Toorji Ka Jhalra, often written Toorji’s Stepwell, is an 18th-century rose-sandstone stepwell in Makrana Mohalla in the old city of Jodhpur, Jodhpur district, Rajasthan. It sits just below street level near Gulab Sagar lake, a short walk from the Ghanta Ghar clock tower, and after a long spell buried under debris it was cleaned out and brought back as the pilot site of a wider walled-city revival. This guide is about the stepwell itself, not the whole Blue City.
Toorji Ka Jhalra is a restored 18th-century stepwell in old Jodhpur, Rajasthan, built in the 1740s by Queen Tunwar Ji, consort of Maharaja Abhay Singh. Entry is free, the open courtyard can be visited at any hour, and cafés and shops now ring the square around it.
Key takeaways
- Toorji Ka Jhalra was commissioned in the 1740s (one source gives 1748) by Queen Tunwar Ji, consort of Maharaja Abhay Singh Rathore of Marwar, whose reign is dated 1724–1749.
- Entry is free and the courtyard has no fixed gate hours; it is lit after dark and busiest in the evening, as of October 2026.
- Two independent sources put the well at roughly 60 metres (about 200 feet) deep, descending in zigzag flights of carved sandstone steps on three sides.
- It stands in Makrana Mohalla near Gulab Sagar, about 350 m on foot from the Ghanta Ghar clock tower and Sardar Market in the old city.
- The clean-up was the pilot project of the JDH Urban Regeneration drive; cafés, boutiques and restaurants have since opened around the square.
- The best months to visit are October to March, when Jodhpur’s days are mild and dry.
About Toorji Ka Jhalra
Toorji Ka Jhalra is a stepwell (a baori, a tank reached by descending flights of steps) built in the 1740s in what is now Makrana Mohalla in the old city of Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Several sources credit Queen Tunwar Ji, consort of Maharaja Abhay Singh Rathore of Marwar, as its patron; one record gives the year as 1748 AD. The name is usually read as deriving from the queen, and spellings vary between Toorji, Tunwarji and Tawarji.
Building public waterworks was a role often taken by royal women of the period, and the jhalra served the surrounding neighbourhood with drinking and daily-use water through the dry season. One side of the tank still carries traces of a Persian wheel that bullocks once turned to lift water. Over time the well fell out of use, filled with debris and rubbish, and sat largely forgotten below the street.
The structure is cut from Jodhpur’s warm rose-to-red sandstone. Below are the headline facts, each cross-checked against the sources listed at the end.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Toorji Ka Jhalra (Toorji’s Stepwell), Makrana Mohalla, Jodhpur district, Rajasthan |
| Type | Stepwell / baori, 18th century |
| Built | 1740s (one source: 1748), under Queen Tunwar Ji, consort of Maharaja Abhay Singh |
| Depth | About 60 m (roughly 200 feet), per two sources |
| Material | Carved rose/red Jodhpur sandstone |
| Entry fee | Free |
| Hours | Open courtyard, no fixed gate hours; lit after sunset |
| Nearest landmark | Ghanta Ghar clock tower / Sardar Market, about 350 m away |
On depth the sources are not unanimous. A conservation-focused page and a detailed travel account both describe the well as about 60 metres, or roughly 200 feet, deep; one blog cites a figure near 100 metres, which looks like an outlier and is not used here. Exact width, length and the restoration’s completion year could not be confirmed from a primary record, so those are left out rather than guessed.
Best time to visit
The comfortable season to visit Toorji Ka Jhalra, like the rest of Jodhpur, runs from October to March, with the coolest, driest weather from November to February. Travel guides broadly agree on this window; summer (April to June) brings strong desert heat, and the monsoon arrives roughly July to September. For exact temperature and rainfall figures, check the India Meteorological Department climate normals for Jodhpur.
Because the square sits in the open, early morning and the hour after sunset are the kindest times to linger. The stepwell is illuminated in the evening and is at its busiest then, so come at first light if you want the carvings to yourself.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Cool / peak | October–March | Mild, dry days; cool evenings; best for walking the old city. Rooms cost most around Christmas and New Year. |
| Hot | April–June | Strong desert heat; visit the open square only early or late. |
| Monsoon | July–September | Some rain; fewer crowds; the tank can look fuller. |
How to reach the stepwell
Toorji Ka Jhalra sits inside the walled old city, so the last stretch is best done on foot. It is about 350 m from the Ghanta Ghar (clock tower) and Sardar Market, an easy walk through the lanes near Gulab Sagar. For full air, rail and road detail covering the city, see the Jodhpur travel guide; the table below covers getting to the stepwell itself.
By air, Jodhpur Airport (code JDH) lies roughly 5 km south of the clock-tower area and is served by domestic carriers including IndiGo and Air India, with flights to cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur; schedules are seasonal, so confirm with the airline. By rail, Jodhpur Junction is a short drive or auto-rickshaw ride from the old city. From either, take a metered auto or taxi to the clock tower and walk in; vehicles cannot reach the stepwell’s doorstep.
| From | Approx. distance | How |
|---|---|---|
| Ghanta Ghar / Sardar Market | About 350 m | Walk through the old-city lanes |
| Jodhpur Junction railway station | Roughly 2–3 km | Auto-rickshaw or taxi to clock tower, then walk |
| Jodhpur Airport (JDH) | About 5 km | Prepaid taxi or app cab to clock tower, then walk |
| Mehrangarh Fort | Roughly 1.5–2 km | Short drive or uphill walk |
What to see at the stepwell and around it
The main sight at Toorji Ka Jhalra is the geometry of the stepwell itself: tiered, zigzag flights of sandstone steps drop on three sides toward the water, with a carved façade on the fourth. The clean-up re-exposed long runs of relief carving that had been hidden under grime.
According to a conservation account of the site, the inner walls carry carvings of deities, animals and figurines, with water spouts shaped like cows or bulls and like lions, plus niches that once held festival lamps, and viewing galleries, pavilions, chhatris (domed kiosks) and jharokhas (projecting balconies). Local teenagers are known to leap from the steps into the pool in summer, and in 2019 the stepwell featured in a Red Bull cliff-diving event, per the same source. Swimming is informal and unsupervised; treat the water and the steep edges with care.
| Spot | What it is | Time to allow |
|---|---|---|
| Toorji Ka Jhalra | The carved stepwell and its steps | 30–45 min |
| Stepwell square / café terraces | Cafés and shops overlooking the tank | 45–90 min |
| Gulab Sagar | Adjacent 18th-century water tank | 15 min |
| Ghanta Ghar & Sardar Market | Clock tower and the old city’s main bazaar | 1–2 hr |
The café square and the JDH regeneration
The square around Toorji Ka Jhalra is now a small café-and-shopping district, and that is a direct result of the stepwell’s revival. The clean-up was the pilot project of the JDH Urban Regeneration drive, an effort to bring life back to Jodhpur’s walled city. Reporting in The Better India and the Australian title Traveller describes the project as started by Kanwar Dhananjaya Singh, whose family has long ties to the city, with partners, and links the stepwell’s restoration to the neighbouring RAAS hotel; the work involved clearing hundreds of truckloads of rubbish before the carvings reappeared.
Since then, terraces overlooking the tank, the well-known Stepwell Café among them, along with restaurants and design-led boutiques (including a Forest Essentials store set in a restored old building nearby), have opened around the square. The result is a compact, walkable pocket where the monument and the cafés share one view. The precise year the stepwell clean-up finished is not stated consistently across sources, so this guide does not fix a date.
A short half-day plan
Toorji Ka Jhalra works best as part of an old-city morning or evening rather than a trip on its own. A simple plan:
- Early morning: reach the stepwell by about 7 am for quiet light on the carvings and photos without crowds.
- Mid-morning: coffee or breakfast at one of the terraces on the square overlooking the tank.
- Late morning: walk the 350 m to the Ghanta Ghar clock tower and browse Sardar Market.
- Evening alternative: return around sunset to see the stepwell lit, when the square is at its liveliest.
If you have more of the day, pair it with Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant Thada, both a short drive away and covered in the Jodhpur travel guide.
Where to stay
You do not need to stay beside the stepwell, but several options sit within walking distance in the old city. Prices below are indicative planning estimates per room per night and should be reconfirmed when you book; they are dated October 2026 and vary sharply with season and festivals.
- Budget (about ₹800–₹2,000): guesthouses and homestays in the old-city lanes; many have rooftops with fort views. Book ahead in peak winter.
- Mid-range (about ₹3,000–₹7,000): heritage-style boutique hotels and well-run havelis near the clock tower.
- Luxury (₹12,000 and up): the RAAS hotel sits beside the stepwell; rates rise steeply in the winter season.
Rooms around Christmas and New Year command the highest prices, so reserve early if you travel then.
Food to try nearby
The square’s cafés lean contemporary, but the old city around it is the place for Jodhpur’s street food. Look for:
- Mirchi bada (a batter-fried chilli-and-potato fritter) and pyaaz kachori (a flaky pastry stuffed with spiced onion).
- Mawa kachori (a sweet pastry filled with reduced milk solids and dry fruit, soaked in syrup).
- Makhaniya lassi (a thick, saffron-and-butter yoghurt drink) from a clock-tower shop.
- Dal baati churma (baked wheat dough balls with lentils and a sweet crumble), the Marwari staple, in a sit-down restaurant.
Eat where the turnover is high and the food is freshly fried, and carry small change for the market stalls.
Budget breakdown
Visiting the stepwell costs nothing; your spend is on getting there, a café stop and anything you buy in the market. The table gives a rough per-person half-day estimate for two people sharing transport. Figures are indicative planning estimates, dated October 2026 — reconfirm locally.
| Item | Estimate (₹) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stepwell entry | 0 | Free |
| Auto-rickshaw (station/old city return) | 100–200 | Agree the fare first |
| Café stop | 250–600 | Coffee and a snack on the square |
| Street food & market snacks | 100–250 | Mirchi bada, lassi, kachori |
| Shopping (optional) | Varies | Textiles, spices, crafts |
| Rough total | 450–1,050 | Excludes shopping and stay |
Permits, rules and etiquette
No permit is needed to visit Toorji Ka Jhalra, and there is no entry ticket; it is an open public space, not a ticketed monument. A few sensible rules apply all the same.
- The steps are steep, uneven and can be slick near the water — watch children and your footing.
- Swimming and jumping are informal and unsupervised; the water depth is substantial, so do not attempt it casually.
- This is a living neighbourhood and a shared public tank. Dress modestly, keep noise down and ask before photographing residents.
- Carry out your litter; the site’s whole story is its rescue from decades of rubbish.
Practical tips
A handful of things make the visit smoother:
- Timing: go at first light for photos and quiet, or at dusk for the lit tank and the café buzz.
- Getting in: the lanes are narrow; take an auto to the clock tower and walk the last few hundred metres.
- Money: cafés and larger shops take UPI and cards, but carry cash for street stalls and autos.
- Footwear: wear grippy shoes for the steps and the cobbled lanes.
- Solo and women travellers: the square is busy and well-used into the evening; stick to lit, populated lanes late at night, as anywhere.
- Medical: Jodhpur has large hospitals a short drive from the old city; ask your hotel for the nearest.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an entry fee for Toorji Ka Jhalra?
No. Toorji Ka Jhalra is free to visit. It is an open public stepwell and square in old Jodhpur, not a ticketed monument, so there is no entry charge and no counter. Your only costs are getting there, a café stop if you choose one, and anything you buy in the surrounding market, as of October 2026.
What are the opening hours of Toorji’s Stepwell?
Toorji Ka Jhalra has no fixed gate hours; the courtyard is an open space you can reach at any time. Daylight is best for seeing the carvings, while the evening, when the stepwell is lit and the cafés are busy, is the most atmospheric. Early morning is quietest for photography.
Who built Toorji Ka Jhalra and when?
Toorji Ka Jhalra was built in the 1740s, with one record giving 1748, by Queen Tunwar Ji, consort of Maharaja Abhay Singh Rathore of Marwar, whose reign is dated 1724–1749. The name is usually read as deriving from the queen, and spellings vary between Toorji, Tunwarji and Tawarji.
How deep is the Toorji stepwell?
Two independent sources describe Toorji Ka Jhalra as about 60 metres, or roughly 200 feet, deep, with zigzag flights of sandstone steps descending on three sides. One blog cites a figure near 100 metres, but that looks like an outlier and is not relied on here. The water level varies with season.
How do I get to Toorji Ka Jhalra from the clock tower?
It is about a 350 m walk. From the Ghanta Ghar clock tower and Sardar Market, head through the old-city lanes toward Gulab Sagar; the stepwell and its café square are a few minutes on foot. Vehicles cannot reach the doorstep, so autos drop you near the clock tower.
Can you swim in Toorji Ka Jhalra?
Local teenagers do jump and swim in the pool in summer, and the site hosted a Red Bull cliff-diving event in 2019, but swimming is informal and unsupervised. The well is deep and the steps are steep and slippery, so it is not a safe casual swim for visitors; watch rather than join in.
Last updated and sources
Toorji Ka Jhalra suits anyone drawn to Rajasthan’s water architecture and old-city life, and it rewards a short, early visit over a rushed one. Pair it with a Jodhpur old-city morning between October and March for the best of both.
Last updated: 24 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.
Sources: Aga Khan Development Network, “The revival of India’s stunning stepwells” (the.akdn); Living Waters Museum, “Steps of Curiosity” (livingwatersmuseum.org); Show Caves of the World, Toorji Ka Jhalra (showcaves.com); We Seek Travel, Jodhpur Stepwell (weseektravel.com); The Better India, Jodhpur’s stepwells revival (thebetterindia.com); Traveller (AU), RAAS Jodhpur and the stepwell (traveller.com.au); Domus, Forest Essentials store, Jodhpur (domusweb.it). Best-time guidance cross-checked against general Jodhpur travel sources; for exact climate figures consult the India Meteorological Department. Accessed September 2026.
