Jodhpur

Jodhpur, located in the northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan, is the state’s second-largest city, trailing only the capital, Jaipur. As of 2025, its population stands at 1.6 million. The city functions as the administrative center for both Jodhpur district and Jodhpur division. Historically, it served as the capital of the Kingdom of Marwar, which was established in 1459 by Rao Jodha, a Rajput chief of the Rathore clan. On August 11, 1947—four days before India gained independence—the last ruler of Jodhpur state, Maharaja Hanwant Singh, signed the Instrument of Accession, merging his territory into the Union of India. Later, on March 30, 1949, it became part of the newly formed state of Rajasthan, created from the former states of Rajputana.

A well-known tourist destination, Jodhpur features a palace, a fort, and temples, all set against the stark backdrop of the Thar Desert. It is often called the 'Blue City' because of the predominant blue color scheme of its old-town buildings. The old city encircles the Mehrangarh Fort and is enclosed by a wall with several gates. Situated near the geographic center of Rajasthan, Jodhpur serves as a convenient hub for travelers exploring the frequently visited region.

**Etymology** The name "Jodhpur" comes from its founder, Rao Jodha, who established the city in 1459. "Jodh" refers to Rao Jodha, while "pur" means city or town in Sanskrit, giving the meaning "City of Jodha."

**Geography and climate** Jodhpur experiences a hot desert climate (Köppen BWh), a result of its very high potential evapotranspiration. Average rainfall is about 362 mm (14.3 in), mostly falling from June to September, but it varies widely. In the famine year of 1899, only 24 mm (0.94 in) fell, while in the flood year of 1917, it received up to 1,178 mm (46.4 in). The Jojari River, a tributary of the Luni River, flows from Banad to Salawas within the Jodhpur urban area. A riverfront development project for the Jojari River, covering a 35 km stretch in the urban area, was approved in January 2021 under the Namami Gange program of the Ministry of Jal Shakti; previously, the Jodhpur Development Authority oversaw it. The pin code for Jodhpur is 342001, falling under the Jodhpur postal division (Jodhpur Region).

Temperatures are extreme from March to October, except when monsoon rains bring thick clouds that slightly lower them. In April, May, and June, highs routinely exceed 40 °C. During the monsoon, average temperatures drop a bit, but the city’s generally low humidity rises, making the heat feel more intense. The highest recorded temperature in Jodhpur was 48.8 °C (119.8 °F) on May 20, 2016. Jodhpur has been ranked 30th best “National Clean Air City” (under Category 1, for cities with populations over 10 lakh) in India.

**History**

**Mythology** The Rajasthan District Gazetteer of Jodhpur cites examples from the Hindu epic Ramayana (composed up to the 4th century AD), which mention that the Abhiras inhabited the region that later became Marwar. The Aryans are also noted as a race that migrated to this area.

**Early history** The Ghatiyala pillar inscription (AD 996), erected by the Pratihara ruler Kakkuka, provides important information about the region. Marwar was part of the Gurjara-Pratihara Empire and, until 1100 AD, was ruled by a powerful Pratihara king. The Pratihars later formed a marital alliance with the Rathores, and Mandore was given as a dowry by the Pratiharas to a Rathore chieftain named Chunda. Chunda thus established his rule in Mandore and took advantage of the declining Tughlaq dynasty. He defended Marwar against Zafar Khan and conquered Khatu, Didwana, Sambhar, Nagaur, and Ajmer from the Tughlaqs.

Jodhpur was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha, a Rajput chief of the Rathore clan. Jodha succeeded in conquering surrounding territory from the Delhi Sultanate, founding a kingdom known as Marwar. Since Jodha came from the nearby town of Mandore, that town initially served as the state’s capital, but Jodhpur soon took over that role, even during Jodha’s lifetime. The city was located on the strategic road linking Delhi to Gujarat, allowing it to profit from a flourishing trade in opium, copper, silk, sandalwood, dates, and other goods.

**Early modern period** After the death of Rao Chandrasen Rathore in 1581, the kingdom was annexed by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Marwar thus became a Mughal vassal, owing fealty while enjoying internal autonomy. Jodhpur and its people benefited from this exposure to the wider world, as new styles of art and architecture emerged and local tradesmen gained opportunities to make their mark across northern India.

Aurangzeb briefly sequestrated the state (around 1679) after the death of Maharaja Jaswant Singh, but his son Maharaja Ajit Singh was restored to the throne by Durgadas Rathore upon Aurangzeb’s death in 1707, ending the 30-year Rathore rebellion. The Mughal Empire declined gradually after 1707, but the Jodhpur court was beset by intrigue. Rather than benefiting from the situation, Marwar descended into strife and invited the intervention of the Marathas, who soon supplanted the Mughals as overlords of the region. In 1755, Jai Appa Scindia attacked Nagaur after looting several places in Rajasthan. He halted his army near the Samas pond of Tausar, 3.5 km from Nagaur fort, surrounded the fort, and cut off food and water supplies. Maharaja Vijay Singh called a Darbar and asked for volunteers to kill Scindia. Gaji Khan Khokhar (from Chawata Kallan) and Kan Singh (from Dotalai) volunteered and took responsibility. They changed their outfits to appear as traders and set up shop near Scindia’s army, observing their activities for two months. On Friday, July 25, 1755, at 11 am, when they found an opportunity, they attacked Jai Appa with daggers and killed him (a painting of this event is housed in the Mandore museum).