Clock Tower and Old City Markets Jodhpur, Jodhpur

Jodhpur, which was previously known as Marwar, was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha, a Rajput Chief of the Rathore clan. The city was located on the planned road linking Delhi to Gujarat which enabled it to profit from a prosperous trade in opium, copper, silk, sandals, date palms and coffee. Under the rule of Maharaja Umed Singh, Jodhpur grew into an excellent modern city. During the British Raj, the state of Jodhpur was, area-wise, the largest in Rajputana. Jodhpur thrived under the British Raj. Its merchants, the Marwaris, prospered endlessly. They came to occupy a leading position in trade all over India. In 1947 India became independent and the state merged into the union of India. Jodhpur became the second city of Rajasthan.