Bundi

Bundi is located in the Hadoti region of Rajasthan and is home to many beautiful palaces and majestic forts. Many local tribes used to live in this area in the olden times. Bundi was once known as ‘Bunda-Ka-Nal’, which means ‘narrow ways’. The name of this town was derived from a man from the Meena tribe who was known as Bunda Meena. Bundi is full of natural splendor that you want to explore once you are here. The breathtaking beauty of this town has inspired many writers and artists. If you want to learn about the culture of Rajasthan through its beautiful palaces and temples, you must visit Bundi during your Rajasthan tour.

Best Places to Visit in Bundi

Some of the popular places to explore in Bundi are as follows:

Taragarh Fort

This is one of the spectacular places to visit in Bundi. The fort was founded by Rao Deva. Also called ‘Star Fort’, the Taragah fort is situated on a hill and provides a panoramic view of Bundi. This fort is situated at a height of 1430 feet. Once you are here, you will see three gateways at the entrance of the fort. You will get to see the Rani Mahal here, which was constructed exclusively for the wives of the rulers. This place looks quite beautiful when the sun sets. Sadly, a large portion of this fortress is now in ruins.

Moti Mahal

Bundi is situated in the Hadoti region and is located 250 km away from the city. It is 39 km away from Kota. Moti Mahal is one of the enchanting places to explore in Bundi. This palace was taken over by two kings, namely Rao Raja Umed Singh and Rao Raja Chhatrasal. The palace is an architectural marvel that houses lush gardens and beautiful stepwells. In the nineteenth century, Ajit Singh captured this fort and constructed a beautiful garden and a large Shiva temple near it.

Garh Palace

This is one of the largest palaces in the country, which is known for its breathtaking architecture. Garh Palaces house many other palaces that include Phool Mahal, Badal Mahal, Chhatra Mahal, etc. However, the most popular of them all is Chitrashala, which has a gallery of beautiful wall paintings.

Sukh Mahal

Situated on the periphery of Jait Sagar Lake, Sukh Sagar Mahal was constructed during the reign of Umed Singh. People believe that the old palace and Sukh Mahal are connected through an underground tunnel. One of the features of Sukh Mahal is a white umbrella, which is located on the second storey of this monument.

Chaurasi Khambon ki Chhatri

Constructed by Rao Anirudh Singh in 1683, this monument is another unique place to visit in Bundi. This edifice was built to honor the services of a nurse named Deva. This structure is installed on a podium and has two storeys. It is one of the most sacred places for Hindus. You will find many images on the pillars of this structure that exhibit the lifestyle of the royal people of the 17th century.

Nawal Sagar Lake

This lake is another important tourist destination that you can explore in Bundi. Many baoris surround this lake from all sides. A temple is located at the center of Nawal Sagar Lake. Dedicated to Lord Varuna, this temple attracts a large number of people from different regions of the country. One of the features of this temple is that it is partly under the lake. Thus, the devotees need to take a boat to reach here. Nawal Sagar Lake was constructed to offer water to several step wells that have water scarcity. You can view the beauty of Nawal Sagar Lake from the Taragarh Fort.

Shikhar Burj

It is a beautiful watch tower that was built in the seventeenth century to monitor the movements of enemies. This watchtower also provides panoramic views of beautiful surroundings. This is a beautiful monument that you should not forget to visit during your Bundi tour. It offers valuable information about the rich cultural history of the city.

Best Time to Visit Bundi

It is important to know about the weather conditions in Bundi before planning your trip. If you are aware of it, you can enjoy a great time in Bundi. You can visit Bundi in the following seasons:

Winter Season (October to March)

This is the ideal time to visit Bundi as the weather is cool and pleasant during this period. As the weather conditions are favorable in the winter season, you can easily explore Bundi without worrying about the extreme heat.

Monsoon Season (July to September)

Bundi receives moderate to heavy rainfall in the monsoon season, which makes it difficult for visitors to explore it. However, if you are short of budget, you must choose this season to visit this town. The reason behind it is that you will get attractive discounts during this period.

Summer Season (April to June)

This is the least favorable time of the year to visit Bundi, as it is extremely hot here. The temperature rises up to 45 degrees Celsius, which makes it difficult for the travelers to explore the worth-seeing places in Bundi.

Best Shopping Destinations in Bundi

Some of the best shopping destinations to explore in Bundi are as follows:

Main Bazaar

One of the most visited markets in Bundi is its Main Market, which showcases the rich heritage of Rajasthan. You will find a wide range of items in the market that you would love to buy when you are here. You can buy beautiful cloth carpets from here, which are available in vibrant colors and patterns. Apart from these carpets, you can also buy beautiful miniature paintings, wooden toys, vibrant odhnis, stone statues, and traditional Kota sarees from here.

Chaumukha Bazaar

It is the largest bazaar in this area and is another famous tourist destination in Bundi. You can buy a wide range of articles in the market, such as papier mache puppets, cotton carpets, lac bangles, cotton carpets, wooden decorative items, Kota Doria Sarees, etc. The Kota Sarees are made with the help of cotton and have square design motifs.

Sadar Bazaar

It is also one of the famous markets of Bundi. The market is lined with many beautiful monuments and temples. Sadar Baazaar is a good market that is visited by a large number of tourists who come here from different regions of the country.

Gopal Singh Plaza

This is a famous shopping complex in Bundi, which is full of modern amenities. You will find many shops here, such as restaurants, ATMs, coffee shops, etc. Apart from them, you will also find other shops that sell a variety of important things.

Thathera Bazaar

This Bazaar is stretched for half a kilometer and is one of the largest utensil markets in Bundi. You will also find decorative items of steel and iron in this market once you are here.

How to Reach Bundi?

Here are the ways through which you can reach Bundi:

How to Reach Bundi by Air?

You can reach Bundi conveniently by air. While Bundi does not have an airport, you can arrive at the Kota airport and reach Bundi from there. Kota airport is approximately 40 km from Bundi. All major cities offer flights to Kota. You can also arrive at Udaipur Airport and reach here from Bundi. The distance between Udaipur and Bundi is approximately 290 km. After arriving at an airport, you can book a cab or taxi and reach Bundi without any difficulty.

How to Reach Bundi by Road?

Bundi is connected with all major areas of the country through a good road network. It is easily accessible to all tourists, as the roads that lead to Bundi are in good condition. Thus, the tourists do not face any difficulty while reaching here. Bundi is approximately 40 km from Kota and 220 km from Jaipur. However, if you are coming here from Delhi, you need to cover approximately 475 km to reach here. You can also take a bus from Delhi to Bundi and reach here comfortably. However, the bus will take approximately 9 hours to reach here.

How to Reach Bundi by Train?

Bundi is well-connected to all regions of the country through a good rail network. You can find many trains from the major cities to the Bundi railway station. However, most trains do not stop here but at Kota Junction. This railway station is approximately 39 km away from Bundi. This town is directly connected with several cities such as Meerut, Nagpur, Jaipur, Udaipur, Mandsor, Kolkata, etc. Bundi railway station is approximately 4 km away from the main town.

Getting Around

By Walking

Most people prefer exploring Bundi by walking. While walking, they can also communicate with the local people and learn about their lifestyle and culture.

By Cycle and Bike

If you do not want to explore Bundi on foot, you can rent a bicycle or a motorbike on rent. A bicycle and a bike ride will help you explore this town conveniently.