DAY 1 (4/5): SUNSET OVER THE BLUE CITY, Mehrangarh, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India, 2018.11.24

After touring the museum and palaces of Mehrangarh, we followed the local visitors and walked over to the outer fortress.  Time was perfect to view the sunset over the blue city of Jodhpur.  Over at the far side of the fort we headed towards the 15th century Chamunda Mataji Temple, a small white structure frequented by locals.  The fortress rampart led us toward the temple.  From the wall, the views down to the famous blue city were breathtaking.  Some said the blue paint on the walls was meant to keep the house interior cool and mosquito free.  Through an arrowslit, we watched the sun descending slowly over the Thar Desert beyond Jodhpur.

Groups after groups of local visitors headed for the Chamunda Mataji Temple at the southern tip of the fort.  The white temple stood peacefully under the sun’s orange glow.  With such a beautiful scene, it was hard to imagine that a horrific stampede had happened right at this location back in 2008, with over 200 killed and hundreds injured.  We didn’t find out about this tragic incident until we returned home.  At that moment on the rampart of Mehrangarh Fort, we were totally absorbed in the splendid beauty of the blue city and the sinking sun.

On our way to the fort rampart, a beautiful tree welcomed all visitors outside of the palace courtyard.

A row of antique iron cannons stood silently on the fort rampart.

At the middle of the south rampart, abandoned houses and the top of the naturally hilltop.

The winding rampart led us all the way to Chamunda Mataji Temple.

Looking down to the city, many areas in Old Jodhpur were dominated by blue houses.

The blue colour of the houses expressed a sense of relaxation and calmness.

Soon we discovered the beautiful clock tower Ghanta Ghar at the market.

Beyond the blue city, the grand Umaid Bhawan Palace stood against the horizon.  Today, the building houses the residence of the Maharaja’s family, a museum and a world famous five-star hotel.

Occasional Hindu temples stood out from the sea of blue houses.

The sun slowly descended toward the horizon.

The sunset at Mehrangarh was one of the most beautiful sunset we had witnessed.

The orange lights of the palace raised the beauty of Mehrangarh up to another level.

After sunset, we strolled around the complex a little more, and found our way to the main entrance of the fort.

We didn’t participate in the night tour, but stayed long enough to admire the palaces before darkness fell upon.

We slowly found ourselves out of the fort.

It took us quite a while to return to the main gate of the fort.

Such a romantic scene of Mehrangarh that comes straight out from the tales of the One Thousand and One Nights.

 

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Posts on 2018 Rajasthan:-

Day 1: Jodhpur
DAY 1.1: IN TRANSIT TO RAJASTHAN
DAY 1.2: PAL HAVELI & THE OMELETTE MAN, Jodhpur
DAY 1.3: SPLENDOR OF THE SUN FORT, Mehrangarh, Jodhpur
DAY 1.4: SUNSET OVER THE BLUE CITY, Mehrangarh, Jodhpur
DAY 1.5: SADAR MARKET AND GHANTA GHAR CLOCKTOWER, Jodhpur

Day 2: Jodhpur, Osian, Jaisalmer
DAY 2.1: MARBLE CENOTAPH JASWANT THADA, Jodhpur
DAY 2.2: MEDIEVAL STEPWELLS, Mahila Bagh Ka Jhalra, Gulab Sagar, & Toorji Ka Jhalra, Jodhpur
DAY 2.3: PILGRIM OASIS IN THAR DESERT, Sachiya Mata Temple, Osian
DAY 2.4: SUNRISE AT THE FIRST GATE OF GOLDEN FORT, Jaisalmer

Day 3: Jaisalmer
DAY 3.1: THE GOLDEN LIVING FORT, Jaisalmer
DAY 3.2: JAIN TEMPLES PART 1, Jaisalmer
DAY 3.3: JAIN TEMPLES PART 2, Jaisalmer
DAY 3.4: FORT PALACE, Jaisalmer

Day 4: Jaisalmer
DAY 4.1: RESERVOIR OF THE GOLDEN CITY, Gadsisar Lake, Jaisalmer
DAY 4.2: ARCHITECTURAL JEWEL OF RAJASTHAN, Patwon Ki Haveli Part 1, Jaisalmer
DAY 4.3: ARCHITECTURAL JEWEL OF RAJASTHAN, Patwon Ki Haveli Part 2, Jaisalmer
DAY 4.4: DESERT HERITAGE, Hotel Nachana Haveli and Thar Heritage Museum, Jaisalmer
DAY 4.5: LAST STROLL IN THE GOLDEN CITY, Jaisalmer

Day 5: Pushkar
DAY 5.1: RANIKHET EXPRESS
DAY 5.2: 52 BATHING GHATS, Pushkar
DAY 5.3: SUNSET OVER SACRED WATER, Pushkar

Day 6: Pushkar & Jaipur
DAY 6.1: SUNRISE OVER PUSHKAR LAKE, Pushkar
DAY 6.2: GRANDEUR OF THE MAHARAJA, City Palace, Jaipur
DAY 6.3: IN SEARCH OF 1860 CARL ZEISS CAMERA, Jaipur

Day 7: Jaipur
DAY 7.1: AMBER FORT, Jaipur
DAY 7.2: JAIGARH FORT, Jaipur
DAY 7.3: MAHARAJA’S ASTRONOMICAL LEGACY, Jantar Mantar, Jaipur
DAY 7.4: PALACE OF WINDS, Hawa Mahal, Jaipur

Day 8: Bhangarh, Abhaneri & Agra
DAY 8.1: ON THR ROAD TO AGRA
DAY 8.2: HAUNTED RUINS, Bhangarh, Rajasthan
DAY 8.3: CHAND BAORI, Abhaneri, Rajasthan
DAY 8.4: THE ABANDONED CAPITAL OF MUGHAL EMPIRE, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra, Uttar Pradesh
DAY 8.5: FRIDAY MOSQUE, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra, Uttar Pradesh

Day 9: Agra
DAY 9.1: CROWN OF THE PALACES, Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh
DAY 9.2: AGRA FORT, Agra, Uttar Pradesh
DAY 9.3: RAWATPARA SPICE MARKET, Agra, Uttar Pradesh
DAY 9.4: SUNSET AT MEHTAB BAGH, Agra, Uttar Pradesh

Day 10: Delhi
DAY 10.1: TRAIN 12627, Agra to Delhi
DAY 10.2 : HUMAYUN’S TOMB, Delhi
Day 10.3: NIZAMUDDIN BASTI, Delhi