Bundi

This article is about the municipality in Rajasthan, India. For its namesake district, see Bundi district. For the village in Iran, see Bundi, Iran.

Bundi
City
Panoramic view of the old town and palace of Bundi.
Bundi Location in Rajasthan, India Show map of Rajasthan Bundi Bundi (India) Show map of India
Coordinates: 25°26′N75°38′E / 25.44°N 75.64°E / 25.44; 75.64
Country	India
State	Rajasthan
District	Bundi
Named after	Bunda Meena
Government
• Type	Municipal Council
• Body	Bundi Municipal Council [1]
Elevation	268 m (879 ft)
Languages
• Official	Hindi
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	323001
ISO 3166 code	RJ-IN
Vehicle registration	RJ-08
Sex ratio	922 ♂/♀
Website	Bundi Municipal Council Bundi District

Bundi is a city in the Hadoti region of Rajasthan state in northwest India.

Etymology

The name Bundi is believed to derive from the name of a 13th century chieftain, Bunda Meena. ^{[2] [3]}

History

Main article: History of Bundi

View of Bundi Fort and Palace from the Highway.

Artefacts from the Stone Age (dating from 5,000 to 200,000 years ago) have been discovered near Bundi. ^[4]

In 1241, Bundi was established by a group of Chauhan nobles, who, having been defeated by Mohammed of Ghori, seized the territory from the Meena and Bhil tribes. ^{[4] [5]} Bundi was made the capital of their kingdom, Hadoti. ^[5]

After the siege of Ranthambore in 1568, the ruler of the Kingdom of Bundi, Rao Surjan Singh, signed a treaty with the Mughal Empire, retaining a significant degree of autonomy. ^[6]

In 1818, Rao Raja Bishan Singh formed an alliance with the British East India Company, wishing to counter the influence of the Maratha Empire in the region. ^[7] During the Raj, Bundi retained regional independence as a princely state. Bundi's last ruler signed the Instrument of Accession in 1949, joining the new Dominion of India. ^[8]

Satur national geological monument

Great Boundary Fault at Satur at nearby Satur has been declared the National Geological Monuments of India by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), for their protection, maintenance, promotion and enhancement of geotourism. ^{[9] [10] [11]}

Climate

The climate is hot semi arid (BSh), not having enough rainfall to qualify as a tropical savanna climate (Aw). The climate is quite warm, and most of the rainfall is concentrated during the summer monsoon season (June-September). It gets humid during the summer.

Climate data for Bundi (1991–2020)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	29.8 (85.6)	36.4 (97.5)	42.0 (107.6)	46.0 (114.8)	47.0 (116.6)	48.0 (118.4)	45.5 (113.9)	37.4 (99.3)	41.2 (106.2)	39.4 (102.9)	35.4 (95.7)	30.5 (86.9)	48.0 (118.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	22.5 (72.5)	26.6 (79.9)	34.0 (93.2)	39.9 (103.8)	43.7 (110.7)	40.5 (104.9)	33.9 (93.0)	32.1 (89.8)	35.1 (95.2)	34.4 (93.9)	30.0 (86.0)	25.2 (77.4)	33.1 (91.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	8.4 (47.1)	12.2 (54.0)	18.7 (65.7)	24.7 (76.5)	28.6 (83.5)	28.1 (82.6)	24.5 (76.1)	23.9 (75.0)	24.0 (75.2)	20.0 (68.0)	14.5 (58.1)	11.0 (51.8)	19.8 (67.6)
Record low °C (°F)	3.0 (37.4)	3.6 (38.5)	10.4 (50.7)	14.0 (57.2)	18.4 (65.1)	19.6 (67.3)	19.0 (66.2)	18.0 (64.4)	18.0 (64.4)	13.0 (55.4)	9.5 (49.1)	5.5 (41.9)	3.0 (37.4)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	6.3 (0.25)	5.6 (0.22)	2.6 (0.10)	3.3 (0.13)	5.1 (0.20)	93.5 (3.68)	231.0 (9.09)	279.0 (10.98)	98.8 (3.89)	6.4 (0.25)	4.6 (0.18)	0.6 (0.02)	736.8 (29.01)
Average rainy days	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.7	5.0	10.2	13.0	5.2	0.4	0.4	0.1	36.3
Source: India Meteorological Department [12]

Demographics

In the 2011 Indian census, Bundi had a population of 103,286. Bundi's literacy rate was recorded at 72%, slightly lower than the then national average of 74%. ^{[13] [14]}

Notable Landmarks

Taragarh Fort and Palace

Located high in the Aravalli mountain range, Taragarh Fort, also known as the "Star Fort", was constructed in the 1400s by Rao Dev Hada. ^{[15] [16]} The Taragarh Palace, below the fort, was constructed around 200 years later, during the reign of Rao Raja Ratan Singh (1607-31). It served as the official residence of the Maharajas. ^{[5] [17]} Unlike many other palaces in Rajasthan, its architecture contains very little Mughal influence. Further, it is built out of green-tinged stone, rather than the sandstone usually associated with Rajput architecture. ^[18]

Sukh Mahal

Sukh Mahal, translating to "Palace of Pleasure", was built on the bank of Jait Sagar Lake by Rao Raja Vishnu Singh in the early 18th century. It served as the summer residence of Bundi royals. ^{[19] [20]}

Stepwells

Known as the 'city of stepwells', Bundi contains over 50 stepwells. ^[2] Historically, these were used to protect the city from water shortages, evolving into places of gathering and worship; although many fell into disrepair during the colonial period, in which they were neglected. ^{[21] [2]} One of the largest stepwells in the city is Raniji ki Baori, a popular tourist destination. It was built in 1699 by Rani Nathawati, the wife of Rao Raja Anirudh Singh and is decorated with intricate carvings including avatars of Lord Vishnu. ^{[22] [23]}

Chaurasi Khambon ki Chhatri

Chaurasi Khambon ki Chhatri or "Cenotaph of 84 pillars" is a 17th century chhatri constructed by Rao Raja Anirudh as a memorial to his favourite wet nurse, Deva. ^[24] The number 84 is of spiritual significance in Hinduism, representing the 84 lakh life forms that one must pass through before attaining salvation; and each pillar is adorned with carvings of flowers, mythical scenes and deities. ^[25]

Temples

Bundi is home to several temples including a partially submerged Varuna temple located in the middle of the artificial Nawal Sagar Lake; and the Charbhuja Nath Temple, devoted to Charbhujanath, a four-armed form of Vishnu, and situated within the old city. ^{[20] [26]}

Culture

Literature

During the Mughal period, traditional Rajput poetry was fused with Mughal influence, particularly in the Charita (idealised biography) genre. ^[27]

Rudyard Kipling visited Bundi in the late 19th century, staying at the Sukh Mahal. The palace and its surroundings inspired parts of his novel "Kim", which he completed in the city. ^[28]

Art

Bundi is known for its miniature paintings, showcasing a traditional Rajput style that flourished from the 17th-19th centuries. Influenced by Deccan art forms, these paintings feature on the walls of the Taragarh Palace, depicting scenes of court life, battle formations, beasts and heavenly creatures. ^[29] These paintings have inspired an art event called "Chitrashaala", held annually by Bengaluru-based fashion designer Deepika Govind and her husband Ashish Vohra. ^[20]

Festivals

The festival of Bundi Utsav occurs annually in the city, for three days in Kartik, the eighth month of the Hindu calendar. ^[30] First held in 1996, it involves folk music, an arts and crafts fair and traditional Rajasthani sports. ^{[31] [32]}

References

1. "Bundi Municipal Council". 27 June 2024.
2. "Bundi beckons". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
3. "Bundi | Rajasthan, Forts, Palaces | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
4. Pillai, Geetha Sunil (28 February 2017), "Stone age tools dating back 2,00,000 years found in Rajasthan", The Times of India
5. "Rajasthan, Delhi & Agra - Book". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
6. Bhole, Jai. "Rao Raja Surjan Singh - अकबर के सामने शर्ते रखने वाले राजा". Jai Bhole (in Hindi). Retrieved 4 November 2025.
7. "Bundi - First Issues Of Indian Feudatory States Stamps". First Issues. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
8. Government Of India. White Paper On Indian States.
9. National Geological Monument, from Geological Survey of India website
10. "Geo-Heritage Sites". pib.nic.in. Press Information Bureau. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
11. national geo-heritage of India, INTACH
12. "Climatological Tables of Observatories in India 1991-2020" (PDF). India Meteorological Department . Retrieved 8 April 2024.
13. "Bundi Tehsil Population - Bundi, Rajasthan". CensusIndia2011. Archived from the original on 25 January 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
14. "Census 2011: Literacy Rate and Sex Ratio in India Since 1901 to 2011". Jagranjosh.com. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
15. "These Rajasthan hill forts are perfect for a winter break". The Times of India. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 7 November 2025.
16. "Why Bundi should be on every traveller's Rajasthan itinerary". The Times of India. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 9 November 2025.
17. "खूफिया सुरंगों से भरा है ये किला, आज भी रहस्य है इनमें आने-जाने का रास्ता". Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 22 January 2016. Archived from the original on 15 April 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
18. Adhikari, Shona (9 February 2019). "The exquisite frescos of Bundi | The exquisite frescos of Bundi". www.asianage.com. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
19. "Official Booking Portal - OBMS | Book Rajasthan's Top Tourist Attractions & Experiences". obms-tourist.rajasthan.gov.in. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
20. "A praise for paintings". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
21. "A short guide to Bundi, Rajasthan's undiscovered gem". The Common Wanderer. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
22. "Raniji-ki-Baori | Attractions". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
23. "Raniji ki Baori AKA "Queen's stepwell", Bundi - Rajasthan Tourism". www.tourism.rajasthan.gov.in. Archived from the original on 16 July 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
24. Gangopadhyay, Uttara (1 October 2023). "Bewitched By Bundi: Why You Should Visit This Rajasthan Town". Outlook Traveller. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
25. "Chaurasi Khambon Ki Chhatri, Bundi" . Retrieved 9 November 2025.
26. Bharat, E. T. V. (8 March 2020). "बूंदी के चारभुजा नाथ मंदिर में 500 साल से मनाई जा रही है होली..." ETV Bharat News (in Hindi). Retrieved 9 November 2025.
27. Busch, Allison (2016). "The Rulers of Bundi in Mughal-Period Literary Culture". In Beach, Milo Cleveland (ed.). Bundi Fort: a Rajput World. Mumbai: The Marg Foundation. pp. 96–112. ISBN   978-9383243112.
28. Kumar, Laavni (11 August 2023). "A Trail Across Rudyard Kipling's Bundi". Outlook Traveller. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
29. Adhikari, Shona (9 February 2019). "The exquisite frescos of Bundi | The exquisite frescos of Bundi". www.asianage.com. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
30. "Rajasthan: Bundi Utsav begins in Hadoti with fanfare". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
31. कोटा, दिनेश कश्यप (8 November 2022). "धूमधाम से मनाया जाएगा 'बूंदी उत्सव', राजस्थान की संस्कृति देखने के लिए उमड़ेगी पर्यटकों की भीड़". ABP News (in Hindi). Retrieved 7 November 2025.
32. Duttagupta, Samonway DuttaguptaSamonway. "6 festivals of Rajasthan that will make you fall in love with it". The Times of India. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 7 November 2025.

Further reading

• Beny, Roland; Matheson, Sylvia A. (1984). Rajasthan – Land of Kings. London: Frederick Muller. p. 200 pages. ISBN   0-584-95061-6.
• Crump, Vivien; Toh, Irene (1996). Rajasthan (hardback). London: Everyman Guides. p. 400 pages. ISBN   1-85715-887-3.
• Martinelli, Antonio; Michell, George (2005). The Palaces of Rajasthan. London: Frances Lincoln. p. 271 pages. ISBN   978-0-7112-2505-3.
• Sodhi, Jiwan (1999). A Study of Bundi School of Painting (hardback). India: Abhinav Publications. ISBN   81-7017-347-7.

External links

• Bundi Tourism
• Official website of Bundi collectorate