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Bundi

Located in beautiful eastern Rajasthan, the blue city of Bundi is a city with plenty to see and do for the most discerning and curious holidaymakers. It forms a lovely oasis in this desert state, and attracts thousands of tourists (both domestic and foreign) every year. Rudyard Kipling wrote many of his stories here, and the city’s characterful blue lanes and assorted temples provide a fairy tale atmosphere which can really catch your imagination.

Transport

If you are travelling to Bundi, you will find it is well connected to India’s major cities by road and rail. In the car, you can reach Bundi by road from Jaipur, Ajmer, Kota and Agra; there are also bus services connecting to and from Delhi. By train, Bundi is connected to Kota, Neemach, Chittorgarh and and Delhi; the best route is to get the train to Kota and then take a taxi or bus into Bundi (35km). Once you arrive in the city, you will find you can see most of its attractions on foot; you can bargain for an auto rickshaw journey if needed.

What to see

Culture vultures and those interested in Rajasthan’s rich cultural and historic heritage will find plenty to delight them here in Bundi. Bundi Palace was the birthplace of its own school of painting, the ‘Bundi School’, and Taragarh Fort, built in the 16^th century, houses the Chitrashala, an excellent gallery of Bundi-style mural paintings, a must-see if you are visiting the city.

Meanwhile, if you are interested in historic architecture, you can explore more than 32 old stepwells, spread throughout the city. These were built in the seventeenth century and used to be the sole source of water in the city, until a piped water system was introduced. One of the most beautiful is Rani Jiki Barol, a delightful example of classic Jain and Hindu craftsmanship. The Nagar Sagar twin step wells are two other beautiful examples, located on either side of the town’s main spine and crafted in pristine masonry.

 What else is there to see? Shikar Burj is a picturesque locale formerly used by the region’s kings, and is situated close to a lovely lake called Jait Sagar, once famous for its lotus flowers.

What to do

As well as visiting the city’s historic sites, you can make the most of bike hire facilities for trips into the picturesque local countryside. Ensure you head back to the city before dark, though, as the night sky fills with bats and the town closes up shop soon after sundown. From January to March every year, you can enjoy the sight of pink poppies growing in the fields around the city, further enhancing the dreamlike atmosphere here. In October and November, you can check out the festivals of Bundi Ustav and Kashavrai Patan, and in August the town celebrates Teej, a fasting festival for Hindu women which also celebrates the arrival of monsoon season after months of intense desert heat.

Food and drink

If you are dining out in Bundi, a few restaurants to consider are Tom and Jerry’s (serving Indian and western cuisine, including classic pizzas and wine, and providing free wifi); Nawal Sagar Palace restaurant, a popular venue; Hadoti Roof Top Restaurant, with lovely views of the city; and Bundi Inn. Other excellent choices are Kasera Paradise, Natural’s Restaurant, Lakkhi Bruj, Eatos Restaurant and Amar Dhaba.

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Picture author: Chris in Taipei, Taiwan. File licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.