The Blue City And Its History

A popular destination among local and international tourists, Jodhpur is the second largest city of Rajasthan. Previously known as Marwar, Jodhpur edges on the Thar Desert and is called the gateway to Thar.

The bazaars and the streets are a perfect example of Jodhpur's vivid hues. Men, women and the old folks, all clad in strikingly bright, eye-catching fabrics with hues of red, orange and yellow. The origins of its moniker, the blue city, are ambiguous. Not even the most experienced guides can tell as to why the colour blue was chosen. To get a better understanding of the blue city, you'd have to drift away from the new town's hustle, through the glittering, medieval streets. Encompassed by the Mehrangarh Fort, whose foundations were laid in 1459, most of the dwellings of the old city are painted blue. The blue landscape of the old town is a photogenic backdrop to everyday life. Most likely, they are simply following the traditions. Allegedly, the practice began with Brahmins, the priestly caste of India. They started painting their homes blue to signify their higher status and most of the others just followed suit.

History of Jodhpur

The city of Jodhpur was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha, the chief of the Rathore clan. Rao Jodha successfully captured the surrounding territories of the present day Jodhpur and founded the state Marwar. The nearby city of Mandore served as the capital initially, but soon, Jodhpur took over the role.

In 1438, Rao Jodha fled the city of Chittor. After 15 gruesome years, he was able to recapture Mandore and was anointed the ruler. In 1459, the capital was shifted to a hilltop, 9 kilometers south of Mandore, and that's how the city of Jodhpur came into being.

- Jodhpur under the Mughals: As a fief, Jodhpur came under the Mughal Empire, but was led by Rajputs who owned fidelity to the Mughals. Jodhpur was situated on a strategic road linking Gujarat to Delhi which facilitated a prospering trade of goods such as copper, silk and opium. The Rathores enjoyed good relations with all of the Mughals. All except Aurangzeb, who took over the city in 1679. However, after his demise in 1707, the Jodhpur's throne returned to its rightful ruler, Maharaja Ajit Singh. After Aurangzeb's death, the Mughal Empire began to collapse and attracted Marathas' intervention. The Marathas gained power over the great landmass and what followed were 50 years of wars and treaties.

- Jodhpur under the British: In 1818, Jodhpur signed a treaty with the British that was a source of prosperity and peace. By 1901, Jodhpur had the largest land area in Rajputana, and an estimated trade revenue of £ 35,29,000.

- At the time of Indian independence: Hanwant Singh, the ruler at the time of independence, didn't want to join the union of India. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the then home minister at the center, coerced him into the merger with India and Jodhpur was then included into the state of Rajasthan.


If you plan to stay in Jodhpur, then Ajit Bhawan is an excellent choice. It's a 5-Star hotel situated in Jodhpur. For more information visit Ajit Bhawan



Article Source: ArtipotArticles

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