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'Bundi' is a city and a municipality of approximately 88,000 inhabitants (2001) in the Hadoti region of Rajasthan state in northwest India. It is of particular architectural note for its ornate forts, palaces, and ''baoris'' (stepwells), or water reservoirs. It is the administrative headquarters of Bundi District.

Contents

Geography

Demographics

History

Princely Bundi

Tourist attractions

The Stepwells

References

External links

Geography

The town of Bundi is situated 36 km from Kota and 206 km from Jaipur. It is located at ^[1] and an average elevation of 268 metres (879 feet). The city lies near a narrow gorge, and is surrounded on three sides by hills of the Aravalli Range. A substantial wall with four gateways encircles the city.

Demographics

In the 2001 Indian census,^[2] Bundi had a population of 88,312. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Bundi has an average literacy rate of 67%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 75% and female literacy of 57%. 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.

History

In ancient times, the area around Bundi was apparently inhabited by various local tribes, in which the Meenas were prominent. Bundi and the eponymous princely state are said to derive their names from a former Meena king
called Bunda Meena

Princely Bundi

The Hadoti region in which Bundi stands takes is named for the Hada Rajputs, an offshoot of the Chauhan clan. The Hadas settled in the region in the 12th century and dominated the area for several centuries thereafter. Bundi was conquered by them in 1241 and nearby Kota in 1264. At one time, the Hada-ruled state of Bundi encompassed the present-day districts of Baran, Bundi, Kota, and Jhalawar.
The importance of Bundi state diminished over the years: as early as in 1579, it was deprived of the region which became Kota state; the alienated area included all of what later became Jhalawar state in 1838. However, Bundi state did remain an independent entity, if only nominally, up to and during the British Raj. After the independence of India in 1947, it became part of the Dominion of India (later the Union of India).
'Coat of arms': Bundi’s coat of arms is a shield depicting Garuda, the mount of Vishnu, flanked by winged griffins. The shield is flanked by bulls representing dharma or righteousness; it is crowned by a warrior emerging from flames, signifying the creation-legend of the ruling Chauhan clan, which was supposedly created from fire.

Tourist attractions

★ The 'Taragarh Fort', or 'Star Fort' is the most impressive of the city's structures. It was constructed in AD 1354 upon a steep hillside. The largest of its battlements is the 16th century bastion known as the ''Bhim Burj'', on which was once mounted a particularly large cannon called ''Garbh Gunjam'', or 'Thunder from the Womb'. The fort is a popular tourist viewpoint of the city below. the fort has three tanks which never dry up. These tanks are right on top of the fort which sits on top of one of the hills surrounding the city. The technique is long since lost but the tanks survive as a testament to the advanced methods of construction and engineering in medieval India.

★ The 'Bundi Palace' is situated on the hillside adjacent to the Taragarh Fort and is notable for its lavish traditional murals and frescoes. The ''Chitrashala'' (picture gallery) of the palace is open to the general public.

★ The largest of Bundi's ''baoris'' or stepwells is the intricately-carved 'Raniji ki Baori'. Some 46 m deep, it was built in 1699 by Rani Nathavatji. The steps built into the sides of the water-well made water accessible even when at a very low level. The baori is one of the largest examples of its kind in Rajasthan.

★ The 'Nawal Sagar' is a large square-shaped artificial lake in the centre of Bundi containing many small islets. A temple dedicated to Varuna, the vedic god of water, stands half-submerged in the middle of the lake. the lake feeds the numerous bavdis in the old city by creating an artificial water table.

★ The 'Nagar Sagar twin step wells' are identical step wells crafted in pristine masonry on either side of the main spine of Bundi town. The ''kunds'' (pools) are currently full of waste from the ancient vegetable market in the vicinity.

★ The 'Dabhai Kund' also known as the jail kund, is the largest of the kunds in Bundi. Though slightly overgrown, it is well worth a visit for the spectacular carvings on the numerous steps leading down to the water level.

★ Sukh Mahal

★ Jait Sagar Lake

★ Phool sagar

★ Kshar Bagh

★ Eighty four pillared cenotaph
'Excursions'

★ Kedareshwar Dham ( Bag Ganga)

★ Keshoraipatan

★ Ramgarh

★ Bijolia

★ Menal

★ Talwas

★ Rameshwaram

★ Dugari

★ Indragarh

The Stepwells

There are over 50 stepwells in Bundi, of which only a handful have been maintained. They used to be the only source of water for the town until a piped water system was introduced. After that these stepwells were abandoned and the monuments fell into disrepair. Most of the former stepwells inside the town have become garbage dumps, and are slipping out of the public consciousness.

References

1. Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Bundi
2.

External links

★ Official website of Bundi collectorate

★ Indiasite.com

★ Genealogy of the ruling chiefs of Bundi