Oct 11 - Jodpur, the blue city

Oct 11 Jodpur, the blue city

the fort in Jodpur

The city of the riding pants, of polo, and of course, of palaces and maharajas…also the “blue city” so-called because many houses in the old city are painted blue in deference to Lord Vishnu, who turned blue on death by poison.

Another city, another fort, another palace…there is too much to see. 

 

showing us how a turban is wrapped, all 20 feet of it

We have the distinction of being at Umaid Bhawan Palace two days after Prince Charles, who was hosted here by the Maharaja. The palace is the largest in Rajasthan and certainly impressive…it is so large I opted for a photo of the model.

Of interest is that this palace is new…that is, built in the ‘20’s and ‘30’s , therefore Art Deco…its design is very simple and beautiful and restful to the eyes after the acres of hand-carved sandstone facades of Jaisalmer.

The same, yet different…you find this everywhere: in architecture, in dress, in food…

at lunch

The facades of houses, for example the hoveles of Jaisalmer (and they are certainly not hovels, although the words appear related) ­-these ornately carved homes of the opium lords of the 19 century‑ appear symmetrical to the casual observer, yet are not. Minute differences in the carvings are observed everywhere…sameness is an illusion, every inch of the façade is unique, by design.

The current maharaja is an enterprising man – part of his palace is a hotel and below the palace he has started a real estate development of luxury homes, meant to attract more money to this city in the desert. Would have like to have found out the price of one of these homes…maybe if I google it?