Jodphur, the Blue City

Most of Jodphur's buildings today are constructed in the local red sandstone. Only 40% of the old city's buildings are still blue, the colour that gave Jodphur its nickname of 'The Blue City'. The original use of blue paint was two-fold. It kept the buildings cool in the hot weather, and the indigo pigment acted as a mosquito repellent. Now, modern buildings all have effective air-conditioning, making the blue paint unnecessary. The local government is working on a project to bring back more blue buildings, fearing that their disappearance will cause a drop in the number of tourists coming to Jodphur. They are funding the renewal of blue-painted buildings, and paying local artists to decorate them with bright murals.

The result of their efforts is a stunning neighbourhood which reminded me so much of Chefchouen in Morocco. There is a photo opportunity around every corner and the Indian grammers were out in force 😂. I loved seeing it, and got totally carried away with the number of photos I took!Read more