Travel to Bundi
"Jeypore Palace may be called the Versailles of India; Udaipur's House of State is
dwarfed by the hill round it and the spread of the Pichola Lake; Jodhpur's House of
strife, grey tower on red rock, is the work of giants, but the Palace of Bundi, even in
broad daylight, is such a palace as men build for themselves in uneasy dreams - the work
of goblins rather than of men."
- Rudyard Kipling
Travel to Bundi, situated at a distance of about 37km north of Kota. The walled town of
Bundi is located in the north of the Hadaoti region and is bounded on three sides by
rugged terrain of the Aravalli hills. Its very name conjures up images of chivalry and
valiance. It served as the capital of the Hada Chauhans - an offshoot of the famed Chauhan
Dynasty which ruled Delhi and Ajmer.
Founded in 1241 AD, Bundi has remained unaltered in its medieval charm. An unspolit
place, it is one of the least explored of Rajasthan travel destinations. A land enriched
with history and culture, scenic grandeur, generations of persistent tradition, and
irresistible charm. All of this is the equation, which defines Bundi, Kipling's own
destination.
A travel to Bundi would take you to the city bounded by the Aravalli hills on the three
sides and surrounded by a gigantic wall with four gateways. It is replete with imposing
forts, historical monuments, majestic palaces, havelis, temples and chattris
with carved pillars. Besides these, a beautiful lake in the center of the town adds to its
beauty. Bundi is also famous for its intricate carvings and murals. All these make it a
far more enchanting travel destination than other more well known landmarks with which
Rajasthan abounds.
Col James Tod, the first British official ever to explore Rajasthan extensively, writes
in his Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan (1829) that the "coup d'oeil of the
castellated palace of Bundi, from whichever side you approach it, is perhaps the most
striking in India". The creamy stone domes, cupolas and bleached walls of the palace
justify Tod's impression. Built in the true Rajput style, it is one of the few royal
palaces in Rajasthan untouched by Mughal influence. Travel to Bundi would let you
experience all this and much more.
Bundi is the first stop in the Hadaoti region while coming from Jaipur. The nearest
airport is at Jaipur that is 245 km away. It is connected by rail with, Chittorgarh, Agra
and Nimach. The place is connected by road with major cities of Rajasthan. There are
regular bus services to Delhi, Ajmer, Chittorgarh, Jaipur, Indore, Jodhpur Kota, Jhalawar,
Bikaner, Udaipur, Nagaur, Ujjain, Alwar and Sawai Madhopur from Bundi. The best time to
visit Bundi is between the months of October and February, but one might also visit it in
July-August, when the Kajli-teej festival is celebrated here with much fanfare and gaiety. |