Bundi

Bundi is yet not a famous travel destination of Rajasthan but no tourist will ever regret coming to this small historic town. Encompassed by the Aravallis from its three sides and beautified by a picturesque lake, ethnic bazaars and temples, the place seems to capture a fairy tale view.

Commanding travelers' attention are medieval palaces and forts that represent Rajputana architecture. You will be amazed to see artistic jewels such as murals and cupolas adorning the palace. The temples here features carved pillars as well as chhatris. During the reigns of the Rajputs, it remained an important capital but its importance lessened during the Mughal era. Bundi remained an independent town until its inclusion in Rajasthan in 1947.

History:
The town's history dates back to the 12th century when the Hadoti tribes, after being displaced from Ajmer by Mohammad Ghori, took the control of Bundi after dismantling the Meena and the Bheel Tribes from there. They separated a region from Bundi, calling it Kota. With the rise of Kota, Bundi lost its past glory but remained the administration capital for the Hadoti tribes. In 1624, the Mughals made Bundi a separate state. It continued as an independent kingdom under the Britishers, before becoming a part of Rajasthan in 1947.

Orientation:
Kota is located in the southern part of Rajasthan, at a distance of 36 km from Kota. Its main bus stand is located here, in Kota while the train station is located about 2km from the town on National Highway 12 (NH12). Locating the Bundi Palace is not a problem, as it is visible from many areas around the city gates and you can go there on foot from the Bazaar.

Information:
Though ATM s are available that accept international cards too (SBBJ ATM, outside Chogan Gate), but there is no particular bank to exchange traveler cheques and currencies in Bundi, so you should get your cash in rupees to be able to spend here. You will get your tour queries answered from the Tourist Office near Raniji ki Baori, where free maps of the town are also available. Internet cafes are available here, one of them is Cyber Dream that will charge you Rs 60 for an hour of Internet access.

Sights:
Bundi Palace:
One of the highlights of Bundi is the Bundi Palace, located adjacent to the Taragarh Fort and beyond the bazaar area. This palace is special for its gold and turquoise hued murals that is just a shadow of the royal past. Many of the murals narrate the immortal love of Krishna and Radha.

Though these murals decorate most of the palace, visitors can view only the Chitrashala. For having a glimpse of other marvelous walls, you will need a prior permission from the authorities. The entry to the Palace is from the mammoth Elephant Gate that was built in 1607. The Phool Mahal showcases murals depicting royal processions while the Badal Mahal has a Chinese styled ceiling.

Taragarh Fort:
A must visit site of Bundi is Taragarh Fort, also known as the Star Fort. It is located on a hilltop, that can be approached from a path convening from the Chitrashala of the Palace. You can peacefully wander around here and observe the testimonies dating back to 14th century. Inside the fort, the most captivating site is of Bhim Burj, which is a large battlement holding a cannon and rock carved reservoirs within its premises. The best time to visit the fort is during evening, when the sunset shades seem to lend an unmatchable sheen to the entire view from the top of the fort.

Baoris & Water Tanks:
Baoris are the step wells that Bundi is famous for. Around 60 pretty baoris dot the town, but only a few are in the maintained state. The most impressive and one of the largest is Raniji ki Baori which is a 46 m deep well built in 1699 by Rani Nathavji. Nagar Sagar Kund and Nawal Sagar are other Baoris that are of prominence.

A 16th century tank called Bhoraji ka Kund, is laid out just opposite to Abhaynath Temple devoted to Lord Shiva. One can have a view of rare species of avi fauna here including Humming Birds and Kingfisher.

Other Attractions:
Apart from the above mentioned sights, other attractions of Bundi include the stately Sukh Mahal, Phool Sagar Palace, Jait Sagar Lake, Sar Bagh and the still inhabited by the royal family, Moti Mahal. Shikar Burj, a former hunting lodge of the maharajas and the 84 pillared cenotaphs situated in the south of town are also a must see of Bundi.

You can shop around in the vibrant bazaars of Bundi that offer famous Kota paintings and Doria sarees. You can take back the medieval charm of the place in the form of stone statues, wooden toys and lac bangles, readily available in the markets here.

Activities:
Natural Plant based remedies and other Ayurveda treatments can be availed from the famous Ayurved Hospital, situated opposite Baj Bhushanjee's Haveli.

Sleeping & Eating:
Many guest houses and mid-range hotels are available in Bundi, that provide comfy rooms and good facilities, but there are no top end hotels here. You can book any one of them after comparing their charges and facilities, but do not come under the pressure of taxi drivers because they generally run on commissions from these guest houses.

Haveli Katkoun House, Bundi Tourist Palace, Lake View Paying Guest House, Royal Retreat and Kishan Nivas are some of the Budget hotels here. Haveli Braj Bhushanjee and Badi Haveli offer mid range hotel facilities offering a stay in royal rooms having mural-decorated walls and antique furnishings.

Getting There & Away:
Bus:
Express buses connect Bundi to other places of Rajasthan like Ajmer (1 hr), Sawai Madhopur (4 ½ hrs), Jodhpur (10 hrs), Jaipur (5 hrs) and Bikaner (5 hrs). Buses to Pushkar, Indore and Udaipur are also available. National Highway (NH 12) connects Bundi and Jaipur via Sanganer and Tonk.

Train:
The nearest and most convenient railhead to Bundi is at Kota, which is 38 kms from the town. It connects Bundi to Delhi and Mumbai by August Kranti and Mumbai Rajdhani. Jaipur Kota Fast Passenger can be taken to reach Jaipur.

Getting Around:
For a sightseeing tour in Bundi, you can hire a taxi or an auto rickshaw. They may have an hourly charges for the same. A rickshaw to the train station will cost you around Rs 40 while for a trip to Akoda or Rameshwar, the taxi charges will be around Rs 200.