Mandore Gardens, Jodhpur

Mandore was Marwar's capital before Jodhpur was founded in 1459. Its gardens hold the sandstone cenotaphs of the rulers, a Hall of Heroes and a small museum.

Mandore is a historic town about 9 km north of Jodhpur that served as the capital of Marwar until Rao Jodha moved the seat to Jodhpur in 1459. Rao Jodha had retaken Mandore in 1453. Today the main draw is Mandore Gardens, where temples, memorials and the devals, or cenotaphs, of Jodhpur's rulers stand among landscaped lawns. These cenotaphs were the cremation grounds of the kings until the time of Maharaja Takht Singh.

The red sandstone monuments are tall and resemble Hindu temples, with several storeys and carved spires, and the memorial of Maharaja Ajit Singh is among the best known. The Hall of Heroes contains 16 figures carved from a single rock, commemorating regional folk heroes, and a shrine to 'three hundred million gods' holds many deity images. A government museum, established in 1968, displays architectural and zoological heritage of Marwar.

A secondary site says the gardens are free and open about 8 am to 8 pm, with the museum open 9 am to 6 pm and closed on Fridays, but Incredible India lists 9 am to 5 pm, so hours should be checked. Mandore makes an easy half-day trip with Jodhpur's old city.