Lost in the blue city - Jodhpur

I was confused, literally confused with the roads (they are not even roads "Gully thi Gully" 😂) they were narrow and crowded with things especially dogs and cows. People riding scooters and bikes honking and shouting with a local accent "aae bhaiya side hona " I got chased by dogs two times and it was funny, they might have thought I am an alien though I look like one with strange hair, brown round shades carrying a sling bag with a camera in hand looking everywhere Strange, right? no not in your perception I'm talking about the dogs. 😉

The plan was simple to visit Mehrangarh fort then will go and explore the famous blue city of Jodhpur after that will go to Pachetia Hill for a beautiful sunset, I asked everything from my host in jodhpur about the direction and landmarks. He told me to exit the Mehrangarh Fort from the chandpole gate, it is going all good till the chandpole gate I was walking on the right track but again because of dogs, I took a wrong turn 😒

So the situation was like if you walk down the streets until you either reach a dead-end or find another narrow street which leads you deeper into the blue city. I first walk to the left and boom! hit a dead end, turn back and take the first right. Even maps wouldn't help you because there are a lot of dead ends around the Chandpole gate but, some of the dead ends will lead you to magnificent blue houses.😅

When you go to a new place, there is a small perception in your mind, before coming to jodhpur I also had a little idea about jodhpur's culture, people, and lifestyle and I was watching all that I thought mustache, colorful turbans, blue houses, beautiful eyes, that local accent and most importantly happy faces.😃

I keep walking to the right then to the left and right and left turning back and again right left right believe me that was the best decision I've made, no regrets. I was experiencing real jodhpur, the jodhpur I heard about and seen in pictures. Those beautiful small houses, narrow streets, temples, and the famous blue Havelis. You can read history books, see pictures or watch it on T.V but you can't feel it, till you don't pass through the walls and streets of the old blue city of jodhpur which have been marked by the colors of history and stories everywhere. 

Stories behind Blue Houses

I can't confirm any of these stories, but I have done some research about it and also asked some locals about the stories behind it. 

Story 1 - People painted their houses blue because they believed it reflected the heat and kept the houses cool

Story 2 - Lord Shiva, one of the main Hindu god is also associated with the blue color. some say that the people of Jodhpur were followers of Lord Shiva and therefore to honor him they painted their house blue. 

Story 3 - Jodhpur was the home of many Brahmins, which is theoretically the highest varna or class in the Hindu caste system. so to differentiate their status in the city the brahmins painted their house blue.  

Story 4 - The local painted their house blue to keep the termites away. 


If you know some other stories please share it in the comment box below!😁

The sun is getting down and I don't want to miss the sunset but I got lost somewhere in between the blue city. I was standing on a crossroads.  There was a tea shop in front, on my left some people were sitting and playing cards one of them is laughing like hell maybe he won, on the right, some women were sitting and talking about some saas-bahu serial. I went straight to the tea shop, some old people were sitting there drinking tea and talking, I asked the shopkeeper where I could see the sunset then a local boy came to me and asked if I want to see the sunset, I told him yes I want to see(sounding like a 3rd-grade student😝) he told me about someplace called Tekri Mata Mandir he also added that the view from Tekri Mata Mandir will be very fantastic and you will also get beautiful sunset, I blindly trust him and got no other options I finally decided and asked him about the direction he told me to hire a taxi then I took an auto for Tekari Mata temple, the temple was 500m away from Jaswant Thada.

I was very tired, then I saw that I have to climb around 300 steps to go up. After climbing more than 300 steps I found the perfect place for me, the place gave me the most beautiful view of the Mehrangarh Fort and the city, there was wind, peace, history, and some fantastic views. you can sit there for hours and enjoy the scenes and sunset.😍😍

                                      Enjoy the Sunset!

I sat there for 2 hours, probably the best 2 hours of my trip. It was now dark and I had to leave so, I started walking towards the clock tower. Though I was wondering if this is the best sunset I've ever seen umm... Tough call if I compare the same with that of Kanyakumari. Being lost in these thoughts, I made myself to reach the clock tower. I had Makhan wali lassi from Mishrilal and ate Mirchi vada. 😋

The day has ended and so my first trip to Jodhpur I returned to the hostel room, I had to catch a train the next morning. I was sitting with my host and a Chinese guest in the hostel's common area and we are having pyaz ki kachoris. I told them about my day and also showed them some photos.

                   
   

      Jodhpur will always be close to my heart💓