Phalodi News — Latest from Phalodi

Phalodi is a city in Phalodi district in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It serves as the district headquarters.

The city is also known as the "salt city" because of the salt industry in Rin.

Phalodi lies in the buffer zone of the Thar Desert and is often subject to extreme temperature conditions due to its arid climate.

The highest temperature recorded in Phalodi’s history is 51°C, which is the highest ever verified temperature in the country.

Phalodi was initially called Phalvardhika. In Vikram Samvat 1515, the Brahmin Shri Siddhuji Kalla founded the town by grace of Shri Maa Latiyal and named it Phalvaridhika, which was later renamed as Phalodi at the request of Phala, the widowed daughter of Shri Sidhu Kalla, who gave a generous contribution in cash to build the fort of Phalodi.

The town is situated on the Jodhpur–Jaisalmer railway line and is the second‑largest town in the district, serving as the sub‑divisional headquarters. It lies 142 kilometres from Jodhpur and had a population of 44,756 according to the 2001 census. The railway station was established in 1914, and National Highway 15 and State Highway No. 2 pass through the town, providing road and rail connectivity.

Phalodi’s history dates back to the mid‑15th century. In 1488, a fort was constructed by Hamir Singh, the grandson of Rao Suja, who carried out several developmental works. Earlier, in 1230, the Kalyan Raoji Temple was built, and the temples of Goddess Latiyal Devi and Shantinath are among the oldest in the town. The Parsnath Jain temple, established in 1847 by the Oswal Jain community, is notable for its stone construction without girders or RCC, and it incorporates old Belgium glass.

The town was originally part of Bikaner State. In 1615 it came under the control of Rao Sur Singh of Jodhpur State under the directorate of Shah Jahan and remained part of Jodhpur thereafter. Stone epigraphical inscriptions in the Kalyanji‑Ka‑Mandir indicate the existence of a town called Vijay Nagar Patan, now known as Phalodi. In 2008, a major renovation was carried out at the Latiyal Mata Temple, and a silver throne was made for Latiyal Mata.

Phalodi hosts a diverse population, with Sindhi Muslims predominant in rural areas and Pushkarna Brahmins in the city. Small industries thrive in the town, especially in the production of sodium salt and plaster of Paris, making Phalodi one of India’s largest salt suppliers.

Phalodi experiences a generally hot and arid climate, with a distinct rainy season that lasts from late June to September, classified as Köppen BWh. The temperature range is extreme throughout the period from March to October, though monsoonal rain can bring thick clouds that slightly lower the heat. In the months of April, May and June, high temperatures routinely exceed 40 degrees Celsius. During the monsoon season, average temperatures decrease slightly, but the city's low humidity rises, adding to the discomfort from the heat.

The most extreme temperatures were recorded in the summer of 2016, when from 18 May to 21 May the temperature rose up to 51 degrees Celsius, a record that remains the highest national temperature for that year.

Phalodi district, according to the 2011 census, had a population of 49,766 people. Of these, 26,003 were male and 23,763 were female.

The literacy rate in Phalodi was 61.81 percent, which is below the national average of 74.04 percent. Male literacy stood at 69.63 percent, while female literacy was 53.25 percent.

Children under the age of six made up 15.5 percent of the district’s population, indicating a significant young demographic within the community.

Phalodi railway station lies on the broad gauge line of the Delhi–Jaisalmer line. Trains passing through Phalodi include the Jaisalmer to Mumbai (Bandra Terminus) service, the Bikaner to Jaisalmer service, the Delhi to Jaisalmer service, and the Jodhpur to Jaisalmer service.

The town is connected by road to Jodhpur 135 km to the south, Bikaner 156 km to the north, Nagaur 145 km to the east, and Jaisalmer 165 km to the west. National Highway 15 skirts around Phalodi, and bus services have run continuously from Jodhpur and Bikaner, both about three hours away. A number of cabs or taxis ferry passengers from these places.

On 1 December 2013, Phalodi/Jaisalmer was directly connected with Mumbai with a weekly train. The train departed from Bandra Terminus (Mumbai) every Friday at 2:35 pm and reached Phalodi at 9:35 am.

Phalodi’s airport is 25 km from the city and is under Air Force control, making it inaccessible to the general public. The nearest civilian airports are Jodhpur, 130 km away, and Jaipur, 300 km away.

The city is very well connected via highways to other cities such as Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Ramdevra, and others.