Jaswant Thada is a royal cenotaph or chhatri located in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The cenotaph, was built by Maharaja Sardar Singh (1895-1911), of Jodhpur State in 1899 in memory of his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II (1873-1895); the 33rd Rathore ruler of Jodhpur state. located on a small hill, today the cenotaph serves as the cremation ground for the royal Rajput family of Marwar.
The cenotaph is famed for its intricately carved marble sheets. These sheets are extremely thin and polished in such a manner, that they emit a warm glow when illuminated by the suns’ rays. The grounds surrounding the cenotaph features among other things; a multi-tiered garden, carved gazebos, and a small lake.
There are three other royal cenotaphs in the complex, but the cenotaph of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II stands out, as it displays portraits of past rulers of princely state of Jodhpur. Arches and pillars on the white marble monument at Jaswant Thada are adorned with beautiful delicate carvings. The beautiful memorial made of pure white marble is an architectural marvel and is often referred to as the “Taj Mahal of Marwar” and was completed in 1906 AD. The main hall of Jaswant Thada is famous due to its beautiful domes and finely carved sculptures. Built like a temple where variety of pujas (rituals), are performed by the Jodhpur royal family. They worship their ancestors, something that is common to all the Rajput royal clans.
The splendid edifice is a perfect example of Rajputana architecture style with shades of Mughal architecture visible on it. Its impeccable design and architecture sheds light on the fine craftsmanship of the bygone era in Rajasthan. The complex also features memorial for a peacock that flew into a funeral pyre of the late king. The pure white marble of the cenotaph or chhatri is contrasted with red marble on the steps leading up to the monument, which gives the entire monument a much vibrant appeal. One of the biggest tourist attractions of Jodhpur, Jaswant Thada is a must-see monument for tourist in Jodhpur.
Hidden amidst lush green trees today, Jaswant Thada, is managed by the Mehrangarh Museum Trust (MMT) and is open to general public. The trust operates a museum that displays portraits of various rulers of Jodhpur state along with information on history of Marwar rules through the portraits. Music concerts by local musicians and folk artists during Rajasthan International Folk Festival and World Sacred Spirit Festival, are also held at the premises of Jaswant Thada. The shallow lake beside the monument is used by the royal family to perform various rituals for the deceased, and has a few ducks swimming on it.
Tourists can walk around the entire monument that is open from 09:30 AM to 17:00 AM on all days; with help a tourist guide, who charge between INR 100 to INR 200 depending on the size of the group of visitors. Sitting arrangements have also been made for tourist who wish to sit on the beautifully maintained garden. Entry tickets to Jaswant Thada is INR 30 for domestic tourists and INR 50 for international tourists. Charges for still camera are INR 25 and INR 50 for video camera. Twittering of birds around the trees on the premises adds to the soothing appearance of the monument.
Tourists need to carry hats and sunglasses along with water bottles, during day time, as it gets quite hot during summer in Jodhpur. The best time to visit Jaswant Thada is during winter season of October and March. Tourists need to remove shoes while entering the cenotaph at Jaswant Thada, as mark of paying respects to the departed souls. Other attractions like Umaid Bhawan Palace and the massive Mehrangarh Fort are also visible from the monument. Jaswant Thada is easily accessible by road from any part of the ‘blue city’ of Jodhpur, as it lies on the main road leading to Mehrangarh Fort. Tourists can take private car, taxi or bus to reach the Jaswant Thada monument. Jodhpur city is well connected by rail, road and air with all major cities of India.
