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Bundi is 36 km
from Kota is and is one of the unexplored cities with a
rich historical wealth. Once a part of Kota, it was ruled
by the Had Chauhans- an offshoots of the famous Chauhan
clan who ruled Delhi and Ajmer.
In 1193 A.D. when Prithviraj Chauhan was defeated by
Sultan Mohammed Ghauri, some Chauhan nobles seeked shelter
in Mewar and became allies to the Rana while other young
warriors move towards the Chambal valley and overpowered
the Meena and Bhil tribals-thus establishing their own
kingdom of Hadoti. Later, two branches of Hadas formed two
separates states of Kota and Bundi, on either side of the
river Chambal. Bundi is surrounded by the Aravalli hills
on the 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.
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.
Places to Visit
Taragarh or The Star Fort: Built in 1354 A.D., the fort is
one of the most impressive forts of Rajasthan. Perched on
a thickly wooded hill is a marvelloous white fort with a
huge reservoir which once supplied water to the palace.
The Palace: This magnificient edifice is a fine example of
the Rajput architecture, housing some of the superb Bundi
murals.
Ratan Daulat: Built by Rao Raja Ratan Singh,, it is a very
interesting structure forming a stable for nine horses and
a Hatia Pol. (Prior permission required for visit.)
Chhattar Mahal or Palace or Towers: A steep, paved
carafe-way is the only way to reach the monument. Of
special interest in the palace is the Hazari Pol or Gate
of the thousand, the Naubat Khana, the Hathi Pol with its
old water clock and the Diwann-e- Aam.
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 centre 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.
Chitrashala: A fascinating pavilion and a gallery of
minature murals embellish the palace.Elaborate colourful
paintings on the walls depict scenes from the 'Ragmala'
and 'Raaslila'-the Radha-Krishna story.
Raniji-ki-Baori: It is 46 m. deep stepped dwell with
some superb carvings on its pillars and a high arched gate
built in 1699 A.D. by Rani Nathavatji. This well is one of
the largest of its kind.
Sukh Mahal: A magnificient summer palace on the Sukh Mahal
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 Burj: The royal hunting lodge set amidst thel lush
surroundings. It is a favorite picnic spot.
Kshar Bagh: An ancient garden near the Shika Burj with
beautiful chhatris of the Bundi rulers and their queens
all examples of the town's rich architecture. (Prior
permission required for visit.)
Eighty Four Pillared Cenotaph: An amazingly magnificent
memorial with 84 pillars in a single cenotaph along with a
Shiva lingam. It was erected by Rao Anirudh.
Excursions
Jait Sagar Lake(3 km): A picturesque lake cradled in
the hills, built by Jaita Meena. The swirling fountain at
night a visual delight.
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. It was constructed
in the year 1601 A.D. by Maharaja Shartusal of Bundi. A
famous Jain Temple is also there.
Ramgarh (45 km): The Ramgarh Sanctuary is located on
the Nainwa road. One needs to take permission of the State
Forest Department prior to a visit to the sanctuary.
Bijolia (50 km): An ancient fort and the city of
Bijolia is situated on the Bundi- Chittaurgarh road. A
high paved courtyard on the side of the fort has a large
temple of Lord Shiva in its centre with a fine image of
Lord Ganesha standing as a guardian at the entrance. A
carved archway leads to the temple.
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
depict various Hindu deities. It is located on the
Chittaurgarh- Bundi road.
Talwas (53 km): A magnificent for 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.
Dugari (65 km): Remnants of ancient wall paintings can
be seen in the Ram Mandir within the imposing fort of
Dugari.
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 .
Access
Airways : Bundi has no airport of its own. The one at
Kota, lying at a distance of 40 km has not got any flight
yet. Jaipur's Sanganer is practically the nearest airport
(about 210 km away). For details see our section on Jaipur.
Railways : Train links exist between Bundi and Agra,
Kota, Chittaur and Neemuch. For enquiries contact Railway
Station
Roadways : The place is well connected by the state
highway and places. Some important road distances (approx)
are :
Ajmer : 170 km
Chittaur (via Bijolia) : 155 km
Delhi (via Jaipur) : 470 km
Indore (via Kota,Jhalawar) : 370 km
Jaipur : 155 km
Jodhpur (via Ajmer, Jaitaran) : About 415 km
Kota : 40 km
Sawai Madhopur : 130 km
Udaipur : 310 km
Ujjain : 320 km |
