A desolate environment in Jodhpur has been transformed into Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park after six years of rigorous planning and labour. Visit this magnificent park on your next trip to Jodhpur. Explore the magnificent places around while staying at Luxury desert camp in Jodhpur.
Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park was established in 2006 to try to restore the natural ecosystem of a huge, rocky wasteland near Jodhpur’s Mehrangarh Fort. It had been neglected for years and had become overrun by baavlia (Prosopis juliflora), an invasive, prickly plant brought from Central America about a century ago. The goal was to get rid of the baavlia and make a habitat for native rock-loving plants we brought back from the desert.The Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park, named after Jodhpur’s founder, opened in February this year under the shadow of the majestic Mehrangarh Fort, which the Rajput monarch erected over 500 years ago.
Six years after its establishment, the park is home to over 120 species of trees and shrubs, herbs and grasses, most of which are suited to a rough rocky or sandy environment.
Guests walk along a route of naturally patterned rippling rock, which pays respect to the volcanic rhyolite that distinguishes this region. An old city gate, which had been bricked up for many years, has been renovated to serve as the park’s focal point, housing the ticket office, visitor’s centre, shop, and café. A map and a well-illustrated plant guide make the journey accessible to even inexperienced visitors. Make your vacation more memorable by staying at our Luxury desert camp in Jaisalmer.
While late July to October provide the most spectacular display of ephemerals, the park may unveil its secrets all year, with some species blossoming in February or March, or bursting into bud with the first rains. Because the park is still in its early stages, each year should see plants developing a stronger foothold in what was once a wasteland.