BUNDI: AN ARTIST’S PARADISE

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Namaste! A Sonnet by Elizabeth Barrett Browning goes “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways..” The words of this vivid poem literally apply to India. Falling in love with this country comes easy. It’s love at first sight!

So here we are with another edition that will take you through a remarkable town of India “Bundi - An artist’s paradise”.

The city which is believed to be 1000 years old is not less than any dreamland. It is an art gallery and an artist's paradise. A fort and a palace perched on top of the hill like hanging on the cliff overlooking the lake and a series of blue houses surrounding it. We are not talking of an artist's canvas but about a beautiful town ‘Bundi’. A mere glance from far off is so breath-taking that one will be tempted to get himself/herself lost in the narrow by-lanes of this beautiful town, which is a treasure trove of art and culture. Bundi is also famous for its ‘school of painting’ with magnificent miniatures, frescos and murals but what makes it distinct from other towns of Rajasthan is its drainage and water management system. One will be amazed to know that apart from 02 beautiful lakes, the city is dotted with as many as 50 step wells. Watch a glimpse of this captivating town in this short video.


‘Sawai’ literary means quarter over one, which defined Jai Singh II (1688-1743) as one and quarter superior to his predecessors. He was one of the smartest and visionary kings of his lineage, and for that reason, he was given the title of 'Sawai' by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, at the age of 15 years. He was the King with many virtues. Apart from his mathematical, economical, architectural, and astronomical skills, his good diplomatic skills can be seen by his dealings with the Mughal kings. His progressive thinking always kept him a strong Militarian, ready to adopt modern weapons and ammunition. He preferred strengthening his ammunition rather than increasing the size of his army. His policies towards religious matters were also very thoughtful. Among them the most exemplary is the waiver on pilgrimage tax to Gaya, which lies in the present day Bihar in India and is regarded as one of the most sought after Hindu pilgrimage centres in India, even to date.

Some of the highlights of the town are:

TARAGARH FORT

Believed to be one of the initial hill forts of Rajasthan, 13th-century Taragarh Fort is standing tall at an elevation of 500 meters. The gigantic fort also known as ‘Star Fort’, has panoramic and breath-taking views and is famous for water reservoirs carved out of stone. These water reservoirs were known to hold water for days and months to help during a siege.

The fort boasts of Rajput style of architecture without a touch of Mughal or Victorian influence. While the area is surrounded by red sandstone, the fort is built of green coloured serpentine stone. It was popular in its heydays for its criss-cross patterned tunnels across the hill.

Another interesting feature to admire here apart from its massive gates is its many bastions and a massive canon. While a considerable part of the fort is in ruins, one can still find here some frescos holding secrets of the past. There are many structures within the fort complex having their own charm with Pol Hazari (Thousand Gate) being distinct. Here, one can also find Kalam Miniature paintings, which is a dying art of Kota.

GARH PALACE

Garh Palace or as the locals call it ‘Bundi Palace’, is another jewel in Bundi's crown. Adorned with beautiful lush green gardens, walls and ceilings with beautiful mirror work, and impressive paintings, the artwork of the palace will keep one mesmerized and speechless. The famous author Rudyard Kipling was so inspired by the beauty of this palace that he wrote a few lines appreciating the palace, which are still echoed. He said, ‘Jaipur Palace may be called the Versailles of India … Jodhpur’s House of strife, gray towers on red rock, is the work of giants, but the Palace of Bundi, even in broad daylight, is such a palace as men build for themselves in uneasy dreams – the work of goblins rather than of men.’

The imposing palace on the hillock with various rooms at multiple levels and overlooking the city houses miniatures, frescos and paintings. One of the best preserved palaces in Rajasthan, Garh Palace, has intricately decorated palaces lying within the complex.

Diwan-E-Aam, a royal court was completely built in marble. Chatra Mahal is known for beautiful murals. Phool Mahal and Badal Mahal are also worth visiting for their decorations. However, the most interesting and famous part here is the Chitrashala, which has amazing pavilions and miniature murals and is nothing less than an art gallery.

Also called as Ummed Palace, the blue and green coloured ambience of the painted walls depict various scenes from mythology and nature. A balanced mix of Mughal and Rajput style will transport anyone to another world through the wonderful stories painted on the walls and ceilings.

To trace the bygone days of the palace and its surroundings, one can also choose to spend time in its in-house museum where various artefacts, costumes, weapons and handicrafts are preserved.

84 PILLARED CENOTAPH:

The cenotaph was built by the King of Bundi, Rao Raja Anirudh, in the honour of his foster brother, Deva.

The incredible 02 storied structure, which seeks everyone’s attention, has a decorated dome on the first storey supported by 16 pillars, while the lower level has 84 pillars supporting the carved roof.

It is believed that one is unable to reach the figure of 84 correctly when counting the pillars of this cenotaph, which are decorated with beautiful carvings of animals, dancers etc.

The city famous for its drainage and water management system has as many as 50 step wells and 02 beautiful lakes. Let's take a look at some of them which are an equal contributor in enhancing the beauty of the town and had been an integral part in the water management system.

RANIJI KI BAORI:
One can get to see lot of step wells in Rajasthan, as it was the necessity due to the arid climate of the region. Raniji Ki Baori is one of the most beautiful step wells of the region, as this three-storeyed stepwell is an example of great architecture.

This massive stepwell has three gateways, and each of these well-arched gates has beautiful carvings on the pillars and columns. One of the unique features of this 150 feet deep stepwell is that it has a place of worship located on each of its floor.

Just close to Raniji Ki Baori are twin step wells called ‘Nagar Sagar Kund’, which are beautifully decorated with sculptures. Another famous stepwell is ‘Dabhai Kund’ known for its geometrical construction and historical significance linked to great warrior king Prithviraj Chauhan.

LAKE NAWAL SAGAR

With a focus on uninterrupted water supplies to the step wells quenching town's thirst, Lake Nawal Sagar was built.

In the middle of the Lake, there is a Hindu temple, partially submerged in the water. What amazes most is the reflection of the fort and palaces in the azure water of the lake, as if continuously gazing on them.

LAKE JAIT SAGAR

Surrounded by the mountains, this picturesque lake lies around 3 kms from the town of Bundi. While the eastern bank of the Lake has Kshar Bagh with as many as 66 cenotaphs of the royal families of Bundi, the other bank has royal summer palace, Sukh Mahal. On one of its banks is Shikar Burj, a former hunting lodge of Bundi's royals.

SUKH MAHAL

The beautiful site on the banks of the Jait Sagar Lake was built as a summer palace. Famous author Rudyard Kipling who was fascinated by the beauty of Bundi had stayed in this palace while working on his book 'Kim'. The serene location of the palace adorned by numerous cenotaphs made up of marble, with lake in the front and woods in the backdrop will compel anyone to get submerged in the beauty of this palace surrounded by the hills.

The palace can also be admired for its beautiful carvings on the brackets, balconies and pillars. The walls of the palace are decorated with dark red, blue and green coloured Bundi style murals. The Jait Sagar Lake attracts a variety of birds thus creating a great spectacle for the visitors.

Bundi is a magnificent town surrounded by fruit orchards and flanked by the Aravalli range and lakes. The place has a fairy tale quality about it. Come and experience this fantasy land with us! We, at Indo Asia Tours, are all about the handcrafted tours, memories, and moments you take out of your trip, and believe us, this escapade will be a life-changing one!