Given its immediate proximity to the Great Indian Thar Desert, it is not surprising that Jodhpur has paid a lot of attention to ways and means of conserving water. This has taken the form of all kinds of architectural features such as wells, ornamental lakes and stepwells to ensure that this precious and invaluable life-sustaining substance is available to the city through the year.
Of significance in the city are the Ranisar Lake and the nearby Padmasar Lake. The first was built in 1459 near the Fateh Pole in Mehrangarh; the Padmsar Lake was built by the daughter of Rana Sanga of Mewar.
The focus of this tour is the Gulab Sagar Lake situated close Sardar Market in the Old City. It was established in 1788 by Gulab Rai the concubine of Maharaja Vijay Singh to replace an old baoli. It is fed by the waters of the Bal Samand Lake, on the city outskirts, through a canal. Close to the shores of the lake stands Kunjebihari Temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna.
You will learn about interesting legends from the past, peep into the life of locals, meet and interact with city’s residents and wander through narrow alleyways dotted with indigo coloured houses.
Our walk ‘Step Wells and Temples of Jodhpur’ touches another important aspect of the city. You get to see the hidden step wells and temples in the tiny lanes of Jodhpur. This 2- hour walk allows you to mingle with a local family over a cup of tea and wander through a bustling market in the Blue City. The walk is carefully designed around the twin-tank setting of Gulab Sagar Lake built-in 1788 by Gulab Rai. The complex features palaces, temples and wells around it, and also a jhalra (a kind of stepped pond) known as the Mahlyabagh Jhalra. The old palace above the lake now serves as a girls’ school. Jhalras are linked to religious uses such as pujas etc. The Kunjebehari Temple houses a beautiful statue of Meera Bai, a great devotee of Lord Krishna, who is enshrined in the inner sanctum.