Travel to Bundi
Bundi is a captivating friendly town with a temple on every corner and narrow lanes of blue houses leading to the main bazaar.Bundi is famous for the massive fort and fantastical palace a faded parchment mass of cupolas and loggias mounted on a crag. The elegant crumbling palace houses the famous Bundi murals. Bundi was the capital of major princely state during the Rajputs.Although its importance dwindled with the rise of Kota during the Mughal times, it remained independent until 1947.
Taragarh fort was built in 1354 and is a great place to ramble around at your leisure. Take the path up behind the Chittra Sala east along the inside of the ramparts then left up the steep stone ramp just before the Dudha Mahal .Inside the ramparts are huge reservoirs carved out of the solid rock and the Bhim Burj the largest of the battlements on which is mounted a famous cannon. Views over the town and surrounding countryside are magical especially at the sunset. Bundi Palace is an extraordinary decaying edifice with fabulous fading murals their worn turquoise and gold still brilliant. It can be accessed from the bazaar's north-western end through a huge wooden gateway. Only one portion of the outer perimeter of the palace the Chittra Sala is officially open to the public. If you want to see the renowned Bundi murals one of the maharaja's staff will arrange for you. Bundi has many impressive baoris.Raniji-ki-Baori is 46m deep and is decorated with sinuous carvings. Built in 1699 by Rani Nathavatji it is one of the largest of its kind. The Nagar Sagar Kund is pair of matching step-wells just outside the Chogan gate to the old city. Visible from the fort is the square artificial lake of Nawal Sagar which tends to dry up if the monsoon is poor. In the centre is a temple to Varuna .Also worth a look are the 16th century Bhora-ji ka-kund and imposing Dhabhai Kund. Around 32 km from Bundi at the village of Garardha, you can see some ancient rock paintings. Found on the boulders flanking the river these are believed to be about 15,000 years old. The Sar Bagh has a number of royal cenotaphs some with terrific carvings.Shikar Burj is a small former royal hunting lodge on the road that runs along the north side of the Jait Sagar.South of town is the stunning 84-pillared Cenotaph set in the gardens and definitely worth visiting especially when it is lit up.Rameshwar temple the cave temple dedicated to Shiva is around 20 km away and is an interesting spot.
|
