Bundi (Population: 88,000) is a historical town situated in the Hadoti region of Rajasthan at 35 KM from Kota and 210 km from Jaipur. The town is famous for its particular architectural beauty of ornate forts, palaces and step well reservoirs known as baoris. Bundi lies near a narrow gorge and is surrounded on three sides by hills of the Aravalli Range. A substantial wall with four gateways encircles the city.

History
The area was apparently inhabited by various local tribes; one of them is the Parihar Meenas. Bundi, the princely state are said to derive its name from a former Meena king called Bunda Meena. It was also previously called “Bunda-Ka-Nal", Nal meaning “narrow ways”.

The Hadas had settled in the region in the 12th century and dominated the area for several centuries thereafter. Bundi was conquered by them in 1241 and nearby Kota in 1264. At one time, the Hada-ruled state of Bundi encompassed the present-day districts of Baran, Bundi, Kota, and Jhalawar. Over the next 200 years subsequent rulers formed a close alliance with the Sisodias of Mewar, inter-marrying with and assisting them during times of war.

After the two younger brothers of Rao Bundu (1470 to 1491) converted to Islam they rebelled and sent him into exile. After his father’s death 11 years later his son Narayan Das set out with small group of loyalists to take back the throne. Pretending to be paying his respects, he left his followers outside the fort and armed only with a lance and sword he approached his uncles who felt secure enough to have no guards present. When they apprehended what he intended to do they fled for a safety but Narayan Das was too quick and speared one while killing the other with his sword.

Rao Surjan (1554-85) surrendered Ranthambore Fort which was governed on behalf of the Sisodias to Akbar in 1533. He was subsequently rewarded by Akbar with additional territory which expanded his kingdom. Rao Surjan and his successors entered the service of the Mughals and became one of their closest allies. From this time the rulers of Bundi bore the title of “Rao Raja“.

One of the most notable rulers was Rao Rattan Singh (1607-31) who had experienced the service during the reign of the Emperor Jahangir. Mughal Prince Khurram rebelled against his father and gained the support of 22 Rajput princes. But Rattan Singh stayed loyal to Jahangir. He defeated Prince Khurram at the battle of Burhanpur during which two of his sons were badly wounded. As a reward for his service Jahangir gave Rattan Singh many honours. Rattan Singh carved out of Bundi sufficient land to create for Madho Singh the independent principality of Kota, since Madho Singh, his 14 year old son having proven himself during the suppression of the rebellion as a courageous warrior. Despite the loss of land to the new kingdom Rattan Singh retained sufficient territory and revenues to begin construction of the Garh palace. Part of Kota was later used to create the separate Jhalawar state in 1838.

Rao Chhattar Sal (1632-58) built the temple of Keshavarao at Patan and Chattra Mahal at Bundi. He was in service with the Mughal forces in the Deccan and was trusted by Dara Shikoh with governorship of Delhi, a rare privilege for a Rajput. He remained loyal to Shah Jahan and Dara Shikoh during the rebellion of Aurangzeb despite many temptations and died fighting at the head of his troops at the battle of Samurgarh in 1658 along with his youngest son Bharat Singh. Rao
Bhao Singh (1658-78) the eldest son of Chhattar Sal succeeded his father to the throne of Bundi. When after the defeat of Dara Shikoh and his imprisonment of Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb became the Mughul emperor he dispatched troop under the command of Atmaram Gaur and Barh Singh Bundela to conquer Bundi. When they failed Aurangzeb made peace with Bhao Singh. Bhao Singh became sufficiently reconciled to Aurangzeb that he fought for him against Shivaji and at one time served as governor of Aurangabad. When his own son died during his lifetime he adopted Kishan Singh, the son of his brother Bhim Singh. When Kishan Singh too died early his 15 year old son Anirudh Singh (1682 to 1696) succeeded Bhao Singh on the throne.

Anirudh Singh served Aurangzeb in the Deccan and in the northwest under Prince Muazzam where he died. He was succeed by his eldest son Budha Singh, whose service to Muazzam (later Emperor Bahadur Shah I) in the war of succession to the Mughul throne saw the Bundi become dominate over Kota those ruler had backed the losing side.

During the reign of Rao Budh Singh (1696 to 1735) despite him being married to the sister of Jai Singh II of Jaipur, a bitter feud broke out between Bundi and the Kachwaha rulers of Amber (later called Jaipur) which lead to him being expelled from his kingdom by surprise attack by the Kachwaha forces in 1702. He regained and lost his kingdom four times before he died in exile while Jaipur and Kota annexed large portion of his territory. It wasn’t until 1739 before the Bundi rulers were able were able to regain control of their kingdom after enlisting the aid of Malbar Rao Holkar who kept the estate of Patan for his services.

Relations became uneasy with Mewar after Prince Ajit Singh the heir to the Bundi throne killed Rana Ari Singh of Udaipur during the annual Aheria (Bundi’s ritual spring hunt) in 1773. Through claimed to be an accident Mewar historical records consider that it was an assassination which removed an unpopular ruler.

Places of tourist’s interest

The Taragarh Fort or 'Star Fort' is the most impressive of the city's structures constructed in 1354 AD on the top of steep hillside overlooking the city. The largest of its battlements is the 16th century bastion known as the Bhim Burj, on which was once mounted a particularly large  cannon called Garbh Gunjam, or 'Thunder from the Womb'. The fort is a popular tourist viewpoint of the city below. The fort contains three tanks which never dry up. The technique with which they were built has been long since lost but the tanks survive as a testament to the advanced methods of construction and engineering in medieval India.

The Bundi Palace is situated on the hillside adjacent to the Taragarh Fort and is notable for its lavish traditional murals and frescoes. The Chitrashala (picture gallery) of the palace is open to the general public.

The largest of Bundi's baoris or stepwells is the intricately-carved Raniji ki Baori. Some 46 M deep, it was built in 1699 by Rani Nathavatji. The steps built into the sides of the water-well made water accessible even when at a very low level. The baori is one of the largest examples of its kind in Rajasthan.

The Step wells: There are over 50 step wells in Bundi, of which only a handful have been maintained. They used to be the only source of water for the town until a piped water system was introduced. After that these step wells were abandoned and the monuments fell into disrepair. Most of the former step wells inside the town have become garbage dumps, and are slipping out of the public consciousness.

The Nawal Sagar is a large square-shaped artificial lake in the centre of Bundi containing many small islets. A temple dedicated to Varuna, the vedic god of water, stands half-submerged in the middle of the lake. The lake feeds the numerous bavdis in the old city by creating an artificial water table.
The Nagar Sagar twin step wells are identical step wells crafted in pristine masonry on either side of the main spine of Bundi town. The kunds (pools) are currently full of waste from the ancient vegetable market in the vicinity.
The Dabhai Kund also known as the jail kund, is the largest of the kunds in Bundi. Though slightly overgrown, it is well worth a visit for the spectacular carvings on the numerous steps leading down to the water level.

This apart, there are several important places the tourists can visit with interest:
Sukh Mahal, Jait Sagar Lake, Phool Sagar, Keshar Bagh, Chaurasi Khambon ki Chhatri, Bundior Eighty four pillared cenotaph, etc.

Excursions:
Kedareshwar Dham (Bag Ganga), Keshoraipatan, Ramgarh, Bijolia, Menal, Talwas, Rameshwaram, Dugari, Indragarh, Namana- ridicules of pre stone age, Bardha Dam, Hindoli, etc.

Hotels in

The tourists may contact the hotels directly at the address indicated above, where the contact details have been provided by the hotels in the above table. Alternatively, please contact your travel agent (from the list under "Travel Services" in the main menu) who deals with the concerned hotel or you may contact ArrayTours for booking. For details, please log on to www.arraytours.com or  e-mail your queries to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or  phone +91 33 24416978, +91 9433253111.

Last Updated on Thursday, 11 November 2010 20:58