Mandore Garden
Mandore
was the former capital of Maharajas of Marwar and is located about 5 miles north
of Jodhpur, but was later abandoned for the security of Mehrangarh fort. Here
you will find the dewals, or cenotaphs of Jodhpur's former rulers.
Unlike the usual chhatri-shaped cenotaphs typical of Rajasthan, they were built
along the lines of a Hindu temple, four stories high, with fine columns and
an elegant spire, all in red sandstone. The most impressive is the dewal of
Maharaja Ajit Singh (reigned 1678-1724). These cenotaphs are set in beautiful
landscaped gardens.
Nearby is the hall of heroes, dedicated to various deities and fabled Rajput
folk heroes, whose statues are carved out of rock and painted in bright colours.
Next door is a larger hall called "The Shrine of the Three Hundred Million
Gods", filled with brightly coloured images of the various Hindu Gods.
As you climb up the hill, you come to the ruined city of Mandore, with its old
palace.
The beautiful Maharani's cenotaphs set apart on a rocky outcrop - a ten-minute
walk over the hill. Today its extensive gardens with high rock terrace make
it a popular local attraction.