If you are visiting Mehrangarh Fort and you miss visiting this gorgeous Taj Mahal of Marwar – Jaswant Thada, I would say your visit to the famed fort is quite incomplete. I spotted this white gorgeous building partially hidden by the greens, from Mehrangarh Fort and even before I had entered the fort, I was sure that I wanted to visit it.
Even from afar, there was something quite mesmerizing about it. Little did I know that it was termed as the Taj Mahal of Marwar. It was my guide at Mehrangarh Fort who revealed the information and after I had visited it, I wholehearted endorse this term given to Jaswant Thada. Starting with brief introduction to Jaswant Thada, let me walk you through my visit. At the end of it, I am sure you too, will agree that this is indeed the Taj Mahal of Marwar.
Contents
- 1 History of Jaswant Thada
- 2 Red contrasting with the White
- 3 The White memorial at Jaswant Thada
- 4 The Green Doors & windows
- 5 The main marble building at Jaswant Thada
- 6 Gazebos around the building
- 7 Official Crematorium of the Royal Marwars
- 8 Relaxing lawns at Jaswant Thada
- 9 Getting to Jaswant Thada:
- 10 Travel Tips:
History of Jaswant Thada
With the new capital established at Mehrangarh after moving from Mandore, the cenotaph of the royal, I suppose the royal family of Marwar, wanted a new cenotaph. Jaswant Thada was named after the first royal Maharaja Jaswant Singh II , for whom it was created. Built by his son – Maharaja Sardar Singh, this memorial also, houses the paintings and pictures of the other Marwar Rulers. The monument is not as old as the Mehrangarh Fort and was built much later in the year 1899. This possibly is one of the reasons why this place looks as stunning and fresh as it does.
These cenotaphs are quite different from the ones in Mandore. While those were made of earthy red material, these were pure white buildings. Having said that, the red walls of Mandore remained a connect here – and you will discover why I say so.
Red contrasting with the White
The first thing that struck me was the contrasting colors of the whole monument. The red walls contrasting the white monument that towered in the background. The entire contrast was further enhanced by the greens that framed its entrances and small pavilions along the walls.
On one side you see a little lake. It was a little dirty when we went there, but I suppose that was owing to the low water levels. Cute little ducks kept swimming along it. The purpose of this lake was to perform Pujas for the deceased .
On the other side of the path, soothing music greeted us. The local musician’s tunes were in perfect harmony with the calm, serene atmosphere of Jaswant Thada.
As you climb up the red stairs of the monument, you enter a huge area that opens up to the same lake. I guess, with the water levels full in the lake, it would make an amazing place to just lean over and enjoy the winds. For now, I was content examining the intricate carvings of the red walls that made up these areas.
The White memorial at Jaswant Thada
Climbing up the stairs, the first thing that you encounter is this white memorial on a base of red. I am not sure whose memorial this is. Somewhere I read that it was dedicated to the mother of the Royal Maharaja. However, irrespective of whose it is, there is no denying the beautiful intricate work on it.
The Green Doors & windows
Now this is something curious. I found these really ornate Green doors and windows across the monuments. Why green – I have no idea but they definitely added to the majestic look of the place. On the reds, they stood out by contrast and on the whites, they just blended in seamlessly.
The main marble building at Jaswant Thada
Have you ever felt like saving the best for the last and still hesitate before you start using it? That is what I felt about this grand piece of architecture. I wanted to rush in and yet savor it for some more time before I did. I took my time circling around it to discover the beautiful blend of Rajputana style with the Mughal one.
The small jhalis and jharokas with the intricate carvings around them were typical of Rajasthan while the huge dome like structures came in from the Mughal sense of architecture.
Once you enter the memorial, you are bound to feel calm. The cool interiors and the serene atmosphere are really soothing to your senses and for a few minutes, you do forget to rush around. One of the things to note here are the marble walls that actually glow golden with the sun rays falling on them. They say that the marble sheets were deliberately kept thin to allow this effect. You can spot the same in the picture above.
Here you can see the pictures of the various rulers of Jodhpur with the main focus on Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. All the while I kept hearing melodious flute notes and after I had paid my respects to the dead, I turned around to spot this magical silhouette of the flute artist against the carved entrance of the memorial. A magical moment indeed!
Gazebos around the building
Stepping out into the lawn, you spot a row of these gorgeous Gazebos. These are cenotaphs for the other rules. Nonetheless, the placement of these gazebos against the natural greens are quite a sight to behold.
Official Crematorium of the Royal Marwars
Far beyond you see earthen structures – some of which are essentially cenotaphs of the royal family. A little beyond that is the official cremation ground for the Royal family – where you can spot some dead and burnt wood pieces. In the cenotaphs area, I am told that there is one built in memory of a peacock who flew into the burning pyre of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Curious indeed!
Relaxing lawns at Jaswant Thada
The green lawns with its little flowers and beasts are indeed a perfect place to relax before you head out again. As you can see, two from my troop took full advantage of that and while they were at it, I discovered the mischievous squirrels and the cute birdies playing around.
Now that I have shared all that I saw, don’t you agree that the title of the “Taj Mahal of Marwar” is quite apt for Jaswant Thada? You know where comment in. And just so that you don’t forget to visit this magnificent piece of heritage, here is a pin for your board.
Getting to Jaswant Thada:
- Jodhpur has its own airport with connectivity to major cities of India. In addition, you can reach Jodhpur either by road or by rail.
- Jaswant Thada is located enroute to Mehrangarh Fort. You will need to either board a tourist bus or hire an auto or taxi from Jodhpur to get here. You can ask your driver to stop at this place, either before you head to Mehrangarh Fort or after you have visited it.
Travel Tips:
- The entrance fees for this attraction is INR 15 for Indians and INR 30 for foreign tourist. For a still camera, you need to pay INR 25 and for a video on INR 50.
- Jaswant Thada is open from 9 am – 5 pm on all days.
- Don’t miss the gorgeous view of Umaid Bhawan from up here.
- Remember to remove your footwear before entering the cenotaph buildings
- On an average, keep aside 30 mins – 45 mins for this attraction
Popularly referred to as a Restless Ball of Energy. My Mom refuses to entertain my complaints about my equally restless daughter & assures my husband that I was born with a travel bug.
I am a Post-Graduate in Marketing by qualification and a travel blogger by passion. Besides travel, I enjoy photography and if you don’t find me at my desk, I would be out playing badminton or swimming or just running. I believe in planning for every long weekend through the year. And when I cannot travel physically, I travel virtually through this travel blog. My travel stories have also, got published on various websites and magazines including BBC Travel, Lonely Planet India and Jetwings. I have recently published my first book – When Places Come Alive – a collection of stories that are based on legends, landscapes, art and culture of a place which is available in both ebook and paperback format.
Great post Ami, will be here in October and the taj of Marwar is on my list of places to see in Jodhpur.
Thanks Jatin. I am sure you will like it.
What beautiful post and you have given life to each picture Ami, loved it 🙂
Thanks Shweta. Glad you enjoyed my tour.
Wow …… Wonderful post !!! All the photos look stunnigly beautiful. Thanks for sharing !!!
Thanks Vasantha. It is a lovely place. Glad you liked it too.
What an architectural marvel ! The post draws detailed attention to the intricacies and serenity of this place. The green doors – a good contrast with white marble and red- kind of blends in with the surrounding sandstone hills and lush greenery. I wonder if the minty green color of the doors is due to a copper coating ? Tarnished copper due to reaction with air and humidity forming a greenish patina layer ?!
Thanks Rohini. I doubt that this is due to a Copper reaction. I remember seeing them as Green paint and that too, it was evenly painted. 🙂 But the green really catches your attention there.
More Beautiful than TajMahal !!
Thanks
Glad to know about this gorgeous monument.
Thanks Niranjan
You come up with such beautiful places to visit!
Thanks Alana. Glad you like them too. 🙂
What a gorgeous place – inside and out!
Thanks Alyson
This was such a nice post and reminded me of my trip to India last year. We were in Jaipur and Pushcar last December and Jodhpur was the next city on our list before we were forced to cut our tip a little short. This alone would have made the trip worth it, great pictures and a great post.
Thanks John. Pity you missed Jodhpur. It sure is a lovely place. Take a virtual tour of it on my website, there are tons of places that you can enjoy here. 😀
Wonderful! Such beautiful pictures! Rajasthan is love and the architecture is simply mind blowing:)
Wonderful and nicely Written. Love the pictures
Thanks Santosh
The photos and the article have captured the essence of the place nicely.
Thank you.
The place looks majestic indeed, is it entirely made of marble? And what are the green parts made of? Is it carved wood? The craftsmanship is indeed stunning! Thanks for sharing, I hope there is more about Jodhpur to come!!
Thanks. I have done numerous posts on Jodhpur. Do check those out too 😀 The main building in Jaswant Thada is made of marble and the green parts are green paint on wooden doors. Quite unusual.
Love the detailed description of the architectural nuances. History and architecture are so addictive..the more you learn, the more you want to learn. A wonderful read.
I agree Punita. History can be quite enchanting and addictive.
A beautiful post. Enjoyed reading about this place 🙂
Thanks Purba
You are right! The contrast of red and white looks amazing. I wonder why those were the colours that they picked – especially with the green!
Thanks Carmy. I would attribute the colors to the superior creative sense of the architect :D. An inspiration for us.
Awesome post and pics. Great to read 🙂
Your photos are absolutely stunning! How majestic! xx
Thanks
I love finding less visited places when traveling! The pictures look fantastic! And you’re right, the red and white together looks great!
Thanks. There is a charm in finding them again…don’t you agree?
had a hurried visit to this place just before leaving for airport. Good photos
Thanks Shrinidhi. Next time you can head there again.
I will always be amazed about the temples that you have in India. They are so unique, so delicate… I don’t think there’s anything similar elsewhere. I am not planning on going there any time soon, but I’ll come back here whenever it’s time! Beautiful post!
Thank you. There is so much heritage in India that it is hard for even us, to cover it all. Do plan on visiting us soon.
So many different shades of architecture and such a beautiful place. Haven.t been there and your posts on Rajasthan are the reason I feel i will need a lot more visits to the state to explore it properly. 🙂
Thanks. You should definitely check Rajasthan once. There is so much color and history here.
Thi Taj Mahal is marvelous and I really like the unusual color contrast. It looks like such a quiet place, were there many tourists or is it like a more off-the-beaten-path attraction?
The squirrels in the park are adorable!! 🙂
Thanks. Jaswant Thada is often missed out by the tourists owing to several reasons – lack of time, no interest, no information etc. That is a sad thing and am hoping that people rediscover it
Oh wow that Jaswant Thada is beautiful! I didn’t have the time to visit Jodhpur last time I went to India, only had time for Jaipur, Varanasi, Mumbai and nearly a full day in Dehli. Really have to re-organize a trip as it is not too far from Dubai!
Thanks Thuymi.
It looks like a really beautiful place. The architecture is amazing!
Thank you. Glad you like it
What an inspiring place — it is amazing to me the attention to detail that is given in memoriam for those who have passed on. I am also impressed with the carvings and colors and contrasts. I don’t know if I will ever be able to visit India, but I have sure enjoyed this introduction to one of its beautiful sites.
Thank you Tami. I do hope you visit soon. We have tons of things that you are bound to enjoy
Wonderful post and very nice pictures.
Thank you.
Been to Jodhpur a few times, but never went here. Next time…
Definitely. Am sure you will have a good time capturing it all.
We have been to Jodhpur and visited the gorgeous Mehrangarh fort. Jodhpur definitely has some of the incredible architecture and Jaswant Thada is no exception. Those intricate work are second to none. Thanks for the information we will make sure to visit it on our next visit 🙂
Thanks a ton guys. Definitely make a stop here. It is a gorgeous place.
What a thorough post on somewhere so spectacular. Like you, I love the contrast with the red walls. The flute player in the entrance almost looks real (I thought it was until I read!). This almost seems like a more undiscovered treasure than Taj Mahal…
Thanks Tae, the flute player was real indeed. He perfectly positioned himself at the door for me to click him.
India seems so full of delights!
I think it would take many years to be able to explore it to its fullest!!
I agree, I too, am not able to decipher it all…and I stay here.
Beautiful pictures, Ami 🙂 The squirrels are so cute…. 🙂
Thanks :). The squirrels were a good entertainment .
Unfortunately I only had half a day to spend in Jodhpur and I didn’t got a chance to visit the Jaswant Thada. It looks so beautiful! I was always surprised on how beautiful and different forts and palaces are in India. I am lucky to be back to India in 2 months and I am looking forward in discovering new places.
Thanks Joanna. Glad you are heading back soon. This place has so much to offer and discover 😀
I have been to Rajasthan but not to the Jaswant Thada. Its a beautiful place no doubt. I like how you find traditional musicians in every little corner of the place. It gives a unique charm to the city.
I agree. The musicians are a delight. Adds to the atmosphere of Jodhpur and makes it so much more fun.
Such beautiful images.The details on the buildings are incredible. I can not wait to explore North India and this place will defo be on my list. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Verushka. If you are in North India, Rajasthan has to be on your list.
This is yet another lovely monument of Rajasthan, that I need to bookmark. It is really amazing at how the artists of Rajasthan have used stone and marble to come out with such breathtaking structures. Mehrangarh Fort is definitely a shining example of this artistic wizardry.
Thanks Vyjay. Rajasthan is really amazing with its monuments and history. Each one more unique than the other.
Hello Ami,
You are right, this place is very relaxing and calm. And even your family loves it! Ohh those are cute squirrels! Means this place is really well maintained, and its nearby nature. Kudos!
Thanks Blair. The place is quite well maintained. Though it does not get as much crowd as the other places.
It was fun to learn the history about Jaswant Thada. The contrast between the red and white is so interesting to see too.
Thanks Mar. Glad you liked it.
I visited this place way back in 2012 when I went to Jodhpur for a friend’s wedding. I was as mesmerized with the beautiful architecture of this monument as you were. I especially loved those green doors. They contrast so beautifully with all the brick red around.
Thanks Tamshuk. Those green doors stand out and yet blend it. It is amazing how they have color coordinated it.
Wow you are so right – quite the mesmerizing site Jaswant Thada is. I would love to be guided in by a local musician to truly feel the culture.
Thanks Shane. The music adds so much to the whole place and here in Rajasthan, you will find one almost everywhere.
This place is an architectural paradise! And you’ve captured it very beautifully! I went to Jaipur on a college trip few years ago when I was in India but never got a chance to visit Jodhpur!
Thanks Anamika. I hope you plan a trip to Jodhpur. It is a lovely city to discover.
Stunning architecture! I’ve never been to Taj Mahal nor the Taj of Marwar, but your photos convinced me to wish for visiting both.
Thanks Bella. You should definitely visit both. They are so worth it.
The architecture of Jaswant Thada is truly mesmerising and u have managed to capture the white beauty perfectly!!
Thank you ladies. Glad you liked it. 🙂
Love reading the post !!I want to visit Jodhpur visit once. Its really wonderful and esp. the photographs
Thank you Sumti. It sure is amazing.
You’ve made the views more beautiful Ami. I do like the views from the outside. Love reading your post.
Thank you Annika. Glad you liked it.
I love the details of the columns. I could feel the effort of the people who built this and that is the very reason why until now, we can still its beauty. Would love to see Taj Mahal of Marwar myself!
Thanks Jessica. It sure is a lovely piece of work
I just can’t get over the detail in that architecture! Every corner is a piece of art.
I agree, every corner is magnificent. 😀
I had been to Pushkar and Ajmer twice. Your post reminds me of those trips. . .
Glad to get you down the nostalgia lane.
Omg omg wow! Your pictures do full justice to this timeless monument. Brilliant.
Thanks Shubham
So much important information in details with breathtaking pictures. Thanks a lot. I am glad I found your post.
Glad to be of help Sunil