The city of Bundi from the state of Rajasthan is one of the lesser known destinations in the state. This, however, does not reflect on the quality of the place. Bundi is a charming city with a landscape unlike most of Rajasthan. With the ancient Aravali Range sheltering it from the rest of the world the region to which Bundi belongs has developed a culture of its own. Adding this to the impressive scenery, the blue tinted houses, the forts and the step wells; tourism in Bundi can only be described as exemplary. So, wait no more and plan your holiday using this travel guide to Bundi ready right here for you.

Located in the Hadoti region of Rajasthan, the town of Bundi is well connected to the rest of the country via air, rail and road. Though all three options have their charm, the most convenient way to travel would be to take a flight to Kota and then take a cab from there.

By Air:

Bundi has no airport within the city, however there are two domestic airports that are not too far away. The Kota airport, about 40 km, is the closer one and has services to Delhi and Mumbai. The Udaipur airport is much further away but the advantage is that it has flights coming and going from cities like Chennai and Indore as well. The closest international airport is the Jaipur International Airport and is usually the one international tourists find themselves in. All airports have cab services to Bundi.

By Rail:

There is a railway station at Bundi that connects it to the rest of Rajasthan. For people coming from other states in India, the nearest stop to Bundi may be at Kota Junction. Within the state, Bundi is directly connected to cities like Ajmer and Udaipur and outside, it is connected to major cities like Delhi and Kolkata.

By Road:

This may be the most exciting way to travel to Bundi. The roads pass through rugged landscapes of rocky Aravali, lakes and villages. Bundi is connected to other important cities by a network of roadways and this makes it easy especially for tourists. There are buses from places like Kota, Udaipur and the national capital Delhi.

Bundi lies in the mostly arid state of Rajasthan and shares the climatic conditions of its neighbouring cities. The summers are characterised as hot and dry, and the monsoon is humid making it uncomfortable, even though the rains brings down the temperature mildly. This leaves winter to be the star season.

Summer: (April to June)
These months see temperature averaging at 35°C and sometimes going up to 45°C during the day. The nights are more tolerable but the sandy winds make the season rather uncomfortable. Since this is the off season, some of the tourist attractions may not be available but this is a great time to see the step wells in all their glory as all the water has dried up.

Monsoon: (July to September)
The monsoon months are a welcome change, especially in Bundi because it plays a special role in its history. Unlike the rest of the state, this region was able to harvest water using step wells that helped the survival of its people. Even though they are no longer in use, the people remember the season for its life preserving ability and celebrate it jubilantly. The season is best known for the festival of Kajali Teej.

Winter: (October to March)
The winter months experience a pleasant day time temperature of about 24°C while the night time temperature drops drastically to 12°C on average. Though this is the tourist season, the crowd is not as overwhelming as it is in other cities in Rajasthan. In addition to all these pleasant changes that Bundi faces, this is also the most festive season of the year. The Bundi Utsav is the highlight of the season.

There are a number of things to do in Bundi starting from sight-seeing to some off-beat things like hiking. Here is a list of all that you can do.

Sight-Seeing:

One of the major attractions here is the Bundi Palace and its accompanying Taragarh Fort. Located on the hill overlooking the city, this ancient palace and fort complex has some of the most beautiful rooms decorated by wall paintings from floor to ceiling. Though the building is near ruins, the splendour of the architecture is very evident. About 2 km away from the city, the Sukh Mahal also shares many of these qualities. While in the city, the step wells are a must see. These are usually very deep and large structures with steps that go all the way to the bottom to facilitate water retrieval. They are also usually decorated with wall carvings and sometimes with beautiful dome like structures, as is the case with Raniji Ki Baori.

Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary:

Located only 15 km away, this sanctuary is one of the highlights of visiting Bundi. The sanctuary is home to a vast variety of animals that are also found in the famous Ranthambore National Park. It is a great place to take a hike or for bird watching; and is a must visit for nature lovers.

Festivals:

Bundi is known for two festivals that are culturally unique to the area. The Kajali Teej is a colourful and energetic festival thrown to celebrate the life-giving rains and is celebrated in honour of the goddess Uma. The Bundi Utsav is the other major festival. As the name suggests, this is a celebration of the culture of the city and you can see stalls, fairs, exhibitions and cultural performances being presented over a period of three to four days.

Exploring-the-Aravali-Range:

Bundi is surrounded by the ancient Aravali Range on three sides and they are covered in forests. It is needless to say that it is an opportunity to do some hiking or some basic exploration. Some of the forests were used as hunting grounds for the royal family and it is likely you will encounter some indigenous animals while roaming around the area. Some of the common ones include the rhesus monkey and langurs. If you are lucky, you may also spot the ‘rusty spotted cat’, one of the smallest cats in the world!

The food in Bundi is typical of the state of Rajasthan, featuring mostly vegetarian fare. The Rajasthani Thali is something that one must try. It comes with a main course of meal with small portions of many dishes decorating the plate. There are a number of restaurants lining the street up to Bundi Palace like Ringo Star Bundi, Bundi Inn and Namaste Café. The Kipling Café near Jait Sagar is another great place for food. Most of these restaurants also serve Indian Cuisine in addition to specialized Rajasthani food. The street food here resembles street food from most parts of northern India and consists mainly of ‘chaats’.

The best souvenirs you can grab from Bundi include paintings fashioned in a Rajasthani style, antiques, handicrafts and jewellery. Though there isn’t a specific market in Bundi to find these things the shops can be seen everywhere. Other things to keep a look out for include lac bangles, wooden toys, statues, carpets and shawls. The Sabzi Mandi is a large and attractive vegetable market where you can pick out some fresh veggies if you are staying for a while.