Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park - History, Timings & Entry Fee

At a distance of 1 km from Jodhpur Fort and 5 km from Jodhpur Junction, Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park lies at the foot of Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur city of Rajasthan.

The Park extends across 70 hectares about 200 acres of rocky land surrounding the fort. It was created in 2006 for restoration of natural ecology of rocky wasteland and was opened to the public in 2011. This sandy desert park has rock loving plants which adapts to the arid surroundings.

Mehrangarh Fort here was once a rocky wasteland, colonised by an invasive plant from Mexico known as mesquite or baavlia. In 2006, Jodhpur's current maharaja Gaj Singh II entrusted filmmaker and environmentalist Pradip Krishen with the mammoth task of converting this baavlia­dominated wasteland into a green zone. It was Gaj Singh's great grandfather Maharaja Umaid Singh's wish to convert this arid landscape into a green zone. But the painstaking efforts of a man and his team have transformed the land into a paradise for migratory birds, and made it home for over 300 species of trees, shrubs, climbers and herbs.

The area in and around the park contains distinctive volcanic rock and sandstone formations. The park includes a Visitors Centre with Interpretation Gallery, a native plant nursery, small shop and cafe. There are four trails (yellow, green, red, and blue trails), about 880 m to 1115 m long, that visitors can take and trained guides and naturalists are also available.

Timings:

April to September - 7 AM to 6.30 PM
October to March - 8 AM to 5.30 PM

Entry Fee: Rs. 30 for Adults, Rs.10 for Students and Rs. 200 for guided walk