We went to the palace for lunch

Umaid Bhawan Palace is one of the world's largest private residences with a total of 347 rooms. It’s actually divided into two main parts, a luxury hotel and the residence of the current Maharaja of Jodhpur, Gaj Singh. 

The palace was constructed between 1929 and 1943. It was actually built to provide employment to thousands of people during a time of famine.

The palace gardens with Mehrangarh Fort in the distance

Unless you are staying in the hotel the only way to see inside is to have a meal there. So we did.

Brahmpur - the blue part of the city

We took a tuk tuk through the old town and into the blue part of Jodhpur known as Brahmpur. Those photos don't show the rubbish, the mangy dogs, the excrement or the large rat we saw.

Dinner at "On the Rocks"

We had dinner at a great restaurant near the hotel, called "On the Rocks".

Nothing more "traditional" on a hot day in India than a gin and tonic and pappadums before dinner.

A real feast tonight - tandoori platter, murgh tikka in a creamy sauce, raita, aloo zeera potatoes, Rajasthani beans and paratha bread, washed down with a Kingfisher beer.

Sardar Market - Jodhpur.

Sardar Market in Jodhpur. Amazing - chaotic, noisy, crowded. Full of people, colour, rubbish, cows and camels - and the most wonderful stalls of textiles, shawls, bangles, spices and everyday goods.

Linden buying shawls after a cup of masala chai

Drinking the local delicacy, a Makhaniyah lassi - yoghurt with saffron, rosewater and cardamon.

Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur

This morning we visited the Mehrangarh Fort, the Citadel of the Sun, built from 1458. Rudyard Kipling described the fort and its palaces as "the creation of angels, fairies and giants".

 

The palace rooms are magnificent

 
 

Opium smoker in courtyard

Wonderful views of the blue-washed houses from the fort

 

  

Jaswant Thada - cenotaph of the Maharajas

Dinner at the outdoor hotel restaurant was chicken tikka, Hyderabadi chicken (in a tamarind sauce), Jodhpuri aloo (potatoes in fennel and yoghurt)and two sorts or paratha bread. Had two local deserts, a ghewar (cake) and a saffron and cardamon custard.