Since most of my professional and academic career has focused on Africa, I have had a bit of catching up to do in learning about the history and culture of India. Based on my research, here's a few fun facts about Jodhpur, India:
Fact #1: India is made up of 29 states; Rajasthan (where I'll be) is the largest state by area
Fact #2: Rajasthan which translates to "land of Kings" in English, is located in the northwest region of India (see map below)
Fact #3: Jodhpur is the largest city in Rajasthan, with a population of 1.2 million people
Fact #4: Jodhpur is known as the "blue city" for its beautiful blue painted buildings (see below)
Fact #5: Jodhpur topped Lonely Planet's 2014 list of most extraordinary places to visit in the world
Fact #6: Jodhpur is famous in India for its sweets -- my kind of city!
Fact #7: Jodhpur is also based within the Thar Desert; India's largest desert and the world's most densely populated desert (see below)
Fact #8: I'll be in Jodhpur through the Monsoon season (July - September), which is the rainiest time of the year with an expected 3-4 inches of rain a month (accounting for about 1/4 to 1/3 of total rainfall for the year). Temperatures will range between 75 - 105 degrees. Out in the desert, temperatures can reach upwards of 120 degrees.
Stay tuned to hear how I'm packing for the extreme heat!