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The Daily Post Photo Challenge: Reflecting the Past in the Present

reflection, window, palace window, rajasthan, jodhpur

“We always project into the future or reflect in the past, but we are so little in the present.”  

~ Marina Abramovic

Modern glass window reflecting the old palace windows in Meherangarh Fort in Jodhpur.

reflection, window, palace window, rajasthan, jodhpur

Published in response to The Daily Pose Photo Challenge: Reflecting

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The Daily Post Photo Challenge: Ambience

udaipur city palace, interior, queen's room

This week’s theme “ambience” instantly reminded me of the elegant interior of the City Palace, Udaipur that creates a warm, inviting ambience. I thought I should dedicate these pictures to this week’s photo challenge.

interior, city palace, udaipur, royal, rajasthan

interior, royal, rajasthan, ambience, city palace, udaipur

Published in response to The Daily Post Photo Challenge: Ambience.

5 Off-Beat Places to Eat in Jodhpur When on a Budget

mehrangarh fort, jodhpur

“How much?” I asked the stall guy.

“Rs 20 only,” he replied.

I was at a street food stall, enjoying Sambhar Vada. Rs 20 was nothing compared to the taste of Sambhar Vada he served. So, what could I do? I ate one more. 😉

Anyway, Jodhpur is famous for its heritage and forts.

You might have heard about the famous Mehrangarh Fort of Jodhpur. If you have not, all you have to do is to read this article about more than 25 places to visit in Jodhpur.

Other than forts, Jodhpur food is famous. Ker-Sangari Sabji is one of those famous vegetable dishes.

In this article, I will talk about the places to eat in Jodhpur when you are on a budget. This is a topic that will help travelers. I will give exact details so that you will know what might cost at a specific food store.

Some of these are street food stalls while others are considered restaurants on their own. Some of these stalls open as early as 7am and as late as 11pm. They offer cheap and tasty food, hence totally recommended for travelers who are on a budget. What I am listing is all veg food, apologies to non-veggies. 😉

My list of Places to Eat in Jodhpur on a Budget:

1. Ramdev Dosa Corner

places to eat in jodhpur

It is a group of small stalls serving Dosa, chow mein, sandwich, Pav Bhaji, pizza, burger, Idli and Sambhar Vada.

Near to Ramdev Dosa Corner are two stalls of sugarcane juice (Ganne ka Juice), one shop of ice cream and cold drinks and Mahalaxmi Sweet Corner.

All the food items at Ramdev Dosa Corner cost between Rs 20 and Rs 40. It is so cheap that you won’t want to ask for discounts.  😉

Sugarcane juice costs Rs 10 and Rs 20 for small and large glasses.

Ice cream price starts from Rs 10. It depends on the type of ice cream you choose. Cold drink rates are MRP rates.

Talking about sweets, Mahalaxmi Sweet Corner has various types of sweets and Namkeen (salty snacks). Namkeen cost between Rs 15 and Rs 20. A variety of sweets is offered at different prices.

Overall, if you have Rs 200 in your pocket, you can feed your appetite with everything you want.

Address: Near Bhaskar Circle, Ratanada, Jodhpur

2. Rakesh Dosa Corner

street food jodhpur

This is also a group of small stalls. Being on C-Road of Sardarpura, there are always ten to twenty people enjoying their food here.

Rakesh Dosa Corner serves Dosa, Sambhar Idli , and Sambhar Vada. Sambhar Vada of Rakesh Dosa Corner was what I was talking about at the start of this post. The food items here cost between Rs 20 and Rs 30. By the way, Sambhar Vada costs Rs 20 only.

There is Baba Ramdev Soda stall in this group. He serves soda of different flavors. The price ranges Rs 15-20 per glass, depending on the flavor.

Then, there is Prabhu Chaat Bhandar. Chaat costs Rs 20. It is tasty.

There are two Kadhi Kachori stalls in this group:

First is ‘Chamunda Ma Ajmer ki Kadhi Kachori’. It costs Rs 20 a plate.

The second one is ‘Ajmer ki Kadhi Kachori’. It costs Rs 20 for a normal Kadhi Kachori and Rs 30 if you mix Palak Vada with it. The second option is tastier. 🙂

In front of Rakesh Dosa Corner (on the other side of the road), there is a coconut juice stall that serves juice of fresh green coconuts. Coconut juice is refreshing in the hot weather of Rajasthan. It costs Rs 30 for one coconut.

So, if you have Rs 150, you are good to go. Most of the time you won’t be able to eat more than four items here.

It is very cheap considering the expensive hotels where a single dish costs minimum Rs 150.

Address: Near Oswal Hostel, C Road, Sardarpura, Jodhpur

3. Shastri Circle

Shastri Circle Shops, jodhpur

No, it is not the name of the shop. It is a circle with a park.  Located at the center of Shastri Nagar, the park attracts people. So here you will find a variety of food stalls.

You can also visit the park. The entry fee is Rs 5 per person. Entry is free on every Tuesday.

So, here are some shops that you could try.

Shree Sai Juice Corner, Bharat Dairy (Amul + Vadilal Ice Creams), Aunty’s Pizza Restaurant, Tea & Coffee Shops, Shree Arora Namkeen, Ashok Chaat Bhandar, Royal Restaurant & Fast Food, Vada Pav, Gol Gappa (Pani Puri) and so on.

Depending on your choice of food, it may cost Rs 300 per person here. Since you’ll have a lot of choices, you won’t be able to taste everything at once. I know because I have tried, but after 4-5 items, I always get full and couldn’t eat further.

Address: Shastri Nagar, Jodhpur

4. Chandra Shahi Samosa

samosa, Jodhpur food

It is a good shop, which I found recently. It is right in front of JNVU Old Campus. It is more of a Namkeen and sweet shop.

But what I liked here were Dahi Vada, Kadhi Kachori, and Dahi Palak. It also has a sugarcane juice stall along.

Kadhi Kachori costs Rs 20. Dahi Palak and Dahi Vada cost Rs 25 each.

Namkeen cost Rs 15-20, and Rs 1 for each bread you take (optional). Sugarcane juice costs Rs 10 per glass.

1 Namkeen + 2 Breads = Awesome Food 😉

Address: In front of JNVU old Campus, Ratanada, Jodhpur

5. Bhawani Dal Bati

Bhawani Dal Bati, Jodhpur, Jodhpur food

Dal Bati is the signature food of Rajasthan. It is so much popular that there are many shops in Jodhpur that serves only Dal Bati.

Bhawani Dal Bati is one of those Dal Bati specialists. They serve tasty Dal Bati and the price is cheap.

They serve Dal Bati (many varieties), Desi Ghee, chopped onions, Choorma (sweet), Mirchi Koota, Chatni, and more.

The interesting thing about this place is that it looks like basic Dhaba but the Dal Bati tastes awesome.

Ghee is on a payable basis. So if you like more you can have more of it. Choorma is also optional. For one person it will cost Rs 100. Since it is a basic Dhaba, you may find it too hot inside during the day.

Address: Near Shanishcharji ka Than, Opposite IDBI Bank, Chopasani Road, Jodhpur

Some Extra Tips

Here are some tips for my fellow travelers:

  1. When you eat food items of more than Rs 150 at a street food stall, ask for a discount.
  2. Some of the street food items are spicier than restaurant dishes.
  3. Sweets are heavy food. Make sure you don’t eat too much.
  4. For Dal Bati, remember to drink water before and after eating.
  5. For Dal Bati, you might end up ordering more than what you will actually eat.
  6. Many of these stalls prepare dishes right in front of you, so you can rely on their freshness and cleanliness.
  7. Eat hot food with caution. You might get your tongue burnt. 😉
  8. Stomach upset is one of the issues that street food eaters face, so take medical advice if you have that issue.
  9. If you wish, you can eat food first and have juice at the end. It is my preferred way.
  10. Do eat Dahi Palak and Dahi Vada from Chandra Shahi Namkeen. You will become a fan, I promise. 😉
  11. Wash your hands before you eat anything.

So, What’s Next?

There you go a list of places to eat in Jodhpur on a budget. It should give you an idea that there is much more to Jodhpur food than expensive restaurants.

At these places, you will find many locals as well as tourists. You might make friends, go on a city tour together, and they might know some places to chill.

When you have finished your Jodhpur tour, you might head to Jaipur, Jaisalmer or Ajmer.

Bookmark this page, so that you find it when you need it. I know this list will amaze you when you actually visit these places. Keep eating!

Namaste,

Pankaj Solanki

PS: Comment your views 🙂


About the author:

This is an article by Pankaj Solanki, a young guy from Jodhpur. When he is free, he can be seen running and eating street food. Reach him via twitter at @imPankajSolanki.

Mehrangarh Fort and Umaid Bhawan Palace – the brightest gems of Imperial Jodhpur

Jodhpur, Mehrangarh fort, blue city, Rajasthan

Jodhpur was the last stop in our journey through Rajasthan as per our  itinerary – Jaipur – Pushkar (via Ajmer Sharif Dargah) – Udaipur (via Chittorgarh) – Mount Abu (via Haldighati) – Jaisalmer – Jodhpur.

Jodhpur, blue city, rajasthan

We had only one and a half day to explore the place that has so much to offer to its visitors. Therefore, we targeted two must-see attractions of Jodhpur – Mehrangarh Fort and Umaid Bhavan Palace. Jodhpur is, perhaps, the best place to witness the royal heritage of Rajputana. While the palaces in Mehrangarh Fort and its in-house museum tell you about the grandeur and glory of the royal Rajputana in the middle ages, Umaid Bhavan Palace presents the kingly aura and a tradition of luxury living that Jodhpur still carries on in modern times.

Mehrangarh Fort

Our first stop was Mehrangarh Fort. Nestled on a hilltop outside the town the fort overlooks the “blue city” Jodhpur and the rugged landscape of rural Rajasthan. The fort bears the mark of architectural elegance of medieval India. Its palaces, windows, pillars, corridors, and halls, everything has a story to tell.

mehrangarh fort, jodhpur, rajasthan

mehrangarh fort, jodhpur, blue city, rajasthan

I listened to the little facts and anecdotes about the royal Rajput lifestyle and culture that our guide shared with us while exploring the fort and its heritage museum.

meeting room, Meherangarh fort, jodhpur, Rajasthan

The museum exhibits the weapons, armours and accessories used in battle at that time. Fine robes, jewellery, decorative items, and golden palanquins used in carrying kings and queens, are also on display in the museum. I came to know that straight swords belonged to the Hindu Rajput warriors while Muslim fighters used curved swords in battle.

mehrangarh fort, jodhpur, rajasthan

While we were passing by Maharaja Takat Singh’s mahal, a colourful chamber decorated with stained glass and golden embellishments on pillars and walls, our guide told us an interesting story about the king and his private life, which I would like to share here.

The king, Takat Singh had thirty wives living with him in the palace. He used to meet four of his queens at a time at the chamber. The queens played ‘pasha’ and the one who beat others in the game would get the chance to spend time with the king the next day. I was really amazed by the story – how clever this man was to manage thirty wives in one life! 😉   😀

On the contrary, the life of queens and princesses in the palace where sunshine barely entered, were not so colourful. I heard that the daily activities and entertainment of women in royal families were mostly restricted within the palace and areas meant for them.

Mehrangarh fort, jodhpur, rajasthan, architecture

Mehrangarh fort, jodhpur, rajasthan, architecture

door, Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, Rajasthan,

balcony, mehrangarh fort, jodhpur, rajasthan, stone lattice work

Umaid Bhawan Palace

Our next destination was Umaid Bhawan Palace. The palace, built in 1943 and currently the “world’s largest private residence,” is a wonderful  instance of neoclassical architecture with excellent blending of eastern and western styles.

umaid bhawan palace, jodhpur

Image Source

The iconic architecture, named after Maharaja Umaid Singh, is partially open for visitors. Compared to Mehrangarh Fort palace and other old palaces in Rajasthan, Umaid Bhawan Palace is more spacious, airy and glamorous with contemporary luxury decor.

umaid bhawan palace, jodhpur

umaid bhawan palace, jodhpur

A small portion of the palace houses a museum where the entire family line of Maharaja Umaid Singh is depicted with portraits of the royal family members. It also displays an exclusive collection of precious artefacts, crockery, porcelain vases, and expensive clocks owned by the royal family. The vivid frescos depict the events of royal coronations.

murals, umaid bhawan palace, jodhpur

porcelain vase, umaid bhawan palace museum, jodhpur

artefacts, umaid bhawan palace museum, jodhpur

Check out my post – The Colours of Rajasthan for more on Rajasthan travel. 

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“Happiness often sneaks in through a door…”

door, Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, Rajasthan,

There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception.

Aldous Huxley

Doors are like the ‘face’ of a house. They speak a lot about your home. The door gives an impression of the taste of the homeowner. Sometimes the colors, carvings and architectural design of a doorway can represent the essence of a culture or tradition of that particular region where you see it. These typical Rajasthani doorways in Mehrangarh Fort speaks of the grandeur and extravaganza of aristocratic Rajput lifestyle of medieval era. I love the arches and intricate carvings on this door. What about you?

Doorway, arches, Rajasthan, Mehrangarh fort, Jodhpur

door, Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, Rajasthan,

Published in response to the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Door.

Check out my second entry to the challenge here.

Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Intricate

palace window, intricate stone detailing, architecture, Jodhpur, Rajasthan

Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness. 

~ Frank Gehry

Rajasthan is a place of exquisite architecture and rich culture. The medieval sandstone edifices and monuments in various cities and forts of Rajasthan is a fusion of European and Islamic architecture with Hindu Rajput style. Hence, the moment I saw this week’s photo challenge theme ‘intricate‘ I could immediately relate with it nothing but the fine stone detailing I observed on several palatial facades, walls and interiors of age-old Rajasthani architectures. This one is from the royal palace inside Meherangarh Fort, Jodhpur.

palace window, intricate stone detailing, architecture, Jodhpur, Rajasthan

Published in response to Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Intricate.