How Jodhpur Became the Blue City

Jodhpur is a large city that lies at the outskirts of the vast Thar Desert and has earned the famous nickname "Blue City." The evolution of Jodhpur into the Blue City is a legend that dates back to the time of Rao Jodha, a powerful clan chief who founded the city in the 15th century with the intention of creating a capital for the Rathore dynasty. As people multiplied and settled close to the fort's protective walls, a mixture of cultural beliefs and social conventions emerged.

Jodhpur as India's blue city

The initial use of the color blue was linked to social position and religious views. It is said that the Brahmins, the highest religious caste in Hindu society, were the ones who started this custom. They painted their houses blue to distinctly separate their dwellings from those of others. It was a sign of their higher position in society and their status within the community. These blue houses first appeared in areas surrounding the fort, such as the Brahmpuri locality, which can still be considered one of the bluest parts of the city today.

Beyond the social aspect, the color represented a strong spiritual bond within the community.

Blue is considered one of the holiest colors in Hinduism. It is regarded as a symbol of divinity and is closely linked to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Lord Shiva, in order to save the universe, once drank poison that turned his neck blue, thus granting him the name Neelkantha. Blue also symbolizes the infinity and vastness of the universe, much like the sky and oceans, representing Lord Vishnu's omnipresent and cosmic nature. By painting their houses blue, the Brahmins were displaying their devotion, firmly establishing their community as divine and invoking spiritual protection. The blue-washed walls gained popularity rapidly because they helped the people of the old desert town solve two major environmental challenges.

Sun City of India

Jodhpur is extremely hot and is also called the "Sun City" as it receives almost a full day of sunshine throughout the year. The temperature during summer typically rises very high, making heat management a matter of survival. People discovered that the light blue color is excellent at reflecting heat and sun rays. This simple measure prevented the stone from absorbing heat, and thus the interiors of blue houses became much cooler than others.

One of the most interesting and scientifically backed reasons lies in the paint that was used. The traditional blue paint was not just a simple color; it was purposefully produced by adding copper sulfate (CuSO₄) to the lime wash (chuna) used as the basic wall coating. This copper compound is an effective insecticide and fungicide. It kept termites—a significant danger in the arid climate that causes much of the wood used for building houses to deteriorate—from infesting homes. The beautiful and enduring blue color was simply a fortunate side effect of the solution to a very serious problem.

After the cooling and anti-pest benefits became apparent to all, non-Brahmin residents also started painting their houses blue. The color gradually evolved from being merely a caste indicator to becoming a source of wholehearted civic pride and the identity of the city itself.

Nowadays, as you walk through Jodhpur's narrow, winding lanes, you are traversing the different layers of the city's history, where every blue wall tells a story about people's resilience, their faith, and the ingenious ways they adapted. It is from the top of Mehrangarh Fort that you can truly appreciate the city's one-of-a-kind character; a vast blue sea that represents a combination of necessity, faith, and ingenious desert survival.