bundi

Location: 36-km From Kota, Rajasthan
Tourist Attractions: Forts, Palaces, and Havelis & Temples
Festive Attraction: Kajli Teej
Best Time To Visit: August-February
The Undiscovered Splendor: 36-km from Kota is a tiny picturesque town, Bundi, which is one of the unexplored cities, with a rich historical wealth. Once a part of Kota, it was ruled by the Hada Chauhans - an offshoot of the famous Chauhan clan who ruled Delhi and Ajmer.
In 1193 AD, when Sultan Mohammed Ghauri defeated Prithvi Raj Chauhan, some Chauhan nobles sought shelter in Mewar and became allies to the Rana while other young warriors moved towards the Chambal Valley and over powered the Meena and Bhil tribals - thus establishing their own kingdom of Hadoti. Later, two branches of Hadas formed two separate states of Kota and Bundi, on either side of the River Chambal.
Bundi is surrounded by the Aravalli hills on three sides and is circumscribed by a massive wall with four gateways.
Interesting monuments including impressive medieval forts, palaces, Havelis, temples with beautiful stone idols and 'chattris' with carved pillars, along with a picturesque lake in the heart of the town, add to its charm. Bundi is very famous for its intricate carvings and murals.

PRIME ATTRACTIONS

Taragarh Or The Star Fort: Built in 1354 AD, the fort is one of the most impressive forts of Rajasthan. Perched on a thickly wooded hill is a marvelous white fort, with a huge reservoir, which once supplied water to the palace.

The Palace: This magnificent edifice is a fine example of the Rajput architecture, housing some of the superb Bundi murals.

Chhattar Mahal or Palace Of Towers: A steep, paved carafe-way is the only way to reach the monument. Of special interest in the palace is the 'Hazari Pole' or 'Gate of the thousand', the Naubat Khana, the Hathi Pole with its old water clock and the Diwaan-e-Aam.

Ratan Daulat: Built by Rao Raja Ratan Singh, it is a very interesting structure forming a stable for nine horses and a HatiaPoi.

Chitrashala: A fascinating pavilion and a gallery of miniature murals embellish the palace. Elaborate colorful paintings on the walls depict scenes from the 'Ragamala' and 'Raaslila' - the Radha-Krishna story.

Ranlji-Ki-Baori: It is 46 m deep stepped well with some superb carvings on its pillars and a high arched gate built in 1699 AD by Rani Nathavatji. This well is one of the largest of its kind.

Sukh Mahal: A magnificent summer palace on the Sukh Sagar Lake amid the lush surroundings of a beautiful garden. An underground tunnel is believed to run from the Sukh Mahal to the old palace.

Phool Sagar: The 20th century palace, with an artificial tank and picturesque gardens. Presently, it is the residence of the former ruler (Prior permission of Secretary is required for a visit.)

Shikar Buri: The royal hunting lodge set amidst the lush surroundings. It is a favorite picnic spot.

Eighty-four Pillared Cenotaphs: An amazingly magnificent memorial with 84 pillars in a single cenotaph along with a Shivlingam. Rao Anirudh erected it. 

GARDENS

Kshar Bagh: An ancient garden near the Shikar Burj with beautiful 'chhatri' of the Kshar Bagh, an ancient garden for the Bundi rulers and their queens - all examples of the town's rich architecture. (Prior permission required for visit.)

LAKES

Nawal Sagar: Visible from the fort is the square artificial lake of Nawal Sagar broken up by islets, a temple dedicated to Varuna, the Aryan God of Water stands half-submerged in the center of the lake. The reflection of the entire city and its palaces can be seen in the lake - making it a unique attraction of Bundi.

EXCURSIONS

LAKES: Jait Sagar Lake (3-km): A picturesque lake cradled in the hills, built by Jaita Meena. The swirling fountain at night is a visual delight.

TEMPLES

Rameshwaram (20-km): The cave temple of Lord Shiva surrounded by the Aravalli ranges. An ideal picnic spot as well.

Keshavraipatan (45-km): It is an ancient city famous for the temple of Keshavraiji (Vishnu). The architecture and sculpture at this temple is unique.
Maharaja Shatrusal of Bundi constructed it in the year 1601 AD. A famous Jain temple is also there.

WILDLIFE

Ramgarh (45-km): The Ramgarh Sanctuary is located on the Nainwa Road. One needs to take permission of the State Forest Department to pay a visit to the sanctuary.

FORTS

Bijolia (50-km): An ancient fort and the city of Bijolia are situated on the Bundi-Chittaurgarh Road. A high paved courtyard on the side of the fort has a large temple of Lord Shiva in center with a fine image of Lord Ganesha standing as a guardian at the entrance. A carved archway leads to the temple.

Talwas (53-km): A magnificent fort built by the ruler Ajit Singh. A temple of Dhooleshwar Mahadev and a picturesque waterfall adjoining the fort are worth a visit. The beautiful Ratna Sagar Lake is close by and is a haven for fauna like bear and deer during the monsoon.

Indragarh (77-km): The Indragarh Fort and the nearby palaces are famous for the temples of Mother Goddess Kali and Kamleshwar. The palace is also famous for wall paintings.

RIVERS

Menal (70-km): The Menal River runs over a bed of granite slabs and plunges into a cavernous 122 metres deep gorge.
On the other side of the broken wall is the temple complex with fascinating carvings on the walls of the shrine that depicting various Hindu deities? It is located on the Chittaurgarh-Bundi Road.

OTHERS

Dugari (65-km): Remnants of ancient wall paintings can be seen in the Ram Mandir, within the imposing fort of Dugari.

HOW TO GET THERE

Air: Jaipur at 206-km is the nearest airport.
Rail: Bundi railway Station at 5-km and Kota at 36-km are the two convenient railheads from Bundi.
Road: Good road connections link Bundi with important places around.
Local Transport: Auto-rickshaws are available for commutation purpose within the city.

PLACES TO STAY

RTDC Hotel Vrindavati. Like hotel accommodation options are available in Bundi. There is a Paying Guest accommodation available too.

FAIRS & FESTIVALS

Kajli Teej (July/August): The celebrations of the festival are different than the usual Teej festivities. Unlike Teej, which is celebrated on the third day of the month of Shravana, Kajli Teej is celebrated on the third day of the month of Bhadra.
An exuberant procession of Teej in a decorated palanquin starts from the beautiful Naval Sagar and culminates at the Azad Park.
Cultural performances by the local artists as well as by artists from Hadoti region are pan of the celebrations. Though the Teej procession is carried out for only two days, the festivities continue till the eighth day, finally ending on Janmashtami, the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna.

NEARBY CITIES

GENERAL INFORMATION

Area: 5,628-sq-km 
Altitude:515m
ClimateMax Min