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A valiant
sentinel in the desert, on the eastern fringe of the Thar
desert has the distinction of neither being a part of the
Thar desert nor out of it.
At best it is a doorway to the wonderland of sand dunes and
shrubs, rocky terrain and thorny trees. The home of the
Rathroes - the awesome princely state of Rajasthan. They
conquered Marwar or Maroodesh, land of the sand after the
fall of Delhi and Kannauj.
In 1459 AD, Rao Jodha, chief of Rathore clan of Rajputs, who
claimed descent from Rama, the epic here of the Ramayana,
laid the foundation of Jodhpur. A high stone wall protects
the well-fortified city. The wall is nearly 10km in length
and has eight gates facing various directions.
Within, stands an imposing fort on a low range of sandstone
hills, about 125m above the surrounding plains. Invincible!
And dauntless in its league with time! The city lies at the
foot of the hills. The clear distinction between the old and
the new city is visible from the ramparts of the fort.
On the other side of the city, facing the fort is the Umaid
Bhawan Palace. One of the most spacious, sprawling and
well-planned palaces in India. And from here, as you look at
fort, a tantalizing view rises before your eyes at sunset.
The peculiar slant of the sunset lends the desert landscape
an awe-inspiring glow and the people, a chivalry undaunted.
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