How To Reach Jodhpur

Located at the edge of the Thar desert, Jodhpur, the Sun City of India is a must visit on your trip to Rajasthan.  A unique feature of this city are the countless blue houses within the old city walls. This is why Jodhpur is called the Blue City. The blue houses were inhabited by the Brahmins, whose colony went on to be called Brahmapuri. Jodhpur is well connected to different parts of India by air, rail and road. Read on to figure out the most convenient mode of transport to reach Jodhpur.

Jodhpur airport is located 6 kms from the city centre. It is well connected by direct flights to other major cities including New Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur and Mumbai. You also have connecting flights to and from other metropolitan cities like Kolkata, Bengaluru, Trivandrum, Vizag, etc. The nearest international airport to Jodhpur is the Sanganer International Airport, Jaipur. International flights from the Gulf and south-east Asia fly to Sanganer Airport. You can take an auto or a taxi from the airport to the main city. 

The Jodhpur railhead is well connected to other cities of India including Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, etc. For an experience of a lifetime, you should definitely consider travelling to this royal city just the way royals would travel - take the luxurious Palace on Wheels train to Jodhpur and experience Rajput hospitality at its best. For the budget travellers, some of the most comfortable trains include the Rajasthan Sampark Kranti, Howrah Jodhpur SF Express, Chennai Jodhpur Express, Suryanagari Express, Jaisalmer Delhi Express and Yesvantpur Bangalore Jodhpur Express.

Well maintained national and state highways connect Jodhpur to neighbouring states as well as cities within Rajasthan. State run buses as well as some private operators ply daily from neighbouring cities. Inter State buses also run from New Delhi, Punjab, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, etc. If you choose to drive down, NH62, NH112 and NH114 are the major highways that can be used while driving through to the Sun City. The golden sands interspersed with acacias and cacti along the road make for memorable photographs.

The ideal way to get around in Jodhpur would be via autos. They are convenient, economical and best way to avoid bottlenecks. One can also hire cars or take a taxi from one spot to another. An experience to include in your trip will be a tonga, or a horse carriage ride near the clock tower. Do avoid the chaotic public bus service if you are not on a shoe-string budget.

While in Jodhpur, make it a point to visit the Meherangarh Fort, where the royal family still convenes for royal occasions and runs the affairs of the estate. Make a stop at the Jaswant Thada Mausoleum on your way back from the fort. If on a luxury trip, do stay at the Umaid Bhawan Palace Hotel to experience the life of the royals. Visit the Umaid Bhawan Museum and admire the collection of vintage cars in the palace annex.  Visit the Mandore Gardens, located in the erstwhile Rajputana capital of Mandore and the Balsamand Lake located 5 kms from the city. If you’re visiting in October, you must not miss the Marwar Festival that happens every year. Also enjoy a rooftop dinner at the Indique Restaurant and admire the Meherangarh fort in moonlight from afar.