Solo- Budget Trip to Jodhpur

Sometimes, the journey has to be traveled along in order to appreciate the strengths that lie deep inside you!

Steven Aitchison

Honestly, I won’t admit that I was inspired by this quote totally but I do agree that I had something similar in my mind when I decided to travel solo (Jodhpur- Udaipur) for the first time except for those short trips in and around Delhi. But I must say, the idea of exploring Jodhpur was set in motion after I saw the brochure of a conference related to my area in that city.

How to Visit: Jodhpur is the nearest railway station. Flight (Jodhpur Airport) options are available. Buses from Delhi ply at regular intervals. You may book at your convenience.

Stays: If you’re travelling solo, Moustache Hostel is a good option. You can book a bed in the dormitory for 400-600/-. I’ll be detailing my hostel- experience in my next blog.

Best time to visit: Anytime except extreme summers or winters. Planning in January/February can be a good option.

Duration: To explore to the fullest, you need at least 2 days.

Key places to explore:

Day 1: Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, Rao Jodha Park, Toorji ka Jhalra, Gulab Sagar Lake, Ghanta Ghar, Blue City Heritage.

Day 2: Umaid Bhawan, Mandore Garden, Kaylana Lake, Machiya Biodiversity Park.

How to Explore: The city has the facilities of Rapido, Uber and Ola. You can hire a bike for 300-350/-. One can check out Raj Bike on Rent for good service. Auto-rickshaws for a day can be hired ranging from 1000-1200/- .

Note: If you’re a student, do carry your student ID. Also, better if followed the itinerary while exploring places.

Local Cuisines: This list was shared by a Sir, whom I met at the conference.

Makhniya Lassi: Misrilal (Gantaghar)
Sweets (Gevar, Kaju Katli, Rasgulla): Jodhpur Sweets (C Road, Sardarpura)
Dal-Bati Churma: Bhawani Dal Bati (77, 1st Chopasani Road, Opp. IDBI Bank)
Pyaz ki Kachori, Samosa: Jodhpur Sweets (C Road, Sardarpura)
Mirchibada + Bread: Janta Sweet Home (Sojti Gate)
Dahi Vada: Chandra Shahi Samosa (In front of JNVU old Campus, Ratanada)
Matka Kulfi and Marwadi Kulfi: Shastri Circle (Shastri Nagar)

Let’s start the day 1:

1. Mehrangarh Fort

Entry fee: 200/- and 50/- for the elevator (one way). 100/- for students. Opens at 9 AM. The last ticket is sold at 5 PM. Visit in the evening preferably to see the sunset and the fort drenched in artificial lights. The ideal time is 3 hours.

This fort is synonymous with Jodhpur and the first choice of tourists visiting there. Do visit for a breathtaking view of Jodhpur City. Watching the sunset can be another soothing experience. Besides, it’s known for museums which is quite alluring. You can dive deep into the opulence and lifestyle of Raja-Maharajas. There is also a showcase of arms and weapons. Altogether, it’s a must-visit place in Jodhpur.

2. Jaswant Thada:

Entry fee: 30/- Timing: 9:30 AM- 5 PM

If you’re a nature lover, this place is specifically for you. Situated at approx. 1.5 km from Mehrangarh Fort, this place showcases the kings who ruled the place at different times. The architecture is one of a kind, stacked in white marble. One can have a glance at Mehrangarh fort and the miniature of Jodhpur city from here. It also has an aesthetic garden beside where one can spend hours admiring the beauty.

3. Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park

Entry fee: 100/- Timing: 8 AM- 5:30 PM

Located a few kilometres from Mehrangarh Fort, this is an artificially constructed park (preserving the natural ecosystem) containing several kinds of plants, rocks and many more. It preserves a part of the desert and arid land vegetation. Much effort has been undertaken while constructing this place, hence the ticket price. If you’re short of time, you can skip it.

4. Toorji Ka Jhalra

No entry fee. Visit anytime during the day.

Till now, we were roaming on the mountain. Ab zameen se judte hai. Toorji ka Jhalra is basically a reservoir, constructed as a ‘Queen’s bath’. It doesn’t have anything remarkable but still draws a significant number of tourists. I didn’t see the no. of photographers in the whole Jodhpur as I did here. You may spend some time, sitting here and there on numerous stairs. But be a bit careful. It appeared a bit dangerous to me. The reservoir is also quite deep.

5. Gulab Sagar Lake

No entry fee. Timing: 10 AM- 7 PM

If you’re able to locate a lake in the first picture, it’s this only. You can explore a few temples around this lake. Otherwise, I feel that this lake hasn’t been given proper attention as the water has gone quite dirty. It was uncrowded at the time (afternoon) I reached here. I met a person who was feeding fish, though I couldn’t locate any of them. While leaving, I also met Maria and Anurag, who were there for some kind of survey. Grateful to them as they suggested a few more places that can be visited which I kept for the other day. I also heard about the telecast of light and sound show but don’t have much idea.

6. Ghantaghar

Entry fee: 25/- Timing: 10 AM- 6 PM

If I am not wrong, most places have this kind of structure and are known by the same name. What’s unique about this structure is its giant clock. You can take a look after going inside. Interestingly, only the father-son duo know how to make this clock work. But wait, this place isn’t famous for this tower.

I chose it as the last destination of the day for a reason. You can explore the market around it for handicrafts and other exclusive items. Also, you can try a few local cuisines as mentioned above and take a rest for the day.

Blue City Heritage: It’s a lane where the houses painted in blue are stacked. The aerial view can be taken from any of the forts. According to the folk tales, people used to paint blue to protect their walls (of mud in those times) from a peculiar kind of insect who used to eat them.

Let’s begin day 2.

7. Umaid Bhawan

Entry fee: 60/- (Rs. 30 for students) Timing: 10 AM – 4:30 PM

A luxury hotel is basically where high-profile marriages take place. A part of the palace has a museum that is open to visitors. One can saunter around it for an hour before moving to the next destination.

8. Mandore Garden:

Entry fee: 10/- (Also, Rs. 20 for the Museum, Rs. 10 for the train ride). Student discount available. Timing: 8 AM- 8 PM

This place is quite happening, also a bit crowded on weekends. Along with exquisite structures, there are parks where the family usually come for picnics. The street vendors also sell handmade pieces of stuff which were quite alluring. Kali Mata temple is situated at the end where you can offer your prayers. There is a museum inside where you can look at the preserved ancient items and the miniatures constructed by contemporary artists. A couple of hours here is enough to explore this place.

Till now, we were roaming in the city only. It’s the time to travel to its outskirts.

9. Kaylana Lake

No entry fee. Visit in daylight as it’s far from the city. Famous for adventures such as Boat rides (120/- per head) and Ziplining.

Safar khoobsurat hai manzil se bhi. Bike enthusiasts can plan a ride to this place. It’s situated about 12-15 km away from the city. Located in the lap of nature, this lake is clean and well-maintained. You can plan some adventure activities here.

10. Machiya Biodiversity Park

Entry fee: 32/- (Rs. 17/- for students) Timing: 8 AM to 5 PM. Hire an e-rickshaw for 282/- (Ideal for family)

This biodiversity park is only 500 metres away from Kaylana Lake. It contains a variety of animals, birds and snakes, all placed in their natural habitat which has been artificially constructed. If you wanna see the advanced version of the zoo, you can visit here. Since this is a trail basically, several sheds are there at different points where you can rest.

My Jodhpur trip ended here but yours shouldn’t. You can always go on Camel safari, camping and cultural nights at lucrative packages offered by several agencies. Moreover, you can surf other websites to check in more destinations.

Total Budget: travelling fare (from the origin point to Jodhpur)+ 500 (tickets to several places)+ 1000 (stay for 2 days)+ 600 (food)+ 350 (scooty)

©Shashank

Images are subject to copyright. Give due credit while using. Also, thanks Anadi Sir, Mitali and Prerna for supplementing this blog with important information.