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Bundi - The Destination
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A
must-visit tourist destination during your Rajasthan
travel, Bundi, a small rustic town, is known
for its palaces, baolis (step wells)
and water tanks. The monuments and their architecture
reflect the brilliance of the local Rajput chiefs.
The walls of the palaces at Bundi are decorated
with life-size murals depicting the glory of
its rulers.
Sightseeing in Bundi opens a world of monumental
marvels, especially the Taragarh Fort.
The Taragarh Fort, built in 1354, with its imposing
structure of stone ,
is situated on a
steep hill and has massive
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battlements and ramparts. The fort welcomes
vacationers through an enormous gateway. Once
inside the fort, visitors can see the Bhim
Burj,
the largest battlement, and a huge water tank
carved out of solid rock. From the fort, you
can see the entire town.
The Taragarh Fort is a magnificent point to
see the sunset over the Rajasthan horizon. Bundi
Palace, which is situated on a hill, adjacent
to the Taragarh Fort, is known for its traditional
frescos. These murals give the traveler a glimpse
of the splendor and lifestyle of the rulers
of Bundi and their exploits. Though most parts
of the palace walls are decorated with traditional
murals, only the Chitra Shala area is open for
tourists.
Bundi is famous
for its waterworks. It has a number of impressive
baolis or step wells. Raniji-ki-Baoli, (Queen's
step well) is an important place to visit. It
is a 46-m-deep step well, built in 1699 by Queen
Nathavatji, and is known for its carvings. The
Nagar Sagar Kund, a pair of identical, step
wells is near Raniji-ki-Baoli, in the center
of the town. Nawal Sagar, the artificial lake
near the palace is a good tourist spot and one
can see a shrine at the center of this lake.
Other waterworks worth visiting are Dhabhai
Kund and Bhora-ji-ka-Kund.
Leaving the
fort behind one is left with the impression
best described by Rudyard Kipling who was so
fascinated by Bundi's palace and fortress that
he called it 'a work not of humans but that
of imps and goblins'.
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Bundi - Facts at a Glance
| State : |
Rajasthan |
| Area
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5628
sq kms |
| Temperature
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35.0°C
- 43.0°C (Summers)
5.0°C - 30.7 °C (Winters) |
| Altitude :
|
515 mts |
| Rainfall : |
75 cms |
| Language
: |
Rajasthani,
Hindi, English |
| Best
Season : |
August
- February |
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History of Bundi
Bundi was ruled by
the Had Chauhans- an offshoots of the famous
Chauhan clan who ruled Delhi and Ajmer.
In 1193 A.D. when Sultan Mohammed Ghauri
defeated Prithviraj Chauhan, some Chauhan
nobles sought shelter in Mewar and became
allies to the Rana while other young warriors
moved towards the Chambal valley and conquered
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, (from Bunda, a Meena chieftain),
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. Known
as the finest in Rajasthan, these are painted
in the Hara style of the Kota-Bundi school
of miniatures, and known for their brilliant
colors, elegant sense of design and their
masterful technique. Among favourite subjects
were court and hunting scenes and episodes
from the Radha-Krishna legends. The most captivating
one of these is Bundi maidens, bathing, pining
for absent lovers and indulging in the coquetry.
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