers, making it a hotspot for tourist activity. Since its founding more than 500 years ago, the city has earned renown for its textile industry, exquisite furniture shops, delectable cuisine, and bustling bazaars, among many other attractions.

But above all, visitors aren’t likely to forget the eye-catching color coating the houses, creating a luscious blue sea in the arid Indian landscape. A view from the top of the looming Mehrangarh Fort, one of India’s largest forts from the 15th century, lets visitors overlook the bountiful, striking blue for which the city is known.

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daviddoochin

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Max Cortesi, jayla, enis, deveshjoshi1990...

  • Max Cortesi
  • jayla
  • enis
  • deveshjoshi1990
  • Fermanaghboy

Published

July 26, 2016

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  • https://www.traveler-channel.com/what-to-see-in-jodhpur/
The Blue City of Jodhpur
Jodhpur
India
26.302331, 73.052334

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Jodhpur, India

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Jodhpur

Jodhpur

India

Places 5

Nearby Places

Mahila Baag Jhalra

Jodhpur, India

miles away

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Jodhpur

Jodhpur

India

Places 5

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