Private Tour of Jodhpur

Benefits of a private tour

As well as enjoying a personalised service, reserving a private tour means you can carry out the activity on any day of the week, as well as tailoring the itinerary to your needs and preferences. What's more, if you're in a larger group, you'll save money.

Itinerary

To begin your private tour of Jodhpur, your guide will pick you up from your hotel, before taking you to the first stop of the day: the Mandore Gardens. This ancient town, located just outside of the city itself, is home to a number of spectacular monuments. You'll visit the Hall of Heroes and the Hindu temple of 33 crore gods, a shrine dedicated to 330 million deities.

Continuing your tour, you'll head to the Balsamand, Padamsar and Ranisar Lakes, artificial reservoirs built to store water in the desert region. The latter lakes are found at the foot of the hilltop Mehrangarh Fort. This iconic 15th century fortress is a symbol of Jodhpur, and offers magnificent panoramic views over the Blue City.

Visit the nearby Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park, which is home to a large number of exotic plants; a monument dedicated to Rao Jodha, a 15th century ruler of Mandore; and the Jaswant Thada mausoleum, a beautiful marble cenotaph. You'll then make your way into the heart of Jodhpur itself.

Admire the ancient Toorji ka Jhalra stepwell, built several hundred years ago to store and provide water for the city. From here, you'll walk towards the epicentre of the Blue City, the clock tower or Ghanta Ghar. This Victorian monument is surrounded by lively markets and bazaars, which you'll dive into to get a feel for authentic every day life in India.

Your route will then take you to Jodhpur's most emblematic landmarks, including the Sadar Government Museum; the Maharaja Umed Singh stadium, which hosts events celebrating the International Day of Yoga; the Rajasthan High Court and the Umed Club, an exclusive social centre.

The final stop on your private tour will be the Umaid Bhawan Palace, constructed in the 19th century and still one of the world's largest and most beautiful palaces. The building houses the private residence of the former Jodhpur royal family, as well as a luxury hotel and a museum exhibiting the collections of the Maharajas.

During your tour, you'll also have time to stop and enjoy a typical Indian snack in a traditional local cafe in Jodhpur.

At the end of your private tour, you'll be dropped back off at your hotel.

Full day private tour

If you prefer, there is an option to make this activity a full day tour, allowing you 8 hours to visit Jodhpur with your expert local guide.

Choosing the full day option will give you additional time to discover places such as Machiya Safari Park, a biological park where visitors can see and learn all about Indian flora and fauna. Next to the park, you'll find Kaylana Lake, the perfect natural spot to relax and take photos.

You'll also visit Masuriya Hill, a favourite spot of Jodhpur locals to take a break from the bustling city. The gardens are home to a statue of Maharana Pratap, a former Mewar king.

Later, you'll take a stroll down Rotary Circle Road, arriving at Jodhpur Science Park, an open air education centre with exhibitions including dinosaur models.

Your full day private tour of Jodhpur will end with a visit to the Blue City's polo and golf clubs, centres for two of India's favourite sports, inherited from the country's British colonial past.