Jaswant Thada is a cluster of royal cenotaphs of the Jodhpur royal house, located 500m north of Mehrangarh Fort, and easily reached by the connecting road linking both popular Jodhpur tourist destinations. Maharaja Sardar Singh built the monument in the memory of his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh, in 1899. Regarded as a popular ruler, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, is remembered for the creation of a thriving Jodhpur. He rid the city of bandits while at the same time installing much needed irrigation systems in this dry, desolate area of Rajasthan in North India.

Jaswant Thada is built out of intricately carved sheets of marble, a stark contrast to the reddish brown rocky hills scattering the region. These stones are extremely thin and polished so that they emit a warm glow when touched by the sun’s rays. Ornamental gardens surround the base of the building, which architecturally speaking, is utterly magnificent.

Jaswant Thada is sometimes referred to as the Taj Mahal of Marwar; a reference to the area of Jodhpur known as Marwar from the late 14th century until the mid-19th century. Inside the monument is a marble throne where photographs of the maharajas of Jodhpur are displayed. Locals paying their respects tie prayer clothes along a thin rope near the throne. Outside, most impressive of all the intricate marble carvings within the complex are that of the marble latticework on the cenotaphs. Beautiful, haunting, and a testament to the ability of the original builders.

A visit to Jaswant Thada provides a perfect picture point of Jodhpur. From this vantage point, tourists can capture the Mehrangarh Fort in addition to the surrounding city and natural landscape. This is a destination in which a pre-booked guide is most helpful. Visitors will gain a better understanding of Maharaja Jaswant Singh and the significance of the memorial to this area of India.

Open daily 9 AM – 5 PM. Entry fee Rs 20. Camera Rs 25.