This post is part of a series of stories from the journey, where we share everyday moments that define Tours By Her’s way of traveling 🌿.
Jodhpur: the water and the women who shaped the city
Some cities are understood through their palaces.
Others through their markets.
Jodhpur reveals itself when you follow the path of water 💧—and the women 👣 who made life possible in the desert.
During our walking tour with Sambhali Walks, we uncover a lesser-known story: how water bodies sustained the city for centuries, and how many of these essential structures were commissioned by royal women, leaving a legacy that still shapes Jodhpur today.
Water as the foundation of urban life 🌿
In the arid landscape of Rajasthan, water has always meant survival. For centuries, Jodhpur developed an intricate system of lakes, stepwells (baoris), jhalaras, and tanks designed to collect and store monsoon rainwater 🌧️.
These spaces were more than functional infrastructure. They served as gathering places for rituals, social life, and daily routines. Water regulated the climate, connected neighbourhoods, and shaped the rhythm of the city.
Walking alongside them today invites us to imagine a Jodhpur deeply connected to its environment and to community life.
Women who led through care ✨
One of the most powerful insights of this walking tour is discovering that many of these water structures were commissioned by women.
Queens and influential royal women used their position to support public works that benefited the wider community:
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Gulab Rai, favourite of Maharaja Vijay Singh, commissioned Gulab Sagar, a large lake that continues to define its surroundings 💧.
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Rani Utamde and Rani Devvadijee supported the construction of Padamsar Lake, a vital water source in the old city.
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Rani Chand Kanwar built Chand Baori, an impressive stepwell linked to Jodhpur’s early development.
These projects were not symbolic gestures. They reflect female leadership, long-term vision, and a deep sense of responsibility toward community wellbeing. To build water was to build life 🌱.
[blockquote author=”” link=”” target=”_blank”]“For centuries, caring for water was a quiet yet powerful form of female leadership in Rajasthan.”[/blockquote]
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A legacy that speaks to today 🌍
Over time, many traditional water systems have been neglected or replaced by modern infrastructure. Yet water scarcity remains a pressing reality in Rajasthan.
These structures remind us that sustainable water management and community care are not new concepts, and they invite us to reflect on how we travel and engage with the places we visit.
Travelling with a female perspective 👣💛
This walking tour through Jodhpur is an invitation to see the city through a female lens, to honour overlooked histories, and to connect with place in a conscious and respectful way.
For us, travel is not just about seeing.
It’s about listening, understanding, and walking with intention ✨.
If you’d like to explore further the relationship between water bodies in Rajasthan and the role women played in their construction, we recommend this reference article:
👉 Water Architecture of Rajasthan – Sahapedia
This walking tour, lead by with Sambhali Walks, reflects the kind of experiences we promote at Tours By Her: walks led by local women, grounded in historical and social context, inviting travellers to explore destinations with awareness and purpose 🌍.
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