Jodhpur, India
Jodhpur, the second-largest city in the northern state of Rajasthan, is known as the blue city, and it's easy to see why when you look down from the imposing Mehrangarh Fort that towers over the city.
Another entry in the "all-one-color" category is the Indian city of Jodhpur, which is a winding maze of blue-box houses situated beneath the imposing Mehrangarh fort. The indigo pigment, which was once used to indicate social status, stands out against the surrounding desert and appears especially magical at night.
The caste system that exists in India is responsible for the city of Jodhpur's blue, whitewashed homes. To set them apart from the homes of other castes, the priestly caste known as the Brahmins painted their homes in this shade of blue. All of the public now follows the tradition. The locals claim that the blue color has also served to ward off heat and mosquitoes.
The old neighborhood's quirky houses are all painted a lovely shade of blue. There are many theories as to why, including that the color deters termite attacks, keeps homes cool in the summer, or that Shiva devotees painted their homes blue because they believed it to be a sacred color because Shiva's body turned blue after being poisoned.
The stunning Umaid Bhawan Palace, a former residence of the Maharaja of Jodhpur, is right on the city's doorstep. It is now a hotel, so you can stay there or just come in for lunch and pretend to be a maharaja or maharani for an hour or so.
