Jodhpur: The Blue City

From Mumbai, we boarded another short flight bound for the city of Jodhpur.  This was our third internal flight.  One might think this was a lot, but with the efficiency inherent in the domestic airports of India, we always moved quickly through to our next destination. 
 
The old city of Jodhpur is an artistic dream.  It is alight with color and history.  It was painted blue for the Brahmin class and in deference to the god Shiva.  It sits upon a hill below the mighty Mehrangarh Fort.

 
Our tour begins at the gates of the old city, below a giant clock tower.  We wind our way through the narrow streets behind our guide, who like all of our guides thus far, is filled with knowledge and generously shares it.  The walls of the buildings are not just blue, but adorned with artistically created paintings.  The reasons and significance of the art is shared by our guide. We wend our way into the bustling market where, as we’ve been told by our guide, “If you have a hole in your pocket and there’s something in the western world that you want to buy, this is the place to be.”  Well-known for its textiles, we see some of the finest, most colorful fabrics to be found—and, of course, have the opportunity to purchase.

 
Our hotel, Raas Jodhpur, is in the heart of the old city, below the imposing fort, and next to a large stepwell—still a popular meeting place.  We sit in comfortable chairs at the rooftop restaurant of the hotel as the call to prayer fills the airwaves, the sun sets, and the fort looms brightly, bathed in a sea of lights highlighting its presence.  The next day, we will tour the fort before finally ending our day in a local family’s home for a traditionally made dinner, which was one of the best meals of the whole trip—and that’s saying something.