The Ultimate Itinerary for Jodhpur: 2-day Jodhpur Itinerary

This itinerary for Jodhpur outlines how to spend 2 days in the Rajasthani city, where to eat, what to do, and where to stay.

Are you planning a trip to Jodhpur and looking for the ultimate 2-day itinerary? Look no further than this comprehensive guide, which highlights the best places to stay, eat, and explore in India’s Blue City. From the breathtaking Mehrangarh Fort to the bustling Sardar Market, this itinerary covers all the must-see sights and hidden gems of Jodhpur to see in two days.

This itinerary isn't just about ticking off photo spots. It intentionally includes Jodhpur’s delicious street food, colourful textiles and handicrafts, and cultural heritage sites. This insider itinerary, filled with my top travel tips, will set you up for the ultimate two days in Jodhpur. Whether you're a solo traveller or visiting with family or friends, this itinerary is the perfect guide to making the most of your time in the city. So pack your bags, get ready to explore, and let this itinerary be your ticket to an unforgettable adventure in Jodhpur.

when to visit jodhpur ↴

Jodhpur lies in the northern desert climate of the Rajasthan state of India. Rajasthan typically experiences three seasons: summer, monsoon, and winter. The best season to visit is winter (December through March) when temperatures aren’t insufferable.

Summer | From April to June, Rajasthan experiences its hottest temperatures (upwards of 48°C in peak summer) and dust storms are common. Luckily temperatures dip in the evenings when the sunsets, so you’ll experience a bit of relief from the unbearable heat.
Monsoon | Monsoon season starts in late June and runs through September. There is a slight temperature drop (35°C-40°C) and an increase in humidity. 90% of the annual precipitation in Rajasthan falls during these months.
Winter | December through March is winter, with January being the coldest month of the year. Temperatures can drop down to 0C in certain Rajasthani cities. I visited in February and the daytime temperatures were already in the 30°C.

how many days to spend in jodhpur ↴

Jodhpur was one of the loveliest cities we visited during our two-month adventure across north India. People were not only friendly, but they were also helpful. The city’s attractions, food, and lodging were all affordable. Jodhpur itself was also just very pretty, and there is something to be said about spending your time in a place that looks as nice as it feels.

Despite it being the second largest city in Rajasthan, its main attractions and best eats are relatively close to one another. Because of this, you can see the highlights in two days. If you love slower travel (like me) or really hate the heat, you could easily extend your stay to three or four days so you can take it at a leisurely pace.

how to get to jodhpur ↴

Located in the Thar Desert, Jodhpur was once the Marwar Capital. Today, it’s a densely populated maze of markets, blue facades, and impenetrable forts. Most travellers visiting Jodhpur will arrive from other destinations within the Rajasthan state. You can arrive to Jodhpur via train, plane, bus, or automobile.

airport to Jodhpur

Jodhpur has a domestic airport located 5 kilometers from the city center. Flights arrive daily from other Rajasthani cities as well as major cities throughout India including Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Bangalore.

domestic travel to Jodhpur

from Delhi | There are regular, direct flights from Delhi to Jodhpur and overnight buses. You can also get to Jodhpur from Delhi by train and by hired car. The car journey is roughly 5.5 hours.
from Jaipur | A 5.5-hour drive will get you from Jaipur to Jodhpur
from Jaisalmer | Many people travelling from Jodhpur are there to go to or are coming from the golden desert city of Jaisalmer, which is a 4.5-hour drive away
from Pushkar | The 186-kilometer distance between Pushkar and Jodhpur can be covered in less than four hours. If you’re not a fan of Indian roads, you should consider going from Pushkar to Ajmer (a 45-minute drive) and then finally hopping on a train to Jodhpur.
from Udaipur | It’s 244 kilometers from Udaipur to Jodhpur. The car/bus journey from Udaipur takes approximately five hours, whereas the train journey only takes four hours.

car transfer

If you’re looking to get to Jodhpur via car, I recommend booking with *EaseMyTrip. EaseMyTrip is an affordable, safe way to book hired car transfers between cities. The best part is that transfers are typically less expensive than you might assume. For instance, a transfer from Jaipur to Pushkar only set us back £20— the same as two train tickets (what we would have spent for me and Luke anyway).

where to stay in jodhpur ↴

My recommendation would be to stay in the Old City, near the stepwell and the clock tower. This will give you walking access to many of Jodhpur’s top attractions, saving you the hassle of calling an Uber or haggling with rickshaw drivers.

Umaid Bhawan Palace | Jodhpur’s city palace triples as a museum, palace, and hotel that offers classic luxuries
*Gopal Homestay | Named after the owner’s grandfather, Gopal Homestay is in a prime location just steps away from the stepwell + in perfect view of the city’s fort
Zostel | a hostel with both dorms and private rooms located next to the city’s stepwell
The Hosteller | Budget travellers rave about the atmosphere, cleanliness, and convenient location of The Hosteller

We love using Booking.com to book the best places to stay around the world.

suggested 2-day itinerary for jodhpur ↴

DAY 1: (Toorji-Ka-Jhalara) Stepwell, Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada Cenotaphs, + Mandore Gardens

Start the day bright and early with breakfast at Sam’s Art Café before popping over to Toorji-ka-Jhalara, the city’s famous free stepwell. From there, walk up the stone streets to Mehrangarh Fort to be there when it opens at 9 AM. Once you’ve successfully explored the fort and its museum, walk 15 minutes to Jaswant Thada. Alternatively, you can take a tuk-tuk (rickshaw) from the carpark at the fort to the cenotaphs. It’s approximately a three-minute car journey, so negotiate accordingly. Hop in a tuk-tuk from the cenotaphs to Mandore Gardens, another free attraction in the city.

Optional: adding the Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park onto Day 1 of this itinerary will make it a little fuller, but it’s conveniently located near the fort.

DAY 2: Pachetia Hill, Umaid Bhawan Palace, Ghantaghar (Clock Tower), Sardar Market, Maa Jwalamukhi Devi Temple, Blue City

Spend sunrise at Pachetia Hill. From there, head to Umaid Bhawan Palace to discover the beauty of this part palace/part hotel/ part museum. Hitch a ride to Ghantaghar to check out Rajasthan’s Clock Tower and peruse Sardar Market for locally produced handicrafts and textiles. Grab lunch at the Omelette Shop. Your afternoon should start by visiting Mahadev Temple. In the evening, wander the streets of the Blue City and its maze-like alleys before finishing off your time with dinner at Gopal Homestay Rooftop Restaurant.

10 things to see + do in jodhpur ↴

Blue City

You might be heading to Jodhpur swayed by the thousands of photos with blue backdrops you’ve seen on social media. And while, yes, Jodhpur does have blue areas, I wouldn’t compare it to the likes of Chefchaouen, Morocco. The majority of Jodhpur looks similar to most other Rajasthani cities. The blue part of Jodhpur is expanding slowly as part of a restoration project and due to popularity amongst tourists, but at the time of publishing, there is a sliver of the ancient city that is covered in blue paint and indigo murals.

ADMISSION | free

Mehrangarh Fort Museum

Looming above the city is Jodhpur’s most iconic landmark, Mehrangarh Fort. The behemoth fort is regarded as one of the most well-preserved forts in India. What I wasn’t aware of was the museum portion of the fort, which you’ll have to wander through on your way to its courtyards and outer walls. In fact, I stupidly thought the pin on Google Maps marked “Mehrangarh Fort Museum” must have been mislabeled. As we made our way through every room, we learned more about the Maswar Capital, Jodhpur’s history, and life as a royal in what is now India. Due to the size of the fort and its many museum rooms, I would allow at least two hours to fully explore.

ADMISSION | INR 600 per foreign visitor

Jaswant Thada

Jaswant Thada is a complex of white marble cenotaphs. Built in 1899 for Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, the cenotaph grounds remain well-kept. You can walk roughly fifteen minutes from the fort to Jaswant Thada or, alternatively, you can negotiate with a rickshaw/tuk-tuk waiting in the exit parking lot of the fort to hitch a ride.

ADMISSION | free

Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park

Right next to the fort is Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park. This public park was built in an attempt to conserve and highlight local desert ecology. Honestly, it’s a nice space to walk around, but I don’t rate it as a must-see. If you have the time, definitely consider slitting it into your itinerary, but if you’re pressed for time, I’d skip it in lieu of some of the other attractions on this list.

ADMISSION | INR 100 per foreign visitor

Maa Jwalamukhi Devi Temple

AKA “mahadev temple”

A visit to Maa Jwalamukhi Devi Temple was suggested to us by our homestay owners, and I was shocked I hadn’t heard of it before, because the temple set against the backdrop of the fort at golden hour is something I’ll never forget. This temple is less frequented by tourists, so you don’t have to worry as much about beating the crowds here.

ADMISSION | free

Mandore Gardens

Mandore Gardens is a collection of landscaped gardens and temples. Located not far from Umaid Bhawan Palace, the gardens are free to enter. You’ll have to remove your shoes to enter the temples themselves, but you’re free to roam around the winding paths across the complex with your shoes on. There is a museum that’s part of the property, but there. is a small admission fee to enter that part of the gardens.

ADMISSION | free, INR 50 per person for museum

Umaid Bhawan Palace

Part museum, part hotel, part palace; Umaid Bhawan Palace is truly a taste of the grandeur that Jodhpur was once known for. Construction began in 1928 and the palace was finalized in 1943. It’s currently the world’s 6th largest private residence and was built with the same marble used to construct the Taj Mahal in Agra. Umaid Bhawan Palace is considered the last great palace of India, and that alone makes it worth a visit.

ADMISSION | INR 100 per foreign tourist

Ghantaghar (Clock Tower)

Ghantaghar (clock tower) is the gateway to Jodhpur’s ancient city. Built by Maharaja Sardar Singh, the clock tower is in the direct center of Sardar Market. Starting at 8 AM each morning, you can climb to the third level of the clock tower to look out over the market and the city below. It’s sometimes referred to as the “Clock Tower of Rajasthan.” The clock tower is easily visited in conjunction with the market or a visit to the famous blue part of the city.

ADMISSION | INR 100 per foreign tourist

Sardar Market

Leather goods, textiles, jewellery, and local produce are just some of the many things available to buy at Sardar Market. The open-air market surrounds the city’s famous clock tower. Vendors hail potential customers to come and look at their clay figurines, pottery, and spices. You can also find lassi stalls, hot samosas, and a number of other snacks for sale.

ADMISSION | free

Toorji ka Jhalra

This ancient stepwell is located in the heart of Jodhpur. Popular with tourists and locals alike, Toorji ka Jhalra is an example of 18th-century architecture. Constructed in the early 1740s by the queen-consort of Maharaja Abhay Singh to help descend the city’s water level. Hidden for years, the stepwell was only recently renovated to reveal over 200 feet of hand-carved history. It’s one of the most visited sites in Jodhpur. A visit here often includes the spectacle of locals jumping from the top into the dark pool of water at the bottom of the stepwell— a sight not to be missed.

Tip: You can grab a cool drink and/or food from the Stepwell Café located directly across from the stepwell.

ADMISSION | free

where to eat in jodhpur ↴

Jodhpur has a bevvy of rooftop cafés and restaurants to choose from! During our five days there we made sure to hit a number of them, but my favourites remain:

Sam’s Art Club | great for morning people looking for an early breakfast in a funky café atmosphere
Omelette Shop | As mentioned above, Jodhpur’s favourites omelette shop is not to be missed
Gurunanak Lassi Bhandar | a reputation for serving up the best lassi in Jodhpur
Gopal Homestay Rooftop Restaurant | serving homemade Rajasthani specialty curries (Gulab Juman is a must-try)
Stepwell Café | offers views of the city’s famous stepwell + an international menu with delicious cocktails
Musafir Café | delicious barista coffee + lassi served in an air-conditioned café owned by two local friends
Namaste Café | another great breakfast option with healthier fare including granola bowls