Jaswant Thada, Royal cenotaph near Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, India

Jaswant Thada is a cenotaph in Jodhpur, India, built entirely of white Makrana marble and rising near Mehrangarh Fort. The structure displays elaborate carvings on the facades, while pierced lattice screens decorate the walls and filter light into the interior chambers.

Maharaja Sardar Singh commissioned the monument in 1899 to honor his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, who introduced numerous changes in Jodhpur. The edifice later began a royal custom of building commemorative structures at this site for subsequent rulers.

The site is still the cremation ground of the Rajput royal family of Marwar, and the cenotaph of Jaswant Singh displays portraits of Jodhpur's rulers and Maharajas. The grounds hold three other cenotaphs, carved gazebos and a tiered garden beside a small lake. Local accounts call the marble memorial the Taj Mahal of Marwar.

The cenotaph stands on a hill beside Mehrangarh Fort, reached by a short climb; carry enough water and wear comfortable clothes, sunglasses and a hat against the sun. Allow one to two hours for a full visit. The grounds are open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

The thin marble sheets in the walls allow sunlight to pass through and create a warm glow inside the chambers. Craftsmen used traditional techniques to polish these translucent stone layers so they diffuse a soft brightness during the day.