The Brilliant Artist Town: Bundi, Rajasthan

Bundi is a lesser-known artisan town which is located at a distance of around 210 km south-east from the state capital of Jaipur in the princely state of Rajasthan in western India. Bundi is an architectural marvel and houses a fort, palace and step wells all across the town.

There are multiple ways to reach the town. The first option is the take a local bus from any of the major cities which will travel via Kota which is the gateway to Bundi and is 40km from the town. There are government and private buses which ply regularly from Kota to Bundi from 5 am to 8 pm every half an hour daily. The bus is the most convenient way to reach.

The second option one has is to take the train to Bundi railway station which is mostly frequented only by local trains. From the railway station, travellers can either take the bus or hire an auto-rickshaw to the main town area. The nearest airport is situated in Jaipur about 230 kms away.

The best way to get around the town is on foot since most of the tourist attractions are within walking distance from the center. To visit the attractions which are 5-10km away from the town, one can hire a bicycle, motorbike or auto-rickshaw which are very easily available at reasonable rates.

The main attractions include the Garh Mahal also known as Bundi Palace which has a Chitrashala inside with a collection of some of the oldest and best paintings of India. Taragarh Fort which is the most impressive structure in Bundi is built on top of a hilltop right adjacent to Garh Mahal and offers a bird’s eye view of the entire town. Rani Ji Ki Baori is the most noted stepwell which was built in 1699. It is 46 metres deep and has 200 steps.

Bundi

Nearly all the forts and palaces have an entry ticket and are open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Sukh Mahal, Nawal Sagar, Hunting Lodge are what makes Bundi a must-visit destination while in Rajasthan.

Baan Ganga is also a famous religious place near Bundi where local legend has it that Lord Ram, the king of Ayodhya had created a stream of water with his bow and arrow which is flowing to this date. Chauth mata mandir is a revered temple a few kilometres from Bundi where the goddess is worshipped as the mother of all women. It is also one of the most famous must-visit places in Bundi

While in Bundi a must-try is the local paan which is sold in nearly all the general stores in the town and the magic lassi which has baang mixed in it. Krishna’s chai stall is one place which serves this special lassi.

Accommodation in Bundi is in plenty with a variety of home stay, guest houses and heritage hotels in and around the town. Nearly all of these stays provide excellent ambience and very clean rooms, the home stays and guest houses are all old Havelis which have been now converted into backpacker style accommodation.

The food options are also in plenty with numerous garden restaurants which have a good view of the lake and tables under trees to provide the much-needed shade from the afternoon heat. The food served here is mostly vegetarian with the Rajasthani thali being a must-try.

For the travellers who like to shop, Bundi has plenty of things which will actually fascinate you. Being a town of artists, one will find plenty of shops where artists have drawn and painted on old Indian stamp duty papers, plant leafs, etc. There are even a few who are cartoonists who will sketch you and your loved ones and make a short story of the entire thing. Avoid bargaining since such art is a dying breed in the country.

The best time to visit Bundi is during the winter months from November to February when the days are pleasant and the nights are chilled. Light woollens are recommended while travelling to Bundi.

Bundi is the perfect place to travel to for anyone who is looking to experience a different side of Rajasthan. This place makes an ideal fit for anyone looking to end their backpacking journey in a nice laid back and chilled out environment.

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