Toorji Ka Jhalra Jodhpur or (Stepwell) is quite an interesting place to visit it also renders a glimpse into the kind of important responsibilities women had in royal families; the building has layers and layers of stairs, fencing from all corners and eventually leading towards a water pond. The women had to manage their own water system; hence it comes as no surprise it was built by the queen, a consort of Maharaja of Jodhpur Abhay Singh. It is located in Makrana Moholla and Gulab Sagar in old city.
To the present it is being used as an unofficial swimming pool, the locals enjoy a dip or a dive (making use of its height), to cool themselves off. While recent cleaning and restoration of the Stepwell , the architects found 200 feet of treasure, the items found were a red rose sandstone with carvings of elephants, medieval lions, cow water-spouts and an alcove housing Hindu deities Toorji Ka Jhalra Jodhpur.
The water is clean as you can find fishes swimming in the water. The rooftop café and nearby restaurants are always full, the view from café is quite striking. The ideal time to visit is morning or evening however there are no time restrictions, visitors can come in any time, to enjoy a cup of coffee or just enjoy the view from the rooftop.
History of Toorji Ka Jhalra
Toorji Ka Jhalra was built during the reign of Maharaja Abhai Singh Rathore. He ruled Jodhpur between 1724 and 1749. During that time, the female members of the Royal families, especially the Queens, would participate and head projects to build public water works. Maharaja Abhai Singh Rathore’s wife, the Queen of Marwar (Jodhpur) headed this project and thus Toorji Ka Jhalra Jodhpur was built in the 1740s and was used by the locals for centuries till the city underwent modernization and the well was completely abandoned. In order to restore this historical heritage, the debris inside the well were cleared and the waterbody was cleaned up. The place has, ever since, been recognized as a tourist attraction Jodhpur.
The architecture of Toorji ka Jhalra
The artistry of the stepwell has been done in an exquisite manner depicting the perfection in engineering. Cow and Lion shaped waterspouts were carved for giving the water outlet. The stairs taking you to the water level are beautifully designed with some statues of Gods and Goddesses in between.
Toorji Ka Jhalra Jodhpur Viewing galleries also known as are constructed around the steps that were used to keep lamps to illuminate the place at night. These are now used as a platform to make a dive deep into the water by the locals Jodhpur Tour Packages.
Recently, precious sculptures of elephants in dancing positions were extracted during the cleaning and renovation of the Jhalra, which had been underwater for more than 200 years. These stunning masterpieces are elegantly carved out of the famous Red Ghatu or the Lal Ghatu stone.
The technology of Persian Wheels was used to raise the water to higher levels. A pair of oxen used to rotate those wheels from the above platform and water then rose to two different levels.
Best Time to Visit Toorji ka Jhalra
The best time to visit the spot is during the early morning hours or during the evening for enjoying the chilling vibes of the place. Toorji Ka Jhalra Jodhpur People are found swimming and diving into the waters from the raised platforms which gives a sense of happy life.
How To Reach Toorji Ka Jhalra
Toorji ka Jhalra is located in Gulab Sagar Makrana Mohalla on Sutharo ka Bas Road in Jodhpur. From the city centre, the attraction is located about 4.5 kilometres away and can be accessed via the NH 62 – Ratanada Road route. There is another route, which is a longer road, to the stepwell that goes through NH 62 – Harish Joshi Marg (6.2 kilometre stretch from the city centre). The Jodhpur Bus Station and the Jodhpur Airport are located about 6 kilometres away from Toorji Ka Jhalra.
The Railway Junction is just about 2.5 kilometres away from it. Public transport works just fine for tourists to reach the attraction. Many reach the central area of Sardar Market or Ghanta Ghar and explore the region till the stepwell on foot. But taxis or auto rickshaws can be easily hired in Jodhpur or one can also take a local bus ride.