India - Jodhpur Blue city

From the vantage of the Mehrangarh Fort we had a great view of Jodhpur and a better understanding of why it is also known as the blue city.



It is thought that Brahmins – members of the priestly class – first took to coloring their houses blue (indigo) to signify their domicile and to set them apart from the rest of the population. Soon, however, the rest of the population followed suit. History does not tell us which brave non-Brahmin was the first to do it, yet it happened and since that day the people of Jodhpur have steadfastly maintained this tradition.
Ask a local why all the houses are painted thus and the usual reply is that the color keeps the interiors cool and fends of mosquitoes. Yet if this truly worked then it would be quite likely that the whole subcontinent would be awash in various hues of indigo.




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