Jaswant Thada in Jodhpur

Red sandstone stairs led up to the chessboard checked courtyard of the neat white marble cenotaph. Dedicated to Maharaja Jaswant, II of Jodhpur (1873-1895) by his on Maharaja Sardar Singhji (1895-1911). This memorial was built in 1899. Inside, the reverent ambience is framed with several portraits of Jodhpur royalty. It is a peaked structure from the outside with precise trelliswork and excellent carving. Owing to its beauty the memorial in Marble, often described as the "Taj Mahal of Marwar". Earlier the last rites of the Rulers of Jodhpur were performed at Mandore, the old capital of Marwar. After the demise of Maharaja Jaswant Singh they were performed at Jodhpur itself. Besides the cenotaph of Maharaja Jaswant Singh, there are smaller cenotaphs to the east. Beautiful marble jali (lattice) work has been done on them. These cenotaphs mark the spots where his successors were cremated. In keeping with the tradition of worshipping the ancestors by the Rajput clan, the memorial has been built like a temple where Puja is performed and photographs of the deceased Rulers are displayed. Jaswant Thada is a short distance from the fort road. There is a water-body on the west of the complex, still used by the Royal Family for ritual bathing after a cremation; it is referred to as the Dev-Kund.