ISSUE 11 | NOVEMBER 2019
BIKERS CLUB | MAGAZINE | PAGE 44
The Blue City
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History Of Jodhpur
The city of Jodhpur was founded by the Rajput
chief of the Rathore clan, Rao Jodha. It was
believed that the Rajput clan that he belonged to
were the successors of Lord Rama.
As per the history of the place, a kingdom was set
up at Kannauj by Naya Pal which thrived there
over seven centuries till it was taken over by
Muhammad Ghori. Jai Chand, who ruled Jodhpur
at that time, died while he was trying to escape.
After which, his son Siahaji took over the kingdom
and established the Rathore Kingdom at Mandore
after conquering the Pratiharas.
To back up a little, what exactly happened was
that the Afghans made the Rathores leave their
homeland, Kannauj. They escaped to Pali, near
Jodhpur city which still exists. After this, Rathore
Siahaji got married to one of the local princesses
there, to help expand the clan and strengthen
them. Eventually, they took over the Patiharas of
Mandore (whose kingdom was situated at a
distance of 9 km from the present day city of
Jodhpur).
At the start, Mandore was declared as the
capital. However, by 1459, Rathores felt that
there was a need for a safer capital which led
to the formation of the city of Jodhpur by Rao
Jodha. Rainmal, the father of Rao Jodha, was
killed in a court conspiracy which forced Rao
Jodha to escape to save his life. Post few years,
he was able to regain control over his lost
kingdom after one of his trusted fellow men
advised him to establish his capital on the top
of a hill made up of sandstone by the edge of
the Thar sands.
The Blue City
The Blue City of Rajasthan, Jodhpur has a
bluish landscape and is noted for herculean
Mehrangarh Fort. The colour of Jodhpur tells
the history and makes it a legend - of a
populace who shaped a paradise in the heart
of the heat and sandstorms of Rajasthan. The
Mehrangarh Fort, made with burnishing red
sandstone provides a striking contrast to the
blue city and 'stands out' at a height of 400
feet above the Jodhpur skyline.