The Blue City

Meherangarh Fort

View more photos 

I arrived in Jodhpur at 2.30pm from Udaipur. I didn't have a room booked but had a couple of hotels in mind. I got the rickshaw driver to take me to my 1st choice nd asked him to wait. Singhvi Haveli didn't have any rooms so I went to the next choice. They had rooms so I decided on one after looking at a couple. I was tired after all the travelling so freshened up, ate and chilled out for a bit. I did some laundry and went for a walkabout. After dinner I saw traditional Rajasthani dancers. They were all dressed up nicely and the dancing was good. Theywanted me to join in, but I politely declined. I decided to get an early night in so I could go to the fort the next day. It was hotter in Jodhpur then Udaipur, so sleep was difficult.

The next day I didn't manage to get out of my room til 11am so I knew going up to the fort would be hot. The fort is up on a hill that overlooks the city. The walk up only took 20 mins, but with the heat it was hard work. I had to sit and rest for a bit before going in to look round. The fort is huge. They have audio tours so I took one and just wandered about leisurely looking at all the various rooms and listening to the history. There is still present a maharaja in Jodhpur (with a handsome heir in the waiting). I watched a short video about the royal family. From the top of the fort the view of the city was awesome and I could see the blueness in the houses below. After wandering around for a few hours I was ready to leave. I walked back to the hotel and went to have a nap.

Rajasthani dancers

View more photos 

In the early evening I walked to the bazaar bit in town near the clock tower  and browsed through the market. I didn't buy anything just wanted to walk around. I came back to the hotel, had dinner, read and bed. Islept better the 2nd evening. In the morning I checked out but stook around as I was booked on the sleeper train to Jaisalmer. I was going to do some sightseeing but the heat was too much for me. I managed to walk down to the market and then had to take refuge in an internet cafe to stay cool. After an hour or so in there I went to get some food. I went to another hotel that is popular with travellers and got talking to an english couple from Devon. I stayed with them until early evenng chatting and eating. I went back to my hotel at 8pm but was told not to go to the train station yet as it was heaving. My train was at 11.25pm. There had been some festival on and people were everywhere. I went to sit in the rooftop restaurant and I got chatting to a trio from London - Josh, Sel & Nalin. We played cards to pass the time. I was tught how tolay Scrub - a form of trumps.