Last Updated on November 5, 2022 by admin
Wondering if Bundi is worth the visit? Check out these places to visit in Bundi through this Bundi blog to know more.
Whether you are taking a transit break in Bundi, Rajasthan, or want to explore this offbeat place in Rajasthan, Bundi is a treasure trove of architectural spaces.
While Jaipur and Udaipur are grander in size and places, Bundi is a small yet impactful version of what Rajasthan has to offer.
Bundi can be best explored at a slow pace on foot. The narrow streets and labyrinth alleys are waiting to be discovered with gems.
I stopped here for half a day while on the way back to Ahmedabad from Ranthambore.
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Bundi Tourist Places | Best Places to visit in Bundi
A Fort, palace, stepwells and the entire town painted in colors is how the town treats visitors. The best thing about this town is the opportunity to stay in a haveli from yesteryears.
Known as the “city of step wells”, Bundi is home to over 50 stepwells, mostly dotted throughout the city and surrounds, and visiting the popular ones is one of the best things to do in Bundi.
Read more about places to visit in Bundi.
Walking Tour in Bundi
I love exploring new places on foot because that’s where you discover offbeat things. Unlike guided heritage tours like Ahmedabad Heritage Walk, a walking tour in Bundi is a self-walk.
Bundi encourages visitors to walk because honestly it is difficult to drive a car in those narrow lanes. 2 cars cannot pass parallel and there are other blockages like dogs, cows, and 2-wheelers on the road.
Bundi is a fascinating old town, situated under the imposing Garh Fort. It is best to explore the town in the late afternoons or early mornings to get the real flavor. A tea vendor boiling his finest ginger tea, dogs intermingling with the road traffic, women chit-chatting with each other about the latest television episode, monkeys looking for an opportunity to snatch food from unattended carts – all of this amongst the colourful painted houses.
If you are a street photographer or an artist, you are in for a real treat as there are ample opportunities to click and paint in Bundi!
The friendly locals also chat about the place you come from, casually asking about which places you have been to and will be visiting in Rajasthan.
Garh Palace, Bundi
Exploring the historic Garh palace complex is one of the best things to do in Bundi. The palace overlooking the city is a treat in itself.
Constructed by Rao Raja Ratan Singh in the early 16th century, this was a grand palace once a time. However, the Garh Palace of Bundi is presently in ruins. As compared to the other palaces in Rajasthan such as City Palace Jaipur, City Palace Udaipur, Udai Bhawan Palace Jodhpur, Bundi palace is not in great shape.
Some of the places have been restored while some still portray the bygone era – faded frescos, colourful walls, ruined sculptures, etc.
I recommend taking a guided tour of the Grah Palace and Taragarh Fort as this will provide you with a great understanding of the history and importance of the monument. Guides can be arranged at the entrance to the Palace, or at your hotel.
Some of the must-visit places in Garh Palace Bundi are:
Hathi Pol
The first gate after getting the entry ticket in Hathi Pol. One has to climb a rather steep inclination to reach here.
The impressive entry to the Garh palace, Hathi Pol is made up of two elephants depicted blowing bugles. A security guard will check entry tickets and also enter details in a visitor’s diary such as name, contact number, and where you came from.
The courtyard is not very impressive and has plain walls with arches. It is actually a stable for nine horses and elephants.
Ratan Daulat
A royal court, built in a manner that it forms stables for nine horses and elephants.
Singhasan or Hall of Public Audience
The Hall of Public Audience is a white marble coronation throne installed in a big hall of pillars. It overlooks the stables below.
Chhatra Mahal
The main attraction of Chhatra Mahal is the miniature murals in bright colours inside an arch. The side of the ceilings is also painted in beautiful frescoes with blue paint. Besides this, each pillar in this place has four wooden elephants on the top, and doors are made with glass and ivory work. The frescoes here reminded me of the Frescoes of Tambekar Wada, Vadodara.
Viewpoint
It is a vantage point from the palace that gives a bird’s eye view of the entire Bundi city along with the lake. On the other side, part of the fort wall is also visible.
Phool Mahal
Phool Mahal is divided into two storeys – the lower one is Phool Mahal and the upper one is Badal Mahal. Both were used by Queens of the Bundi state. Phool Mahal has exquisite paintings on the walls and ceiling of the palace – some of Bundi Palace’s finest miniature paintings. They’re the best-preserved paintings in the complex. There are even mirrors placed on the pillars and walls.
Badal Mahal
The Palace’s crowning glory is the Badal Mahal. Depicting scenes from Indian mythology, the small room is filled with colourful and intricate murals from the ceiling to the walls. The paintings date back to the late 16th century.
These wall paintings reminded me of Mattancherry Palace Museum in Fort Kochi wherein efforts are being taken to preserve them. I wish the same in done for the spectacular paintings in Badal Mahal in Bundi.
Chitrashala
Although Chitrashala is part of the Garh Palace and Taragarh fort complex, entry to this place is separate and free!
Chitrashala literally translates to the art gallery, and one has to take major efforts to reach here. And it is worth it!
Visitors have to go down the slippery inclination of Garh Palace and climb the next to reach Chitrasala all the while being brave passing through the army of monkeys!
Chitrashala is hands down the best places to visit in Bundi. The entire hall is lined with murals, wall paintings, and artworks related to Hindu mythology, recreational scenes, and warfare.
As soon as I climbed the steps to enter this gallery, a security guard instructed me – no flash photography and no videos. I nodded as I started observing the paintings. Probably my inquisitiveness made him explain some of the depictions.
Scenes from Ramayana and Krishna Leela adorned the walls and ceiling with real gold and silver elements used in them. He even pointed out to the garden outside saying that one painting here depicts the same.
I was spellbound by the murals and mirrorwork on the walls and ceilings of the Chitrashala. They were very impressive and maintained quite well.
It was 5 pm by the time I finished observing every painting minutely in Chitrashala and tipped the guard for sharing his knowledge with me. I inquired if I should take up the hike to Taragarh fort and he asked me if I am alone. He advised me not to go alone as I won’t be able to guard myself against the monkey army, plus very few tourists would be there so it would not be safe as it would get dark soon. I agreed to his premise and skipped going to the top of the fort.
Taragarh Fort, Bundi
Taragarh Fort is the amalgamation of Mughal, Rajput, and colonial styles of architecture.
Located above Bundi Palace, the Taragarh Fort mostly lies in ruins. It provides the best views of the city. Although it’s also in a state of decay, it is worth the walk to look down upon the blue hues of this colourful city.
Nawal Sagar Lake
The first thing that every visitor will see while coming to Bundi is Nawal Sagar Lake and the reflection of Garh Palace in its pristine waters. It is a square-shaped artificial lake. There is a small temple in the corner of the lake.
There are many cafes and homestays around this offering a lake view. I feel visitors can take a walk and chill at the banks in the evening.
Raniji-ki-Baori
Honestly, I had high expectations from Raniji-ki-Baori thanks to Instagram reels. The expectations were high because of my visit to the grander and amazing stepwells such as Rani-ki-vav, Patan, Panna Meena ka Kund, Jaipur, Agrasen ki Baoli, Delhi and Sevasi Vav, Vadodara. All of them have intricate carvings and are very well maintained.
However, I was taken aback by the stinking water as soon as I entered Raniji-ki-Baori. The unbearable stench from the rotting water was extremely unsettling and all I could think about was the neglect of such a beautiful place. This private bath of one of Bundi’s queens now lies in shambles.
In spite of the stink, Raniji-ki-Baori is the most beautiful stepwell in Bundi. Constructed in the early 16th century by Queen Nathavati, the stepwell is multi-tiered and 150 feet deep. Depending upon the monsoon the level of water in the stepwell is low or high.
The stepwell has intricate arches with elephants on the corner pillars giving it a very royal look. There are a few intricate carvings in the shape of temples on the stepwell walls.
Dabhai Kund
Bundi visiting places includes another stepwell called Dabhai Kund. I was excited about visiting this one because of the invested pyramid shape like the Suraj Kund of Modhera Sun Temple. Unfortunately, the recent excessive spell of rain had filled enough water that none of the inverted steps were visible.
The algae-laden water also had visible trash suggesting that this was also not maintained.
84-pillared Cenotaph
Talking about Bundi tourist places, one cannot forget the 84-pillared cenotaph. Constructed in the 16th century by the Maharaja Rao Raja Anirudh in memory of his foster brother Deva, the structure is covered by a decorated roof that has 84 pillars.
The structure as such does not have any carvings but the outer walls have interesting sculptures. The cenotaph has a Shivling in the middle of the structure.
The Cenotaph is lit up in the evenings which is when it looks the best.
Lakshmi Nath Temple
Shri Laxminath is one of the oldest temples of Bundi. It graces the sacred sanctum of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi. Other than the beautiful idol, this temple has exquisite carvings on the outer wall.
Sukh Mahal and Jait Sagar lake
Sukh Mahal is one of the best places to visit in Bundi. It is said that the English novelist Rudyard Kipling spent a couple of days in this summer palace overlooking the Jait Sagar lake. Mr. Kipling spent a few days here and wrote parts of The Jungle Book in this palace.
The palace is a bumpy ride away from the town center but the views are worth the ride. Especially with the lotuses in full bloom in the Jait Sagar lake.
The complex has a garden with a sitting area and another seating place overlooking the lake and palace. The palace doesn’t have much to see other than some photos from yesteryears.
Bundi Government Museum
Situated in the Sukh Mahal complex, Bundi Government Museum has 3 small galleries – A sculpture gallery, a Miniature painting gallery, and a Weapon gallery.
It is a nicely maintained museum and can be visited when visiting Jait Sagar.
Places to visit near Bundi
Bhimlat falls
Things to do in Bundi and around include visiting Bhimlat waterfalls, a popular picnic spot for the locals as well as tourists. It is a welcome change from all the havelis, forts, and palaces of Rajasthan.
The waterfalls look alluring from the viewing gallery as well as from the water pool. Go for a swim in the refreshing water.
Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve
While Ranthambore National Park is one of the most frequently visited and popular tiger parks in Rajasthan, Ramgarh Vishdhari is the 4th tiger reserve in state. Ramgarh Vishdhari wildlife sanctuary is located 45 km from Bundi town.
The sanctuary is rich in biodiversity and also has good architecturally rich places such as havelis, chattris, and temples, making it a must-visit.
Best time to visit Bundi
The best time to visit Bundi is during the months of winter that is October to March. Bundi has a semi-arid climate with high temperatures throughout the year which makes the summers long, hot, and dry. Summers are extremely harsh and last from March to June. Monsoons are a bit pleasant but it is still humid and uncomfortable.
Where to stay in Bundi
The best thing about Bundi is that it is a small town. There are hardly any hotels here but old family mansions (locally known as Haveli) turned into homestays or AirBnBs.
I chose to stay at Dev Niwas which was recommended by a lot of travelers and had good ratings online. The best part about the homestay is the view from their restaurant and terrace.
As it is in the small alleys of the town, the homestay owner provides a shuttle service from the palace parking area where one can park their car.
Situated in one of the most humble alleys, it is impossible to imagine that a small alley gives way to a huge 2-storeyed haveli with over 10 rooms. The courtyard has ample space overlooking the rooms and reception area. There are 2 kinds of rooms – Standard and Deluxe and both have enough space. The rooms and bathrooms are extremely clean and comfortable.
The homestay is artistically well-maintained with beautiful Rajasthani artifacts, weapons, and paintings.
A restaurant on the top floor overlooking the Garh Palace and Taragarh fort is the highlight as well as the distance – it is located only 500 meters from the fort. Basically, most attractions are within a walking distance from the homestay.
I highly recommend staying here. It can be booked here.
Other homestays worth staying are – Bundi Inn, The Castle View Homestay, Haveli Katkoun
How to Reach Bundi
Bundi is not a typical tourist place and that is exactly why there are no direct flights or trains to the town.
By Road
The best way to get to Bundi is via bus, with connections to Kota which is a bigger city. Kota is further connected to Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Ajmer.
If you’re heading to Bundi by road from Ranthambhore, take the route via Bijoliya and not Kota. the roads are very smooth and good without any traffic congestion. One can reach it easily within 2.5 hours.
By Train
Bundi station is located 4 km from center of town but has less connectivity. The best way to connect is via the town of Kota, which is 40 km away. Kota is on the main train line from Delhi to Mumbai, so getting a proper connection is much easier. Visitors can hire a taxi from Kota railway station to Bundi. Alternatively, local buses also ply the road.
By Flight
The nearest airport to Bundi is Jaipur (215 km) which has domestic and international connections. From Jaipur, one can take a train to Kota and then a taxi to Bundi or a direct bus.
Getting around Bundi
Bundi is an easy and inexpensive city to get around if you’re staying close to the center of town. While it is ideal to explore the town on foot, the open gutters and vehicle obstruction may suck the joy out of traveling.
Auto rickshaw
Auto rickshaw is an easy and inexpensive way to get around Bundi. Since I only had half a day to explore the town and certain highlights to visit, I decided to hire an auto.
He agreed to take us to 7 places in Bundi which would approximately take 2.5-3 hours (including waiting time) for INR 500. We were 4 people so it was a good deal for us. He dropped us at the Garh Palace and we decided to walk back from there.
FAQs for Places to visit in Bundi
Is Bundi worth visiting?
Bundi is definitely worth visiting if you are looking for authentic Rajasthani culture and bespoke architecture. Although it is beautiful, Bundi places lack maintenance so be warned that there be a lot of ruins, stinking water, open grey-water gutters and an army of monkeys. This does not deter tourists to come here.
Do’s and Don’ts for Things to do in Bundi
- Bundi and its nearby areas are extremely hot and humid during the day. I visited at end of October which is monsoon and yet it was not pleasant. It is best to carry a cap/hat/stole and sunglasses.
- Wear clothes that are loose, comfortable, and sweat-absorbing.
- Wear a pair of comfortable footwear as you will walk a lot covering all the places to visit in Bundi.
- Carry a bottle of water and some snacks for a quick hunger bite. Keep the snacks tucked in a bag so as not to be visible to the resident monkeys. They will snatch it away!
- If you want to see both the Garh Palace and the fort, buy the extra ticket right at the entry, because no one will tell you to.
- Flash Photography and videography are prohibited in certain rooms of the palace so please respect them.
- The Bundi Festival (‘Bundi Utsav) is held in November or December every year, depending on the Hindu calendar. It is a great time to visit.
- There are many locals selling tea and snacks in Bundi. A refreshing cup of chai can do wonders after all the walks around the town. Highly recommend trying at Sanwariya Restaurant.
Sustainable tips for Places to visit in Bundi
- Respect the sculptures by not sitting on them.
- Do not harm the sculptures by carving, writing, or spitting on them.
- Do not enter places that are closed off, there’s a reason why they are closed.
- Dispose of garbage in the dustbins located at specific points.
- Treat these monuments with respect and do not use them for picnics.
Read More posts from Rajasthan
- Places to visit in Mount Abu
- Kumbhalgarh
- Ranakpur Jain Temple
- Eklingji Temple and around
- Jaipur Blue Pottery
- Shopping in Jaipur
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3 comments
I’d never heard of Bundi but now I’m wishing I had visited when I was nearby!
Very well documented. Well explained. Good overall. Keep it up.
Looks like a lovely place to explore!
Thanks for sharing your photos with us.