Osian Village Jodhpur (also spelt Osiyan) is an ancient town located in the Jodhpur District of Rajasthan state in western India. It is an oasis in the Thar Desert. The town is a panchayat village and the headquarters for Osian tehsil. It lies 69 km (43 mi) by road north of the district headquarters at Jodhpur, on a diversion off the main Jodhpur – Bikaner Highway. The under-construction Amritsar Jamnagar Expressway passes through this town.
Osian is famous as home to the cluster of ruined Hindu and Jain temples dating from the 8th to 12th centuries. The city was a major religious centre of the kingdom of Marwar during the Gurjara Pratihara dynasty. Of the 18 shrines in the group, the Surya Temple, Sachiya Mata Temple, Katan Bawari and the Jain temple dedicated to Mahavira stands out in their grace and architecture.
The town was a major trading center at least as early as the Gupta period. It maintained this status, while also being a major center of Hinduism and Jainism for hundreds of year. This came to an abrupt end when the town was attacked by the armies of Muhammed of Ghor in 1195. Osian Village Jodhpur is a famous tourist destination.
History And Culture Of Osian
Perhaps the biggest tragedy of Osian Village Jodhpur is that the mainstream traveler seems unaware of its existence, as it’s a town that’s rich in history.
It might be a small town today, but Osian was a stopping point along the silk route during the reign of the Gupta Dynasty. And in its heyday, Osian was also the capital of the Marwar kingdom. So now you know, this town is kind of a big deal!
Osian was once a Hindu-dominated city, but around the 9th century, the city started turning predominantly Jain. This is evidenced by the numerous temples and ruins dotted around Jodhpur Village Safari.
You’ll be interested to know that Osian Village Jodhpur is also known as the ‘Khajuraho of Rajasthan’, thanks to the intricate architecture and sculptures on the Sun Temple here. If you love medieval temples and architecture, this desert town is where you want to be at!
Best Time To Visit Osian
The best time would be the winters, of course. Late October to Early March is when desert experiences are the most enjoyable. Considering Osian is in the Thar Desert, summers can get unbearably hot. Although it does not rain too much, the monsoons do bring out breeds of insects in the desert. So avoid overnight stays during the monsoon as the experience would not be as satisfying.
Also, arriving in October could mean that you can also witness the Marwar Festival in the nearby Jodhpur Attractions.
You can either visit Osian as a day trip from Jodhpur or spend overnight at a tented accommodation in the desert. But if you prefer a rural experience, then another option is to base your Jodhpur journey in Osian and visit the sights in Jodhpur as a day trip.
How To Travel To Osian?
Osian is a desert town in Rajasthan and about 1.5 hrs from the city of Jodhpur Tour Packages. The proximity to Jodhpur is what makes it special. Here are the different ways you can reach this town:
By Air : Being a small town, Osian doesn’t have an airport of its own, so you’ll have to fly to Jodhpur Airport, which is about 65 km away. You can then get a cab from the airport to Osian.
By Train : Osian has decent rail connectivity with major cities including Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Delhi, and Mumbai.
By Road : Osian is well-connected to nearby major cities. You can easily get buses and cabs to get around.
