“Taj Mahal of Marwar” in Jodhpur

Jaswant Thada, Jodhpur

Barely a kilometer away, our first glimpse of this most fascinating structure is from the top of the Mehrangarh Fort. We get a panoramic view of Jaswant Thada, one of the architectural sites of Jodhpur, the tomb of the Marwar rulers. It was built in 1899 by Maharaja Sardar Singh as a royal monument in memory of his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, who was the 33rd Rathore ruler of Jodhpur.

The rocky approach to Jaswant Thada lends a mystic aura to the whole experience. The splendid marble structure contrasts white with the surrounding reddish-brown rocky hills that dominate the landscape. Its sheer grandeur, the intricacy of motifs carved to perfection and the manicured lawns surrounding it belies the fact of its association with the departed.

Popularly known as the "Taj Mahal of Marwar", Jaswant Thada is made of intricately carved sheets of marble. Considered an epitome of Rajputana architectural style, essentially a blend of Mughal and Hindu structural design, it displays latticework in marble of the finest finesse, reflecting the creative brilliance and sculptural skills of the artisans of the time.

The extremely thin sheets of stones used in the construction of the tomb have been polished in such a way that they emit a warm glow with a subtle tint as the rays of dawn gently fall on its surface. The structure, consists of a central pyramidal dome surrounded by several smaller domes, what looks like a terrace, running along the perimeter, resembles a temple rather than a mausoleum. The grandeur of the building is enhanced by a small lake with crystal clear water, a multi-level garden and gazebos carved around it.

A life-size marble statue of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, seated on a horse, welcomes us at the entrance of the Cenotaph complex. A flight of steps of immaculate white marble leads us to the main monument which is adorned with artistic sculptures, frescoes, domes, pillars and exquisite lattice work in marble. On its walls, there are pictures of many rulers of Jodhpur from the 13th century. The elaborate ornamentation and dance figures carved on the pillars that adorn the monument dedicated to the queens who sacrificed their lives on the pyre of Maharaja Jaswant Singh are simply breathtaking. Apart from the main mausoleum, the Cenotaph complex also houses three other monuments of successive rulers. An interesting and unique aspect associated with the complex is the monument to a peacock, which is believed to have been blown up in the funeral pyre.

Visit Jaswant Thada and all the places in Jodhpur with our car on rent, Jodhpur. 

Entry fee:

50 rs. per tickets

Timing

09:00AM - 05:00PM, All days open: