Jodhpur

The robust and grand walls of the fort dominates the cityscape below. This is Jodhpur, the Blue City of Rajasthan, an oasis along the ancient caravan routes crisscrossing the Thar Desert. Founded in 1459 by the Rajput chieftain Rao Jodha after whom the city is named, Jodhpur flourished as a vital trading hub along the northwestern fringes of the Silk Road network spanning India.

Caravanserai’s built during Jodhpur's medieval golden age as part of the Marwar kingdom once housed the weary merchant caravans carrying precious cargoes of silk, spices, gems, and handicrafts that filtered through this desert outpost. At its peak under the reign of the legendary 16th century ruler Maharaja Udai Singh, Jodhpur controlled much of the trade flowing between the coastal regions of Gujarat and the inland Silk Road cities like Delhi. Today, those bustling markets affects are still seen through the blue hues emanating from the homes in the old quarter. Rambling through the labyrinthine alleys, you'll find artisans keeping alive the crafts their ancestors supplied to the Silk Road caravans - vibrant. Linger awhile in the buzzing bazaars to savor the living legacy of Jodhpur's honored place astride the desert's great trade routes. It is one of those cities, where the grand mingles with the simple to form one of the nations most unique locations.