Jodhpur is the second largest city in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan. It is increasingly becoming popular as a tourist destination, thanks largely to some monumental forts in the region and its proximity to the vast Thar Desert. Jodhpur is located in a strategically crucial point on the road that links the western Indian state Gujarat with the country’s capital New Delhi.

In the history of India, this region had been a silent witness to the violent rivalry between the Mugals, who ruled Delhi, and the Marathas, who ruled the states in the western part of India. It was in 1459 that Jodhpur rose to prominence when Rao Jodha (from whom the region got its name), a powerful Rajput king who headed the Rathore dynasty that ruled a kingdom known as Marwar, made Jodhpur the capital of his kingdom.

Jodhpur has a hot and dry climate, with occasional rains during monsoon, and is known as sun city for the bright sunshine it enjoys throughout the year. But its more famous sobriquet is blue city; known so because of the bluish hue of uniformly whitewashed houses in the town. The local wisdom is that the white colour of the wall helps in keeping the heat away during the day and mosquitoes during the night.

Jodhpur is also home of some unique food items such as Makhaniya Lassi (a drink made with curd and sugar), Mawa Kachori, Pyaaj Kachori and Mirchibada (a hot and spicy food), which are much sought after in the northern parts of India.