Leave Rajkot early on 11 November for the road journey to Jodhpur. The drive is roughly 9–11 hours with fuel, tea and meal stops, so an early start is essential if you want to reach the city before dinner. Follow the main highway via Morbi, Maliya, Radhanpur, Sanchore and Pali; keep some buffer for highway traffic and town crossings. Before leaving, confirm that your hotel has parking and late-afternoon check-in ready—Old City lanes can be narrow, so a hotel outside the congested core may require leaving the car in designated parking and using an auto-rickshaw for the final stretch.
After arrival in Jodhpur, allow about an hour to check in, freshen up and rest. Then take an auto-rickshaw or cab toward Toorji Ka Jhalra; from most central hotels, allow 15–25 minutes depending on traffic. Spend around 30 minutes at the stepwell, ideally in the softer evening light, and wander briefly through the surrounding lanes. Wear comfortable footwear—the old paving can be uneven, and the steps may be dusty. There is usually no major entry fee, but access and lighting can vary, so treat this as a relaxed photo stop rather than a timed attraction.
Continue on foot to a rooftop restaurant near Toorji Ka Jhalra for dinner, allowing about 1½ hours. Choose a table with a view toward Mehrangarh Fort and order a few Rajasthani dishes to share; expect approximately ₹700–1,500 per person, depending on the restaurant and drinks. After dinner, walk for about 45 minutes through Sardar Market around the Clock Tower. This is a good first look at Jodhpur’s handicrafts, spices, embroidered textiles and small souvenirs, though many shops may begin closing around 9–9:30 PM. For tonight, browse rather than make major purchases—you will have better shopping time on the following day.
Start around 8:00 AM at Mehrangarh Fort on Fort Road, before the larger tour groups arrive. Allow 2½–3 hours for the courtyards, palaces, museum galleries and the excellent views over the blue houses. Entry is typically around ₹200–₹250 for Indian visitors, with separate charges for cameras or lifts; keep some time for the ticket queue and security check. A local auto-rickshaw or cab from the Old City usually takes 10–20 minutes, while the steep approach makes walking less comfortable in the late morning.
Walk directly to Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park, beside the fort, for about 1–1½ hours. Its volcanic landscape feels surprisingly wild so close to the city, and the trails give different angles back toward the fort. Wear shoes with a good grip, carry water, and avoid rushing the longer paths. Continue by auto or cab to Jaswant Thada, where 45 minutes is enough for the white-marble memorial, quiet gardens and lake views; combined visits to the fort area are easiest by arranging the driver to wait or return for you.
Have lunch at Indique or another established rooftop restaurant around the Old City, allowing about an hour. Expect roughly ₹600–₹1,200 per person, and confirm the restaurant’s current midday opening and rooftop seating before setting off, as some venues adjust hours seasonally. From there, spend around two hours in Sardar Market and around Clock Tower browsing mojari footwear, bandhani textiles, spices, leather goods and small handicrafts. Bargaining is normal, but compare two or three shops before buying; keep purchases compact and ask for sealed packaging for spices. The market is best explored on foot, with short auto-rickshaw hops if the lanes become tiring.
In the evening, return toward the Mehrangarh–Old City area for the Rajasthan International Folk Festival surroundings and live music if a performance is actually scheduled that night. Festival programming and access can vary, so check the official schedule and ticket requirements rather than relying on walk-in entry. If no performance is available, make this a slower final wander through the old lanes, stopping for tea and a sweet before returning to your hotel. Keep the evening unhurried after the fort and shopping, and use an app cab or pre-arranged auto for the return, since traffic and pedestrian-only stretches around the market can make door-to-door pickup difficult.
Check out early and leave your Jodhpur accommodation by around 8:00 AM with luggage packed in the vehicle. Begin at Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum on Circuit House Road; allow about 1½ hours for the museum, palace exterior and gardens. The museum generally opens in the morning, but timings and ticket arrangements can change, so verify them locally before setting out. Keep roughly ₹100–₹150 per person for entry and arrive early to avoid spending too much of your limited morning in queues. From there, drive about 25–35 minutes to Mandore Garden, depending on city traffic; the grounds are spread out, so comfortable shoes and water will help.
Spend around 1½ hours at Mandore Garden, walking among the red-stone cenotaphs, temples and landscaped areas. November mornings are pleasant, but the open paths can still become sunny, so carry a hat and avoid wandering too far from the vehicle if you need to leave promptly. Have lunch nearby or back toward the city at a simple local vegetarian restaurant, ordering a thali or regional dishes such as dal baati churma and gatte; budget approximately ₹300–₹700 per person and allow a full hour rather than relying on a quick takeaway.
After lunch, make your final shopping stop at Nai Sarak, allowing about an hour for bandhani textiles, dupattas, leather goods and packaged spices. Bargaining is normal, but compare two or three shops before buying, and check textiles for color bleeding if you plan to pack them with clothes. Leave Jodhpur by approximately 1:30–2:00 PM for Rajkot; the road journey is roughly 9–11 hours door-to-door with fuel, meal and tea breaks, so arrival will likely be late evening. Confirm the driver, fuel, luggage space and the exact drop-off arrangement before leaving, and keep water and snacks accessible for the long highway stretch.
We'll email you a sign-in link that keeps your packing progress on your other devices.