The second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan, Jodhpur is also known as the 'Sun City' for the bright, sunny weather it enjoys all the year round. It is also called the 'Gateway to Thar', as it is literally on the edge of the Thar Desert, but its more famous name is ‘Blue City’, known so because of the bluish hue of uniformly whitewashed houses in the town. The local wisdom is that the bluish-white colour of the walls helps in keeping the heat away during the day and mosquitoes during the night.

Jodhpur is a historic city and is increasingly becoming a popular tourist destination, thanks largely to some monumental forts, its culture and tradition, spices and fabrics, handicrafts and palaces. It is home to some unique food items such as Makhaniya Lassi (a drink made with curd and sugar), Mawa Kachori, Pyaaj Kachori and Mirchibada (a hot and spicy food), which are much sought after in the northern parts of India. The official language spoken by the locals is Rajasthani and Hindi.

Best time to visit:

The historical city of Jodhpur experiences extreme climatic conditions which are categorised by very hot and dry summer and cold and chilly winters. The best time to enjoy holiday in this city would be from October to March.

Top five places to see:

Mehrangarh Fort – Situated on a steep hill, the Mehrangarh fort is one of the largest forts in India. The beauty and grandeur of this fort lies in its exquisitely latticed windows, carved panels and elaborately adorned windows and walls. A collection of musical instruments, palanquins, royal costumes, furniture and the cannons on the fort's ramparts are well preserved.

Umaid Bhawan Palace – The romantic Umaid Bhawan Palace was actually built with the purpose of giving employment to the people of Jodhpur during a famine. The royal family of Jodhpur still lives in a part of the palace, while the other part houses a well-maintained museum, displaying an amazing array of items belonging to the Maharaja and the royal family, including weapons, antiques, fascinating clocks, crockery and trophies.

Balsamand Lake – This is the most popular picnic spot in Jodhpur. It is an artificial lake, built as a water reservoir to provide water to the city. Adjacent to the lake stands one of the several imposing palaces in the region, the Balsamand Lake Palace. The lake is surrounded by approximately 300 acres of lush green gardens that house groves of trees like mango, pomegranate, guava and plum and several animals and birds like jackal and peacock.

Mahamandir Temple – As the name suggests, the Mahamandir Temple is a huge temple with fantastically carved 84 pillars, which are a sight to behold. It is also famous for its intricate work in stone and the walls and pillars of this temple are studded with expertly designed traditional motifs.

Government Museum – This museum has a rich collection of weapons, textiles, miniature portraits, local crafts and images of Jain Tirthankars. It is situated in the middle of the Umaid public gardens.