March 14th was our twelfth day in India and the tenth day of our Gate 1 Travel tour. India had just suspended all travel visas for arriving travelers.
We traveled nearly 350km from the Radisson Jaipur City Center, stopping at the magnificent Jaswant Thada entering Jodhpur.
Jaswant Thada, Lawaran PB# 65, c/o Mehrangarh Fort, Mehrangarh Museum Trust, Rajasthan 342001, India
International Visitor – Rs. 50 (about .67 US)
The beautiful memorial is mostly marble and often described as the “Taj Mahal of Marwar.” It was built in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singhjill of Jodhpur (1873-1895) by his son Maharaja Sardar Singhji (1895-1911) completed in 1906.
As we arrived at the site, the first thing you notice is the beautiful lake. Today ducks swim around the lake, but at one time, this shallow lake was used for rituals for the deceased.
Along the walkway, we met a local Rajasthani musician playing a traditional Ravanhatha. We were told that the grounds are often filled with local musicians.
The outlying areas have beautiful gazebos with intricate details and small monuments, some offering shade for the local stray dogs. The grounds offer several quiet places to relax and take in the beauty of the property.
The memorial itself is all white marble. However, the stairs and surrounding trim are red sandstone, which makes the building stand out.
Inside the main hall are the portraits of Rathore rulers going back to the 13th century. The bright green colored doors and marble screens added to the beauty of the memorial.
We enjoyed our visit because of the local musician, the natural beauty, and the incredible ornate carving on the marble screens. You are also able to get a fantastic view of the Mehrangarh Fort, our next destination.
Travel Tips:
- Be sure to take water with you, especially if you are heading on to the fort.
- As with a majority of temples and memorials, you will be required to remove your shoes.
- While the site is not that large, allow yourself an hour to relax and enjoy the views.
- Seniors with mobility issues may have trouble navigating the steps up to the memorial. But, there is still plenty to see without climbing the stairs.
- Be sure to use the restroom facilities here as they were some of the cleanest we encountered along our travels.
