©Christophe Cappelli/Shutterstock

Bundi

Bundi is a captivating town of narrow lanes of Brahmin-blue houses with a temple at every turn. There are fascinating step-wells, reflective lakes, and colorful bazaars. Dominating Bundi is a fantastical palace of faded parchment cupolas and loggias rising from the hills behind the town. Though an increasingly popular traveler hang-out, Bundi attracts nothing like the tourist crowds of places such as Jaipur or Udaipur. Few places in Rajasthan retain so much of the magical atmosphere of centuries past.

Bundi came into its own in the 12th century when a group of Chauhan nobles from Ajmer was pushed south by Mohammed of Ghori. They wrested the Bundi area from the Mina and Bhil tribes and made Bundi the capital of their kingdom, known as Hadoti. Bundi was generally loyal to the Mughals from the late 16th century on, but it maintained its independent status until incorporated into the state of Rajasthan after 1947.

Explore Bundi

C
Chitrasala
Within the Bundi Palace complex is the Chitrasala, a small 18th-century palace built by Rao Ummed Singh. To find it, exit through the palace’s Hathi Pol …
B
Bundi Palace
This extraordinary, partly decaying edifice – described by Rudyard Kipling as ‘the work of goblins rather than of men’ – almost seems to grow out of the…
J
Jait Sagar
Round the far side of Taragarh, about 2km north from the centre of town, this picturesque, 1.5km-long lake is flanked by hills and strewn with pretty…
K
Kshar Bagh
Just past the eastern end of Jait Sagar is the atmospheric, partly overgrown Kshar Bagh, with the cenotaphs of 66 Bundi rulers and queens. Some have…
8
84-Pillared Cenotaph
Towards the southern edge of town, this cenotaph, set in gardens just off the Kota road, is particularly stunning when lit up at night. It was built to…
R
Raniji-ki-Baori
This is the most impressive and cared-for baori (step-well) in Bundi. It is 46m deep and decorated with sinuous carvings, including the avatars of Lord…
S
Sukh Mahal
The Sukh Mahal is a small summer palace where Rudyard Kipling once stayed and wrote part of Kim. It contains a small museum (Indian/foreigner ₹20/100)…
H
Haveli Braj Bhushanjee
This heritage haveli (traditional, ornately decorated residence) belongs to the descendants of a former prime minister of Bundi and is a home and a hotel…
S
Shikar Burj
This former royal hunting lodge is mostly home to troops of monkeys and local picnickers now, but once shooting parties of the royals would camp here…

C
Chitrasala
Within the Bundi Palace complex is the Chitrasala, a small 18th-century palace built by Rao Ummed Singh. To find it, exit through the palace’s Hathi Pol …
B
Bundi Palace
This extraordinary, partly decaying edifice – described by Rudyard Kipling as ‘the work of goblins rather than of men’ – almost seems to grow out of the…
J
Jait Sagar
Round the far side of Taragarh, about 2km north from the centre of town, this picturesque, 1.5km-long lake is flanked by hills and strewn with pretty…
K
Kshar Bagh
Just past the eastern end of Jait Sagar is the atmospheric, partly overgrown Kshar Bagh, with the cenotaphs of 66 Bundi rulers and queens. Some have…
8
84-Pillared Cenotaph
Towards the southern edge of town, this cenotaph, set in gardens just off the Kota road, is particularly stunning when lit up at night. It was built to…
R
Raniji-ki-Baori
This is the most impressive and cared-for baori (step-well) in Bundi. It is 46m deep and decorated with sinuous carvings, including the avatars of Lord…
S
Sukh Mahal
The Sukh Mahal is a small summer palace where Rudyard Kipling once stayed and wrote part of Kim. It contains a small museum (Indian/foreigner ₹20/100)…
H
Haveli Braj Bhushanjee
This heritage haveli (traditional, ornately decorated residence) belongs to the descendants of a former prime minister of Bundi and is a home and a hotel…
S
Shikar Burj
This former royal hunting lodge is mostly home to troops of monkeys and local picnickers now, but once shooting parties of the royals would camp here…

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Bundi.

See
Chitrasala
Within the Bundi Palace complex is the Chitrasala, a small 18th-century palace built by Rao Ummed Singh. To find it, exit through the palace’s Hathi Pol …
See
Bundi Palace
This extraordinary, partly decaying edifice – described by Rudyard Kipling as ‘the work of goblins rather than of men’ – almost seems to grow out of the…
See
Jait Sagar
Round the far side of Taragarh, about 2km north from the centre of town, this picturesque, 1.5km-long lake is flanked by hills and strewn with pretty…
See
Kshar Bagh
Just past the eastern end of Jait Sagar is the atmospheric, partly overgrown Kshar Bagh, with the cenotaphs of 66 Bundi rulers and queens. Some have…
See
84-Pillared Cenotaph
Towards the southern edge of town, this cenotaph, set in gardens just off the Kota road, is particularly stunning when lit up at night. It was built to…
See
Raniji-ki-Baori
This is the most impressive and cared-for baori (step-well) in Bundi. It is 46m deep and decorated with sinuous carvings, including the avatars of Lord…
See
Sukh Mahal
The Sukh Mahal is a small summer palace where Rudyard Kipling once stayed and wrote part of Kim. It contains a small museum (Indian/foreigner ₹20/100)…
See
Haveli Braj Bhushanjee
This heritage haveli (traditional, ornately decorated residence) belongs to the descendants of a former prime minister of Bundi and is a home and a hotel…
See
Shikar Burj
This former royal hunting lodge is mostly home to troops of monkeys and local picnickers now, but once shooting parties of the royals would camp here…

Guidebooks

Learn more about Bundi

Uncover the heart of travel and be inspired to see new sights with one of Lonely Planet’s in-depth, award-winning guidebooks.