Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park at dawn
The park covers around 70 hectares of rocky land next to Mehrangarh that was once overrun by an invasive mesquite. From 2006 the Mehrangarh Museum Trust began clearing it and replanting native species of the Thar, and the park opened to visitors in 2011. It shows what the desert around Jodhpur looked like before the invasive plants took hold.
Marked trails of different lengths cross the volcanic rhyolite, past small pools, gorges and the fort walls. A naturalist guide points out desert plants, reptiles and birds, and explains how the restoration was done. The light on the rock in the first hour after sunrise, with the fort above, is excellent for photography.
We usually combine the park with Mehrangarh on the same morning, or visit in the late afternoon and stay for sunset on the city. Wear closed shoes with grip, as the rock can be uneven. Opening hours and guiding arrangements change, so check current status before you travel.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Is the Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park worth visiting
Yes, especially for walkers, photographers and anyone interested in the desert. It is quiet, sits right below Mehrangarh and shows the native plant life of the Thar. Most visitors to Jodhpur miss it, which is part of its appeal. The park covers around 70 hectares restored by the Mehrangarh Museum Trust and opened in 2011. We walk it with a naturalist in the first hour after sunrise, when the light on the rock is best.
How long are the trails at the Desert Rock Park
The trails range from short loops of under an hour to longer routes of about two hours. Your guide will choose based on fitness and time. Bring water, a hat and closed shoes; the rock can be slippery and hot by late morning.
Can you combine the Desert Rock Park and Mehrangarh
Yes. The park entrance is beside the fort. We often walk the park at sunrise, then enter Mehrangarh at opening, which makes a full and well-paced morning before the heat. Wear closed shoes with grip, as the volcanic rock is uneven, and bring water and a hat. Afterwards we walk down through the blue lanes to the clock tower market. Opening hours change, so check current status before you travel.
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