MANDORE GARDENS
Well-kept gardens offering a ruined fort, a former royal palace, sumptuous cenotaphs, a safari stop
The Gardens of Mandore are neglected by tourists and it is a pity. They include pleasant gardens very well maintained, but also a ruined fort, an old royal palace, sumptuous cenotaphs... You can stop there if you plan a safari in the Osyan dunes, it is on the road.
The existence of Mandore dates back to the 4th century. It was the capital of Marwar until the foundation of Jodhpur. From the 6th century to the 12th century, it was part of the Gurjar Pratihara kingdom before being captured by the Chauhan of Pali and then sacked several times by the sultans of Delhi. In 1395, Rao Chunda of the Rathore clan received the fort of Junagarh of Mandore as a wedding gift. He settled there, making it the capital of his kingdom. In 1549, Rao Jodha left Mandore to found the city of Jodhpur.
The Wall of Heroes and Deities. After passing some busy langurs, on your left is the wall of Heroes. Sixteen portraits of the valiant warriors of the Marwar have been carved into the rock in the ancient tradition of monolithic temples like those seen in Badami (Karnataka) or Ellora (Maharashtra).
The royal cenotaphs. As you enter the gardens, the cenotaphs are on your right. They look like Hindu temples but are actually the burial memorials of former Maharajas of Jodhpur. Admire the richness of the carvings, the turned pillars, the ornate domes.
The Janana Mahal. This palace was built under Ajit Singh, Maharaja of Jodhpur from 1707 to 1724. He had the palace built to relieve the women of the court from the great summer heat. It includes many fountains and basins where women could refresh themselves. The palace also includes a small museum exhibiting sculptures and paintings.
Ek Thamba Mahal. This tower located on the right of the Janaha Mahal was also built by Ajit Singh. The fully open windows allowed the women to enjoy the breeze and the view without being seen by the men or people outside the court.
The fort. The access to the fort is by a slight climb on a rocky plateau. There is not much left of the old capital. Only the fortification walls and the ruins of the temple of Brahma are clearly identifiable. The foundations of the temple, by their height and size, suggest that the temple must have been important. From the top of the hill, the view of the Mandore Gardens and the surrounding countryside is quite pleasant.