Jodhpur — The Blue City
On the Palace on Wheels route: Day 6 of the 7-night, 8-day itinerary.
About
About Jodhpur
Rao Jodha founded Jodhpur in 1459 as the new capital of Marwar, choosing a rocky outcrop for his fort and building a city below that, over generations, adopted the indigo-blue-washed houses for which it's now known worldwide — originally a marker of Brahmin residences, later adopted more broadly for its cooling effect against the desert heat and its reputed ability to repel termites.
Mehrangarh Fort still dominates the skyline exactly as intended, its sandstone ramparts rising almost seamlessly from the rock below. Its museum holds one of Rajasthan's finest collections of royal artifacts — ornate howdahs, palanquins, an armory of swords and matchlock guns, and galleries of royal costumes and miniature paintings.
The Journey
Jodhpur on Palace on Wheels
Palace on Wheels guests spend the morning at Mehrangarh, taking in what many consider the single most striking panorama of any city on the route from its ramparts, before descending to walk the blue-washed lanes of the old town — spice and textile stalls included.
An optional stop at Jaswant Thada, the marble cenotaph built in 1899 for Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, rounds out the sightseeing. Back aboard, this is the day many guests book a treatment at the onboard spa — a deliberate pause roughly midway through the week before the train turns toward Bharatpur and Agra.
Top Highlights in Jodhpur
- Mehrangarh Fort & Museum
- Blue City old town walk
- Jaswant Thada
- Umaid Bhawan Palace views
Climate & Best Time to Visit
Jodhpur sits on the edge of the Thar Desert and shares its arid climate: hot, dry summers (April–June) and mild, pleasant winters (October–March) that make up the Palace on Wheels season. Evenings can turn cool enough for a light jacket, especially on the fort ramparts where the wind picks up.
Food & Cuisine
Food in Jodhpur
Famous Local Food
Jodhpur has its own distinct street food identity within Rajasthan: mirchi bada (a large stuffed chili fritter) and mawa kachori are Jodhpur specialties before they're anything else, alongside Makhaniya lassi — a thick, saffron-topped yogurt drink sold from stalls near the clock tower — and the usual dal baati churma common across the state.
Onboard on This Leg
With the onboard spa often booked for this leg, the Jodhpur evening tends to be a relatively relaxed one: dinner followed by an early night, giving guests a genuine rest day roughly midway through the week before the fuller, more festive final stretch through Bharatpur and Agra.
On This Stop
Day 6 · Night 5
Best for: Forts & the Blue City old town
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