Bundi
Stepwells, murals and a palace on the hillside
Bundi was the capital of the Hada Chauhan rulers from the 14th century, a small kingdom tucked into a narrow gorge of the Aravalli. Its palace climbs the hillside below Taragarh Fort, and the old town spills below in blue and white houses. Bundi stayed out of the main trade routes, which kept it small and spared it much modern building.
Bundi's great treasure is the Chitrashala, a set of rooms in the palace covered in 18th-century murals in the Bundi style of painting: blue-green backgrounds, palaces, Krishna stories, processions and hunts. Below the palace, the town has more than 50 stepwells and kunds, including the deep Raniji ki Baori. Lakes such as Jait Sagar and the small Sukh Mahal palace add calm water to the scene.
Bundi has no luxury hotels, and most of our guests stay one night in a heritage haveli or visit on the way between Ranthambore and Udaipur or Chittorgarh. It rewards slow walking and early mornings. The monsoon is beautiful here, with full stepwells and green hills, and the town celebrates Kajli Teej in August with a fair.
Highlights
What Bundi does best
A courtyard and rooms in the palace covered with 18th-century paintings of Krishna, court life and festivals, in the blues and greens of the Bundi school. The best-preserved murals in Rajasthan open to visitors.
The palace rises in tiers from the town, with elephant gateways, balconies and painted rooms. Some parts are in disrepair, which adds to the atmosphere; a guide helps navigate the open sections.
A deep, carved stepwell built in 1699 by a queen of Bundi, one of more than 50 in the town. Its arches, pillars and carved elephants make it one of the finest in Rajasthan.
A 14th-century fort on the ridge above the palace, overgrown and wild, with huge water tanks and views over the town and lakes. The climb is steep and best done early.
A small summer palace on the shore of Jait Sagar lake, where Rudyard Kipling stayed in the late 19th century. The lake is quiet in the early morning, with birds and lotus in season.
Experiences
Four hours to plan around
Getting there
How to reach Bundi
Jaipur International Airport (JAI) is about 210 km away, around 4 hours by car. There are no regular commercial flights to Kota, 36 km away. Most guests arrive by road from Ranthambore, Jaipur or Udaipur.
Bundi has a small station on the line between Kota and Chittorgarh. Kota Junction, 36 km away, is on the main Delhi–Mumbai line with fast trains. Check current timetables before you travel.
Ranthambore is about 140 km, 3 hours. Jaipur is about 210 km, 4 hours. Chittorgarh is about 155 km, 3 hours, and Udaipur about 270 km, 5 hours.
Where to stay
Rooms we book
Bundi has no luxury hotels. The best stays are small heritage havelis in the old town below the palace, run by local families, with simple but characterful rooms and roof terraces looking up at the fort. We choose these for guests who value atmosphere and accept fewer comforts for a night. For guests who prefer full luxury, we visit Bundi on the drive between Ranthambore and Chittorgarh or Udaipur and stay elsewhere.
From our planners
Five things to know
- Visit the palace and Chitrashala in the morning, when light is soft and the rooms quiet
- Taragarh Fort is overgrown and has many monkeys; go with a guide and carry a stick
- Some palace sections are closed for safety; check current status before you travel
- Walk the old town lanes to find smaller stepwells and kunds
- For Kajli Teej in August, book heritage rooms early
Questions travellers ask
Questions about Bundi
Is Bundi worth visiting
Yes, for travellers who like quiet towns, murals and stepwells. Bundi is far less visited than Jaipur or Udaipur, and its palace murals and baoris are among the best in Rajasthan. It is a good stop between Ranthambore and Udaipur.
How many days do you need in Bundi
One night is enough to see the palace, Chitrashala and stepwells. Two nights gives time for Taragarh Fort, Sukh Mahal and a slower pace. Many travellers visit on the way between Ranthambore and Chittorgarh. Bundi rewards slow walking and early mornings, so we suggest arriving by mid-afternoon to see the town before dark.
Are there luxury hotels in Bundi
No. Bundi has small heritage havelis with simple rooms and views of the palace. They are comfortable for one night. For full luxury, stay in Ranthambore or Udaipur and visit Bundi as part of the drive. The best havelis are run by local families in the old town below the palace, with roof terraces looking up at the fort.
What is the best time to visit Bundi
August to March. The monsoon months of August and September fill the stepwells and turn the hills green. October to March is pleasant and dry. April to June is very hot. In August the town also celebrates Kajli Teej with a fair, and rooms fill early. Festival dates follow the lunar calendar, so check current status before you travel.
How far is Bundi from Ranthambore
About 140 km, roughly 3 hours by car. The road crosses farmland and small towns. Bundi makes a good half-way stop between Ranthambore and Udaipur or Chittorgarh. We usually leave Ranthambore after breakfast and reach Bundi by early afternoon, with time for a walk to the stepwells before dark. The palace is best the next morning.
What is Kajli Teej in Bundi
A festival in the month of Bhadrapad, usually August, celebrating the goddess Parvati and the monsoon. Bundi holds a procession and fair for several days. The stepwells are full and the hills green at this time. We book heritage rooms early, as the town has few. Dates follow the lunar calendar; check current status before you travel.
Is Bundi good for photography
Very. The palace on the hill, blue houses, stepwells, murals and lakes give endless subjects, and the town is relaxed about cameras. Early mornings are best for light and quiet streets. Raniji ki Baori and the Chitrashala reward a patient eye, and Taragarh gives the widest view over the town and lakes. We plan the palace for soft morning light and the stepwells for late afternoon.
Can you visit Bundi from Udaipur
It is about 270 km, 5 hours each way, so a day trip is long. We include Bundi as an overnight stop on routes between Udaipur and Ranthambore or Jaipur. Chittorgarh, about 155 km from Bundi and 3 hours, makes a natural stop on the same road. One night lets you see the palace, Chitrashala and stepwells without rushing.
What is Bundi painting
A school of Rajput miniature painting that developed in Bundi from the 17th century, known for rich greens and blues, lush landscapes, rain clouds and scenes of Krishna. The Chitrashala murals are its best-known large-scale examples. The Chitrashala was built under Rao Umed Singh in the 18th century, and many of its murals remain in good condition. Your guide explains the stories in each panel.
Journeys
Routes that stop in Bundi
Nearby
Pair it with
Tigers among lakes, ruins and a thousand-year-old fort
The great fort of Mewar and its stories of siege
Lakes, palaces and the slowest days in Rajasthan
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